Guns are dangerous

There was a recent article circulated which included a photo of a beautiful young girl from Darby who had killed a mountain lion.

On Sunday, March 2, a man in Martin City accidentally shot and killed himself with his own rifle.

I see a huge problem.

I am concerned for the safety of that dear girl (12 years old!), for those who are close to her, and for all other youngsters who are freely given access to firearms.

I have no concern for the dead mountain lion, his problems are over. But no person under the age of 15, and maybe even 18, should be permitted to handle or possess powerful weapons, with the exception being if the firearm-use education is for defensive purposes only.

I am troubled by the values this girl has been taught by her father. Killing should come from necessity, not from the joy of watching something die or the ability of being able to shoot well.

I am not anti-hunting. If you need meat in the freezer go get some, but I am completely against indiscriminate killing. My goodness, her father even flew her to Alaska to shoot a black bear. She was 10 years old.

Tom Petrillo

Essex