By Suzanne Verge President, Los Angeles Chapter Million Mom March United with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
Mr. Gottlieb and Mr. Workman missed the mark and the facts on why our schools are “Gun-Free School Zones” (SMDP, Oct. 7-8, page 5). They forgot to mention the facts that the NRA (National Rifle Association) doesn’t like to report. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, a little more than one-half of the gun-related deaths in the United States are due to suicides, about 44 percent are due to homicides, about 3 percent are due to accidents, and only 1 percent due to legal intervention.
Studies have shown that a gun in the home is more likely to be used to take the life of a family member or acquaintance than to be used against an intruder. I believe if we arm teachers in our schools, the guns would not be used against intruders, but rather used in anger against a colleague, parent or student.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 12, 2006. Read the original PDF.