LETTERS: BE WARY OF HOW GUN LAWS ENFORCED

To the editor:

I have put off writing this letter until I was calm enough to do it properly. However, the recent developments concerning our youths and guns in school zones has brought my outrage back to the surface.

I have heard some talk about increasing the distances for the drug-free, gun-free school zone enforcement areas and the hope that this will keep the kids from bringing guns to school property or the surrounding area. The current zone and who it is enforced against is absolute bunk. The public should be told exactly who this gun control can be enforced against.

The four students recently arrested for the empty handgun at Central High School probably have been or will be punished more severely than the prominent adult who also was found in the drug-free, gun-free school zone with a handgun. The police officers at the scene made written statements about the incident. When the gun was checked at the scene, it was loaded with a shell in the firing chamber and the hammer pulled back with the safety off. This adult was not charged with a gun offense but with disturbing the peace, to which he pleaded guilty and paid a $100 fine.

Why wasn't that person charged with a gun violation? The logic given to news media was that the gun charge and the peace disturbance are both Class B misdemeanors. Someone else said that the zone pertained to drug dealers who carry guns, not to simple gun possession.

Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if roles had been reversed in that incident and a youth had carried the gun. I don't think a youth would have gotten off as easily. After I read the three police officers' written statements about the incident, I was appalled at the way the matter was handled.

I simply hope that the public is given the proper information about who the drug-free, gun-free school zones can and will be enforced against.

NANCY FOOR

Cape Girardeau