Gun Bill, Assault Weapons Become Target of Criticism

On April 6, a Sun-Times editorial ("Tell Philip About Evil ofAssault Weapons") asked its readers to call Illinois Senate MajorityLeader James "Pate" Philip (R-Wood Dale) to tell him about the "evilof assault weapons." Those who called found that people weresupporting Philip's actions against Gov. Edgar's gun-controlinitiative by 10 to one. Your idea backfired! Tom Burckhalter, Lake Bluff

Your April 6 editorial about "evil assault weapons" - actuallysemiautomatics - was off base.

This ban amounts to a solution for a nonexistent problem.Police resources could be better used elsewhere. The Robert Taylorhigh-rises, maybe? James Butler, Springfield

Every sensible person realizes that assault weapons are designedto maim and kill people. These weapons are not designed forrecreation.

We who are members of the community of faith know all too wellwhat gun violence does to our community, especially in theAfrican-American neighborhoods of Chicago and southern Cook Countysuburbs.

We, along with many of our colleagues in the clergy, have buriedyoung people whose lives were snuffed out by assault weapons andother guns.

None of us would suggest that banning assault weapons is thepanacea for crime. But the law enforcement community has made itclear in its support for this legislation that stopping the flow ofcombat weapons to our communities is one very important step in thefight against crime. We're in serious trouble if our society can'toutlaw the civilian use of weapons made to kill people in combat.

A show of faith can start us on the road to reclaiming thestreets of our communities. The Rev. Richard Bundy Jr., minister of justice, New Faith Baptist Church, Matteson

I called Sen. James "Pate" Philip's Elmhurst office as yousuggested and encouraged him to keep fighting. David Graham, Forest Park By definition, an assault weapon is a full automatic,military-issue machinegun. These have been banned since 1934, butaccording to the media and some politicians, my .223 varmint rifle isthe scorn of society. Come on, folks, when do you hear of a robberor some street punk toting around a 3-foot rifle? John Harms, Streator

Sen. James "Pate" Philip may not be politically correct, buthe's surely morally correct.

Somebody has to stand up for us red-necked Neanderthals. Kent C. Barnett, Oak Lawn