THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 29, 1996 TAG: 9602290009
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
Regarding ``Mowed down'' (editorial, Feb. 19): As a zealous member of the gun lobby (to borrow your words), I take issue with your characterization of gun-control advocates as ``reasonable'' and ``ordinary'' folk, and myself, therefore, as unreasonable.
In 1970, the population of the United States was about 203 million, and there were 1,400 firearms tragedies like the one you described. In 1994, despite the fact that the U.S. population had grown to more than 260 million, despite the proliferation of firearms and the alleged easy availability of handguns to minors, there were an estimated 900 such accidents.
Unlike many of the numbers used by the advocates of gun control, these statistics are not taken out of context to bolster my own point of view. They represent a trend which began long before groups began to promote safety via disarmament. They are not, as you speculate, the result of lawsuits against adults who leave guns where children can get to them. Much of the credit for the continuing decline in accidental firearm deaths belongs to the gun lobby you so despise.
The National Rifle Association has promoted firearm safety, through familiarization, for more than 100 years. Its ``Eddie Eagle'' program was developed specifically to teach gun safety to children. Unfortunately, many youngsters are denied the benefit of such education because the NRA has been stigmatized by gun-control advocates who characterize members with stereotypes and inflammatory prose.
Proponents of the freedom to keep and bear arms are not insensitive to the problems that result from the illegal and irresponsible use of firearms, but we have a legitimate question about the solution promised by gun control. Is it unreasonable for us to stand in staunch opposition to the continued expansion of gun control while we are belittled and our concerns ignored?
GEORGE A. FOSTER JR.
Chesapeake, Feb. 19, 1996 by CNB