l-shelby/dt1st/mark2nd

Gun Controls Needed

I was interviewed for the LABJ Forum in the Aug. 30 issue (“Packing Heat in L.A.”), and while I was not misquoted, my hurried comments do not truly represent my opinion on so important a subject as gun ownership.

While owning a gun myself, I am an advocate of more stringent gun control legislation. Most importantly, I think this would reduce the number of accidental deaths of children. When guns are not locked up and are accessible to curious or troubled children, the risk of injury or death is always there. Making guns unavailable would reduce deaths from domestic violence when someone who is out of control has access to a gun. Banning gun sales would be a first step in preventing these needless deaths.

Unfortunately, I don’t think it will reduce accessibility to guns for those who break the law and prey on society. In that respect, I must agree that “if guns were outlawed, outlaws would still have guns.”

Owning a gun has given me a sense of security in years past, but it is, unfortunately, a false security.

JUNE SHELBY

Canoga Park