NRA in control

National Rifle Association (NRA) spin shows there is as much point in discussing gun control with some Americans as there is in discussing the Blessed Margaret with the Scots.

The Second Amendment reads: “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

The precise meaning is disputed but such militias plainly no longer exist, and the duty America has to protect its citizenry conflicts with the ownership of assault weapons.

Despite last week’s histrionics, it is unlikely the law will be amended, and the regular slaughter of innocents appears to be a price America is willing to pay.

The NRA remains one of the richest lobby groups and “owns” the Republican gun party as well as the Supreme Court’s good ol’ boys ready to strike down gun-control laws.

“Guns don’t kill people, people kill people” is a self-serving absurdity to a European, but the rejoinder, “People with guns kill people”, is clearly considered 
un-American.

(Dr) John Cameron

Howard Place

St Andrews

One can only hope that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be successful in his call for gun control in America.

I have said all along that if President Obama had spoken out about gun control, he would have been a dead man walking because of the powerful gun lobby in America.

One can only hope that now, in light of America’s “Dunblane”, something will be done.

John Connor

David Henderson Court

Dunfermline