Letter: Don't blame guns for violence

Fr Dominic Kirkham
Thursday 15 August 1996 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: In various times past weapons have been accepted in public society as normal: daggers were merely part of everyday dress, swords the necessary accoutrement of a gentleman, duelling the final recourse of honour. But the time came when - despite great opposition and cost - these relics of savagery were seen to be incompatible with a developed civil order and they were prohibited. The time has now come to do the same for firearms.

Invariably, opposition to such developments has been from the male of the species, almost as if it were an attack on his virility. From childhood, boys delight in their gun-toting fantasies of destruction and aggression. Well, it's time now to say to such immature and retarded adults, grow up, playtime is over.

Fr DOMINIC KIRKHAM

Manchester

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in