Regarding the recent letter you published where the writer tries to downplay how dangerous assault weapons are, this Marine combat veteran certainly knows the difference between an M-60 machine gun and an AR-15.

I also know firsthand how effective both weapons are for maiming as well as killing human beings and anyone who thinks an AR-15 (M-16) is just cosmetic in appearance has a screw loose.

The high velocity of an AR-15’s bullet causes it to tumble through flesh and bone causing significant tissue damage, so everyone can imagine how several of these bullets striking a young child or teenager would react.

On another note, the writer citing how much greater the chance of being killed by various everyday objects instead of an assault weapon makes it seem he really thinks gambling with the lives of innocent children and teenagers is OK, which it certainly isn’t for most Americans.

The last point I want to make here is about the writer’s claim that we need to find out why some individuals commit mass shootings, instead of banning assault weapons? I think it’s clear there are a lot of individuals in our society that are evil, selfish cowards who relish the power they will feel when they slaughter innocent people and the attention that follows their un-Godly acts of violence, which is exactly why we need to ban assault weapons in our great country right now.

Gunner Jim Curtis, USMC – Vietnam

North Bend