Editor:
Re: “Guns ‘R’ Us and we pay
the price” (Aug. 1), statistics are a
great way to get your point across
and I applaud Ms. Daiute’s re-
search.
She could also have pointed
out that between 2001 and 2010
there were 400,778 automobile re-
lated deaths. We should ban auto-
mobiles.
Smoking kills 443,000 annu-
ally. An estimated 5 million who
were 0-17 in 1995 could die prema-
turely from tobacco-related causes.
We spend an estimated $200 billion
in health care costs related to to-
bacco use. We should ban tobacco
products.
In 2001 alone, 775,766 deaths
were attributable to alcohol use.
Of those 4,554 were under 21 and
13,674 were in a motor vehicle. We
should ban alcohol use.
We haven’t even begun to to-
tal the deaths from drug-related
causes.
Banning something is not
the way to solve the problem. We
need responsible adult role models
to teach right and wrong ,to teach
safety and responsibility in these
matters, whether it be guns, automo-
biles, alcohol, tobacco, or any other
area in their lives.
We need law enforcement and
judicial officials to enforce the cur-
rent laws and make the penalties
stiffer so people realize the conse-
quences of their actions.
I have no problem with gun
owners who obtained their guns le-
gally and use them responsibly. I
have no problem with people who
own cars and have them licensed and
insured legally and drive responsi-
bly. I have no problem with people
who have an occasional drink and
do not become intoxicated. (Smok-
ing and drugs I do have a problem
with . . .)
I don’t want to take away peo-
ple’s rights to own guns, automo-
biles, cameras, cell phones or any
other commodities. What I would
like is guidelines that are enforced to
promote the safe use of these things
for the protection of everyone.
Don Austin
Sweet Home