The murder of Kasandra Perkins at the hands of professional football player Jovan Belcher has brought out the usual group of gun rights and gun-control advocates blasting away at each other.
A number of things are pretty clear. This is America, and guns are here to stay. But guns, particularly handguns, increase the likelihood of lethal consequences in domestic violence. It is evident now the relationship between Ms. Perkins and Mr. Belcher was dangerous and that Belcher had a number of handguns — he used two on Saturday morning and joked with friends that he had them.
Is it possible for responsible gun owners and responsible gun-control advocates to focus just on domestic violence and the presence of guns in those situations and see what prudent steps might be taken to reduce the dangers inherent when you combine lethal weapons and potential domestic violence?
I know that "reduce" sounds ridiculous and inadequate, but once a woman has taken eight or nine bullets there isn't much left to do but grieve and send her murderer away for life.
I offer no solutions, but I believe sensible heads working together can devise something, anything, that might help.
TONY WILDMAN
Watervliet