Control of BB Guns

* Re “Father Alerts Other Parents After Girl Killed by BB Gun,” July 6.

Although I didn’t see it in print, I am assuming that the father of that little girl who was accidentally killed by her brother’s playing with a BB gun is absolutely devastated. All I read was that he blames the BB gun, and that he’s urging parents to remove all weapons from their homes. There was no mention of how the mother, who was apparently supervising her children at the time of the accident, is feeling.

My heart goes out to the parents in this unfortunate tragedy. At the same time, I can’t help but side once again with what the police said. There is no excuse on the planet for the parents not having had that BB gun safely put away somewhere, especially with them having such small children.

My father accidentally shot himself in the wrist with a BB gun and it stayed in his wrist all his life as a reminder. He has had a healthy respect for guns ever since and went into law enforcement as a career.

As one of four children, I only saw his guns when he wore them in uniform, and others were locked away.

Again, I say it’s totally up to the parents to control any weapons, whether they are BB guns, regular guns or even knives. And I would very much appreciate keeping the freedoms I enjoy to own, collect or use for sport all types of athletic and sporting equipment in this nation called the USA.

MARILYN ARNOLD

Simi Valley