An anti-gun-control writer tells us he has a great idea: "Let's make illicit drug use illegal." Here's a better one: Let's make illegal drug use illicit. An even better one is don't publish letters with foolish tautologies exposing the writer's conflating of apples and oranges -- the gun issue and the drug issue.

The gun problem is simple to state. Way too many guns are in the hands of irresponsible people, and I'm not talking just about criminals. I saw too many of them when I was a National Rifle Association member years ago. The Second Amendment was never meant to legitimize the danger they present to themselves and society.

A solution won't be easy as it involves multiple fronts of attack, but we must attempt it -- and soon.

David D. Peterson

Port Royal