In response to a letter to the Editor from Sam Marquess: In comparison to Phil Hudson”s letter of a year or two ago I confess my evidence regarding ungoverned gun use reaped from O”Reilly and Dugard”s account of the murder of President John Kennedy is meager; however, I don”t doubt its authenticity, for it”s something that could be checked up on. And I think evidence from 50 years ago is still useful as a model for studies of today”s problems.
And I don”t blame Marquess for owning guns; it”s not illegal.
If I were legislating gun laws, however, I would desire to put even owning a functional gun in an illegal category unless the owner were a low officer, an enlisted soldier, or otherwise legally required to own a gun.
This is because a gun can reach far out with death or very serious injury from anyone who can hold a gun and pull a trigger, regardless of that person”s otherwise mental or physical condition. However, remember the accurate statement of Justice Brandeis of prohibition days that a too severe law will only impel disobedience, I wouldn”t try to get such an enactment legalized, though I would come as near as I dared.
I can sympathize with the gun supporters, nevertheless; for I remember a time, many years ago, when I would have given $1,000 for a gun. I was in San Francisco, in a restroom of one of those six- or eight-storied indoor parking lots.
When I entered the restroom, it was empty except for a fellow fooling around somewhere in the back. I was carrying a briefcase in the holder by the door, where a person could just reach over the locked door, get the briefcase, and run. I set the briefcase on the floor beside me.
Sure enough, I had not misguessed my man. Pretty soon I saw him come up to the door and boldly look through the crack at the empty holder, then at me. Then he moved away from the door to wait, I surmised, for when I should be finished and issue forth his helpless prey.
So there we were, he wishing I would hurry and come out; I wishing someone would hurry and come in.
Fortunately, I was the only one who could do something about it; I could prepare for my exit and wait. Pretty soon someone came in and I left, giving the mean-looking fellow a look that told him to go jump in a muddy pond.
If I had the gun I wished for, it would likely have gotten me killed; the suspect perhaps too had a gun.
Dean Sparks
Lucerne
