Tragedies: Virginia Tech and Iraq

I.M.H.O., some people should be allowed to purchase and own weapons and some should not.

I believe that no one should be allowed to purchase a firearm without taking a serious course (maybe 80 hours) on gun safety. Of course, this would not eliminate gun violence, but it might reduce it. Instructors should get to know the students... and flunk those that seem to be risks.

Gun control has been called "victim disarmament," and there is some truth in that phrase. Criminals may have easier access to firearms.... I just doubt that the U.S. will be safer if everyone has a gun, but I don't know... should every college building have one entrance with a metal detector and an armed guard at the door?

Responsible trained people should be allowed to own guns; irresponsible maniacs should have a hard time getting weapons.

And I guess it makes sense to have stricter restrictions on more serious weapons... it should be easier to get a .22 pistol than a nuclear bomb.

What do you think? You can reach me at Billdog9325@aol.com.

P.S. Keith Olberman pointed out that about 30 U.S. soldiers had been killed in Iraq in the past month. I wish:

1. More people would realize that we have won the Iraq war. We destroyed the Iraqi army. We occupied the country. We ensured that Iraq did not have any weapons of mass destruction. We set up a democracy. We ensured that Saddam Hussein and other were killed. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! So it's time for the soldiers to come home. Most Iraqis and most Americans want U.S. soldiers to come home. The Saudis and other Arabs could take over the police functions and reduce the sectarian killings.

2. More U.S. soldiers should refuse to follow deployment orders. Yes, it takes courage to go to Iraq; it takes courage to go into any combat. And it also takes courage to refuse deployment; it means court martial and imprisonment. When Nazi soldiers were asked why they commited genocide by gassing Jews and others in the Holocaust, the Nazi soldiers said they were "just following orders." Some orders should NOT be followed. Some orders are wrong.