MISSING INGREDIENT IS COMMON SENSE

In response to Maxine Harris' April 9 letter, "Gun registration small
price to stop violence," I echo the position of the National Rifle
Association, Gov. George W. Bush and the Republican Party.

We must be able to enforce the laws we already have, enhanced by new
technology. Those laws are all very important, but not as important as
preventing violent acts before they happen.

What stupidity it is to believe that one could be so easily influenced
by the mere repetition of erroneous statements that it could become
conventional wisdom. First of all, guns do not kill people, people
kill people. Our society always seems to overlook that fundamental
fact.

According to national statistics, weapons stolen or purchased on the
black market account for the majority of our nation's crimes.
Therefore, registration and background checks would not be the sole
solution.

People steal, kill and sell themselves for money to purchase drugs.
(In most cases they are chemically addicted.) We place them in jail,
where we all know there is an ample supply of narcotics to support
their habit. When they are released for the cycle repeats itself.

What would one surmise from all that? It makes no sense and that is
what's lacking in our legislation -- common sense. The simple rule of
marketing is "supply and demand."

Our courts are overflowing, our kids are killing each other and we are
looking for something or someone to blame. We need to concentrate on
prevention. Stop crime before it happens.

KIMBERLY TATHAM

Rincon