Shoes Symbolize Gun Victims

* Re “Symbols of the Slaughter,” Sept. 7:

I’m confused. Do these people want to make a message about crime control or gun control? Ruthless murderers killed their loved ones, and they focus their hate on guns?

Criminals can buy their guns on the streets through the black market. All the gun legislation in the world won’t stop them--look at the drug problem. If you want to make a dent in crime and affect these murderers, insist they serve their full sentences and support legislation that focuses on them specifically. The average gun owner is sick of receivingthe hate that we don’t deserve. Don’t let the deviants and few irresponsible adults set the standard for judgment when it comes to gun ownership. They are a small minority, and can be handled appropriately.

GARRET GRAVES

Reseda

*

Thank you for the information in “Symbols of the Slaughter.” I am collecting and sending shoes to Washington via the Venice Family Clinic. This is second best to going to Washington and marching in protest to our legislators’ apathy.

Our family is grateful for your editorials keeping gun control in the public eye.

When babies and children are shot to death on a daily basis, isn’t it time to march on Washington? How much longer will the public allow warfare in the streets and schools and our homes? Maybe you could print a daily tally of death by guns on your front page--like the weather report.

Who speaks for the victims? This country is slowly unraveling because of the gun cancer.

RUTH ROSEN

Santa Monica

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Re “Statewide Crime Rate Is Down in First Half of ‘94,” Aug. 31:

Your article gives only percentages, but the raw data is very sobering indeed: statewide/countywide homicides down from 1,425 to 1,262, and 263 to 186; rape from 3,733 to 3,440 and 495 to 443; robbery from 45,536 to 40,313 and 9,196 to 7,282; aggravated assault from 65,433 to 62,013 and 11,799 to 9,989; auto theft from 104,411 to 97,178 and 16,016 to 13,722; burglary from 125,366 to 115,213 and 12,890 to 10,879. This is good news?

The fact is that the overall crime rate is still three times what it was when we 40-somethings were growing up. Your article is a good example of how even horrifying statistics can be made to look pretty good. Please report the whole story in the future.

GEORGE RAYMOND TYNDALL

Los Angeles