Letters to the Editor

Myths about guns need clarifying

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

The recent news story "VA gun sales surge" analyzed the recent increase in Virginia background checks and showing that this trend is not a reliable indicator of a similar increase in the number of gun owners. What was missing was any comparison between the beliefs that were said to be associated with this apparent trend and actual facts.

Many believe that violent crime would increase with a downturn in the economy, but the facts point to a continued decline in violent crime across the country. Many believe that owning a gun will increase their personal security, yet gun owners die from gunshot injuries at rates much higher than non-owners.

For white males, the person mostly likely to end one's life with a bullet is the guy in the mirror. For women, the person most likely to kill her or her children with a gun already has a key to the house. If gun ownership was the answer to personal protection, there wouldn't be 30,000 gun deaths a year, of which fewer than 300 are due to justifiable homicide.

Neither would there be more deaths among pre-school kids from guns than for on-duty police officers. In less than 1 percent of all reported violent sexual assaults in Virginia is the attacker in possession of a gun. Women should do everything in their power to not fall victim to sexual attack, but before deciding to carry a gun, they need training and practice.

I am not advocating that law-abiding and mentally sound people not buy guns. There are many legitimate uses for them; however, before bringing a gun into the home, give more consideration to the facts.

Andrew L. Goddard,

President, Virginia Center for Public Safety.

Henrico.

Young abusers often victims themselves

Editor-Times-Dispatch:

Regarding the Associated Press news story on the complexities of sexually harmful youth, "Child-on-child sex abuse poses complex challenges," I would point out that the majority of these youth do not pose a threat in the same way as their adult counterparts and can safely return into the community with appropriate treatment. Only a very small percentage meets the criteria for what is termed "sex offenders." To be clear, all youth should be held responsible for their choices — but not all need "the heavy hammer" as noted in the article.

At United Methodist Family Services Child and Family Healing Center we have noted in our work with these young people — both males and females — that between 80 percent and 90 percent are victims of sexual abuse. Some may be operating from places of significant neglect, trauma and abuse — physical, psychological and sexual — while others may be acting out behaviors they have been exposed to.

When children come to the Child and Family Healing Center, we process with them their abuse histories and hold them accountable for their harmful behaviors, regardless of the intent in their choices. They can better understand how traumatic memory affects and, at times, impedes their ability to make safer, healthier choices. Very often this adolescent model works very well.

Placing these youth on the sex offender registry is not the answer. We need to do a better job of educating folks about what can work short of the sex offender registry for children.

Douglas A. Glick,

Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider,

UMFS.

Richmond.

Apologies are not in order

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Do I have this straight? President Obama has directed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to fully investigate and assure the Afghanistan government of our (not mine) disgust and disapproval of the recent behavior of four U.S. Marines. Appropriate punishment will be forthcoming when the offenders are identified. The Taliban must be pacified so as not to interrupt a possible pending political statement.

I wish to remind Obama that the convicted Taliban killer of Daniel Pearl, Ahmed Omar Saeed Shiekh, has yet to be punished for his totally inhumane act of beheading a U.S. citizen in 2002. While both of these acts were distasteful, I hardly find them equitable. Apologies to the Taliban are not in order at this time.

Billy J. Braughton.

Henrico.