Clarifies handgun facts
I disagree with almost all of Mr. Gilmore’s “proposals” and some of his statements are entirely incorrect. Specifically, Mr. Gilmore states that only officers in the U.S. Armed Forces were or are issued handguns. He must not know his American history. In WW1, Sgt. Alvin York (not an officer) used his government issued Colt model 1911 semi automatic pistol in addition to his rifle in taking a German machine gun nest, killing at least 35 enemy soldiers and capturing 132. For this action, Sgt York was awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor. Today, U.S. troops in certain assignments such as tank crew, machine gunners, and others continue to be issued handguns.
If Mr. Gillmore would ban handguns, would the gang members in Chicago, Jackson, Mississippi and other places be nice and hand theirs over? I don’t think so.
The only part of the article I agree with is that a person committing a crime with a gun of any kind should receive a man harsh sentence. Doing that and getting guns out of the hands of convicted felons and those mentally unstable is the way to curtail gun violence.
William Ford, M.D.
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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