It did not take long after the deaths at Virginia Tech for the “logic engineering” to begin in an attempt to deflect any calls for stringent gun control. A recent letter was a prime example of the tired rhetoric expressed since the tragedy at VT. The writer compares other circumstances of death to downplay the horror of gun-related mass murder.
Let’s see how they stack up:
1. Auto accidents. Yes, thousands die in them every year. Purpose of said activity: getting to and from work, shopping, visiting family and friends, recreation, etc. Legal? Yes. Strict regulations in place governing it? Yes. Number of mass murders committed by automobile: Probably none.
2. Cigarette smoking. Causes thousands of deaths yearly. Foolish? Definitely. Legal? Yes. Strictly regulated? Yes. Number of mass murders committed by an individual with his cigarette: 0.
3. Drowning. This compares? You’re kidding me, right?
4. Alcohol: Can it be abused and cause multiple deaths? Yes. Is that type of use illegal? Yes. Is its proper use in society legal? Yes. Strictly regulated? Yes.
5. Drugs: A societal travesty greatly enhanced by easy access to guns. In fact, drug and gun use go hand in hand. Is it strictly regulated? We try. Can the horror of drug abuse be compared to the horror at VT? Maybe.
Can we truthfully compare a student walking into school one morning and coming face to face with a psycho with a gun and a grudge to auto accidents, drowning or having a smoke? Do we look at the easy access to and proliferation of weapons in this country, fold our hands in our laps, and say we’re doing all we can? Is it strictly regulated? Perhaps not enough. Number of mass murders committed by gunfire: Rising.
Richard P. Messer
Everett
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