I saw on the Channel 2 news the other day that some African-American leaders in Atlanta were protesting at gun shops against the manufacturing of guns saying, “they intentionally flood the streets with guns to kill our young people.”

No they don’t; some young people, one way or another, acquire illegal guns. So why don’t parents step up and take responsibility for raising their children by knowing where they go and who they associate with?

The Atlanta chief of police stated that there has been 20 some carjackings and thefts by teenagers with handguns from ages 12 to 16 in recent months. So instead of targeting the gun-manufacturing companies, why don’t parents take responsibility and target the youth in their communities and take the illegal guns away from them? Make them stay in school and away from bad influences, and we would see crime drop in those communities.

Guns do not kill people; people kill people. Wake up folks! Martin Luther King Jr. correctly stated, “There is nothing more dangerous than sincere ignorance.”

Until you take the guns out of the hands of criminals and not from law-abiding citizens, you will not solve this problem. I see where Atlanta is buying back guns to get them off the streets. Well, have I got news for you: It has not taken one illegal gun out of the hands of criminals. My legal gun is my only deterrent to the criminal element who have illegal guns.

Check with Australia law enforcement to see what has happened down there with the crime problem after guns were taken away from law-abiding citizens.

Paul S. Barnes
Flowery Branch