LTE: Don't fear guns; fear their misuse

May 3, 2005
Toledo Blade

I wonder how much thought was given by a Forum writer ("Public park no place for a gun") to the idea that there are some people in our environment who couldn't care less about the law.

These are some of the people who commit antisocial acts of myriad kinds, whose power is a surprise. The victims are usually not prepared for assault or being overpowered by a person who has planned his attack.

Those "ignorant" people who were there (at the Picnic in the Park) were some retired police officers, former military of many descriptions (Army, Navy, Marines, etc.), and civilians who simply want our constitutional rights as citizens of the U.S.A.

This was part of what we fought for in our wars - freedom and liberty under our law. Most of us are quite familiar with firearms, having used them in our wars or in civilian occupations and as instruments of sport.

We would like to see many people become educated with firearms so that their fears about them could be assuaged. Many of us would gladly teach classes of inquirers regarding firearms at our conservation clubs, gun clubs, and hunter education classes, all of which I have done, as have others.

Guns are not to be feared; only the people who misuse them should be feared.

Milton C. Mann
Luckey