Gun Restrictions

Re “Lawmakers Struggle to Respond to Tragedy,” April 28: Let’s see if we can get a clear understanding of President Clinton’s proposed new restrictions on gun ownership until age 21. In America, youth 18 years or older will be able to perform the most important function in a democracy--which is to vote. Moreover, young men and women will be provided guns and told by their elders to go kill people in other countries at the whim of the political leadership. But the same political leadership that would send them to kill others purposefully will not permit them to even own a gun in this country.

Perhaps the politicians need some adult supervision, too.

KIP DELLINGER

Los Angeles

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Guns don’t kill people; politicians do with their failure to enact effective gun control legislation. I want a list of all the politicos who accept funds from the National Rifle Assn.

EDWARD AHL

Thousand Oaks

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One serious ramification of the Littleton tragedy, aside from the obvious, is that people are pushing hard to make parents legally responsible for their kids’ heinous crimes. A vast majority of children are pretty good kids so you have to put yourself in their shoes.

Would you like your parents snooping into all aspects of your private life? It could be very embarrassing and have a negative effect. How about if Mom finds your Playboy magazine? If we’re not careful we could develop a generation of paranoid people expert in subterfuge.

We need responsible parenting and education methods from a very early age. New laws and restrictions (firearm or otherwise) will not do any good. Set down some rules, make God a presence in their lives, lead by example and make sure that they know you love them. They will be OK!

JOSEPH P. PUGLIESE

Huntington Beach

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It took Americans over 30 years to bring the tobacco industry to recognize and take responsibility for the dangers of the sale of its product. Will it also take us that long to recognize and establish that the NRA poses a more fatal danger to society? And how many more lives will be sacrificed before we put a halt to this madness?

JOE MARTINEZ

Carson

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If this administration is not playing politics with this tragedy, why would the president, whose administration fails to prosecute federal gun law violations, want more laws not to enforce? During Clinton’s watch there has been a 40% reduction in such prosecutions, although violations have increased.

ROGER L. CLOUTIER

Redondo Beach

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Re carbine at Columbine: It takes a child to raze a village.

TIM BRADLEY

Altadena

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With regard to gun violence in our everyday lives: Whether one is a teacher or student, lunching at a fast-food place, standing in line at the post office, the bank or a convenience store, walking around town, driving on the freeway or “visiting” Kosovo--wherever the setting, there’s always the expectation of equal-opportunity bullets.

SHARON KARP

Los Angeles