EDITOR:

I appreciate you publishing my letters, and am thankful for you printing the response to one from Rita Wickham contesting some of my points re/mass shootings. I’ll expand on some points. Propaganda, (lets just stick w/”assault weapons”) was used extensively in reportage ignoring defined facts as to what an assault weapon is, or is not. I contend and provide evidence the weapon used was not an assault weapon, Wickham, without defining it, insists it is (please honor us with a definition). Wickham also says that carbine “… shoots well enough for it’s cheap … price.” That is of course a subjective value judgment of hers… can you support those statements with facts or personal experience? Also, please explain how concealment in a backpack has any relationship to use or provides a “major” advantage? I await your evaluation.

I quote “… hunting/sporting guns, semiautomatics are civilian versions with the same deadly (another subjective term, parens mine) features of military assault weapons.” Features not mentioned, but the use of pistol grips to steady “sure shots spray-firing from the hip” may be one she referenced. The only place this is seen is in violent Hollywood fantasies, or can you cite an actual case? As a rifle/shotgun competitor for over 60 years, I am at a loss to explain the benefit of a pistol grip to “sure shooting” where accuracy is paramount. As an avid hunter, using numerous firearms I can attest that I cannot remember one instance or person declaring a pistol gripped rifle advantageous. This is purely an ergonomic item which is banned in California incidentally. How’s that going for crime suppression there? Another illusion to the “looks like” an assault weapon misrepresentation.

Crime requires motive/means/opportunity. The “means” can potentially be anything which transfers energy, the “opportunity” there came from a lack of sufficient protective infrastructure. The “motive” has been withheld from the public so far. Mass assassins (let’s start using that term – seems accurate) whether men or women leave behind indications of motive either political or personal. Interesting that a transgender is reported to have left a “manifesto” which is being suppressed. I submit that in absence of this piece, people are left to their imaginations as to the motives of a transgender. You’d think anything that absolves that group from revilement would be made available. Kind of like saying “no comment… think what you wish”. Seems like a serious insult to that community to suppress the facts. Also, she wrote “Men tend look for others to blame for their problems, possibly leading to anger and violence…” Sexist, or just liberal philosophy? And women don’t? “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned “Hard to take Wickham seriously with a statement like that.

The NRA offers numerous firearm safety programs presented by qualified persons, I’m one. Public schools offer none and refuse the offer to present NRA certified programs teaching safety/responsibility/sportsmanship and personal accountability. Schools reject this. Go figure.

Michael A. Glass

Nahma