Posted 5/2/01 Without handguns, people could not use them to kill To the editor: I totally concur with our courageous Post Review editor, MaryHelen Swansonís April 25th editorial. ìWill a Gun Really Help You?î My answer is a big, huge NO. Violence breeds violence in every situation. Violence eventually becomes habitual, whether I do violence to myself or to others. Violence is a deeply embedded part of the fabric of American society both in the public and the private sphere. In the public sphere, we attacked Iraq, killing 200,000 civilians - ostensibly to punish one person, Saddam Hussein, who is still alive. This is only one example among many I could mention. (Remember Vietnam?) In the private realm, we have violence in our communities and in our families- domestic violence and child abuse- to name two. When does the violence stop? When do we begin to say - enough is enough? All guns kill. I, like MaryHelen, am not against hunting, target shooting and collecting but, as you know, people are killed every year during the hunting season because guns kill, whether by accident or not. Violence is eating away at the spiritual and emotional core of our being as a country. Some say that gangs and school shootings are aberrations and we excuse ourselves of any social or moral responsibility. Some say these children do not understand the American value system. Just the opposite is true, these children do understand and have experienced the American value system and are trying to implement it the best they can. I do understand that all violence begins in my own heart and that I can only change myself by trying to live in non-violent ways. My example will always speak louder than my words bit I still feel called out to speak the words as MaryHelen did in her editorial. St. Francis lived a life of non-violence and left us a prayer to live by: ìLord, make me an instrument of your peace.î It is your choice to be peaceful or violent. What do you chose? Elizabeth Langlois North Branch ©Post Review