Guns don't kill, people do

To the Editor:

When I was a young man going to school in the Oxford Hills area (Norway grade school and high school), guns and school violence were not an issue. It was well known that if you got out of control in school, a teacher would step in and, if needed, would grab you and throw you out of school if necessary.

You would then have to go home and face your parents. I knew damn well, as did other students, the parents would side with the school and teacher.

As for guns, we grew up with them. I was taught to shoot at an early age. I shot my first deer at age 12. When October and November came, a lot of us kids drove to school with guns in our cars. And when school let out, it was not uncommon for me and some of my teachers to gather in the area to go hunting.

In those days we had respect for one another. There was very little peer pressure. We all knew each other and tried to get along. This does not mean we did not get into fights (one-on-one), but the next day we were talking to each other.

Oh, there was violence, and people did kill each other over jealousy or money or other disputes and sometimes because of mental issues. Things have not changed today except we have drug violence. And we have improved regarding racial awareness and violence.

In 1964, I started my law enforcement career. During this time I have witnessed great changes in our communities, state and country. There is very little respect among some of our peers, young and old. In our schools teachers cannot get involved with an out-of-control student without facing disciplinary action.

In the last few years we have seen increasing violence with young people attacking our schools and killing for no apparent reason. And in true fashion we as a population are trying to place blame. A few say it's the guns, the clips, the ammo and even the violent videos, while nothing is said regarding the mental status of the offenders.

I own an AR-15 (along with many other guns), and I have hunted and shot deer with it. It's also a great gun to practice target shooting. All the gun owners I know respect their guns. The old saying is true, "Guns don't kill, people do."

What causes some people in our area to want to kill so many people, we don't know. But we do know that it's not the gun; it's people thinking they want to get even for something. All have had mental problems motivating their attacks. In their minds, they were getting even for something in their past.

If these killers used something other than a gun, what would you blame?

Ben Conant

South Paris