Letter: Letter concerning guns off mark

Friday, June 23, 2000 | 9:34 a.m.

A recent anti-National Rifle Association letter to the editor suggests that organization was lying about there being 20,000 gun laws on the books in this country, suggesting instead there might be 10-20 such laws. Had the author done even a little checking locally, he would have found there are gun laws on the books in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City and Clark County, as well as the state of Nevada. Now if we can assume this carries over to most cities, counties, states and the federal government, I think 20,000 might even be a conservative estimate.

Then, of course, he went on to say, "Yes, guns do kill." Now I will admit people have used guns to kill other people, but I've never heard of a gun killing someone of its own volition, as suggested by that statement. No, I am not now, nor have I ever been a member of the NRA, and the last gun I purchased was over 30 years ago, so don't call me some gun nut.

I just dislike seeing the hysterical side of a debate go unchallenged, especially when the bottom line of such a statement requires destroying any portion of the Bill of Rights.

RICHARD FISHBACK