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# Guns are the killers
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/guns-are-the-killers-editor/
- Published: 2006-08-03T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T19:07:41.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Pico, #archive-import

*By Ruth Rosen Santa Monica*

Regarding your “Police go on the defensive in Pico” (SMDP, July 19, page 1), police presence won’t protect anyone because they are outgunned. We are all at risk because of the massive amount of guns in our society.

We have a public health epidemic because the NRA and gun lobbies have consistently blocked the most minuscule of meaningful gun control legislation. Their blood money has politicized a public health and safety issue.

President Bush and his administration even killed the assault rifle ban. So we are afloat in a massive arsenal of firepower like ducks in a shooting gallery.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 3, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/080306.pdf?ref=smdp.com)