DEAR EDITOR:
World War II assault weapons were designed for military suppression of enemy fire, facilitating advancement upon enemy positions and for defending against enemy advancements. In the 1920s, the only civilians possessing them were police and mobsters - Al Capone and his gangland turf wars.
Our government stopped that with the FBI.
During the Vietnam War in the 1960s, the U.S. Army developed the M14 and the AR15. At the end of the 1960s, the public began purchasing assault weapons. To date, what we have are mass killings all over - not by mobsters, but by drug wars and mentally impaired individuals.
The bottom line: Money is being made by the manufacture of these weapons.
If anyone wants to shoot this kind of weapon, I suggest they take an oath, put on a uniform and serve our country. Otherwise, leave it to the armed forces; assault weapons were not meant for civilian possession.
Most of our military war heroes who came home never wanted to use weapons again, knowing the destruction these weapons represent. Our government must take control over this illogical situation that we are in today.
Paul R. Lawson
McDonald