Login  /  Register  | 3 premium articles left before you must register.
Join | Rewards | Advertise

This letter writer sticking to his guns

Earle K. Downes Gales Ferry

Publication: The Day

Published 06/21/2012 12:00 AM
Updated 06/20/2012 06:04 PM

Two letters to the editor on May 31, "Guns will not stop gun violence problem," and "Recent letter twisted crime information data," claimed the figures taken from the UN and the EU that I used in my letter on May 24, "Guns keep America safe from violence," were in fact bogus. Nonsense! Britain's Parliament banned the possession of handguns in 1997. In fact the ban on handguns did not stop actual crimes committed with handguns.

Those crimes increased nearly 40 percent according to a 2001 study by King's College London's Center for Defense studies, and doubled a decade later. The comedian Flip Wilson had a great line, "It wasn't my fault the gun made me do it."

People were killing each other before the invention of firearms. If 1500 years ago a man was found dead with an arrow in his chest, did folks say poor chap died of bow-and-arrow violence?

According to statistics from the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, America has more legally owned guns then ever before, yet statistics provided by the FBI indicate violent crime is down almost everywhere.

Guns do keep America safer.

Popular on theday.com

Town News

Visit Zip06
what is zip06? | my profile
Submit Your:  Submit Your News Submit Your Photos Submit Your Events
Most Recent Poll
Which rival tall ships event will you attend July 6-9, OpSail 2012 in New London or the Ocean State Tall Ships Festival in Newport?
OpSail, I've got to support my hometown.
40%
OpSail, it's close by and parking will be much easier.
26%
Ocean State Tall Ships, there's just more to see in Newport.
14%
Ocean State Tall Ships, I don't mind a longer drive if it means spending the day in Newport.
7%
Why choose between the two? I'll just go to both.
12%
Number of votes: 458

Have you spotted a celebrity?

Have you ever spotted any celebrities around the region? Tell us who, where and when via email to tips@theday.com. Include photos if possible.

MORE QUERIES

Have you spotted a celebrity?

Have you ever spotted any celebrities around the region? Tell us who, where and when via email to tips@theday.com. Include photos if possible.

MORE QUERIES
The Day on Facebook

In the past two weeks our Facebook fans have won tickets to the CT Tigers, Newport Winefest and Mystic Seaport. Become a fan of The Day on Facebook for access to these contests, breaking news, TheDay.com's best features and more!

Facebook.com/thedayct