Gun control issue needs addressing

William Welliver
Co-News Editor

    Until last week, my thoughts on gun control generally fell into line with those of the National Rifle Association - gun crimes aren't the result of too many guns, gun crimes are result of people.
   That has changed. Within the last week and a half, two serious crimes involving guns were committed in my hometown of Lititz, Pa. The first occurred last Tuesday when a man who was being served for traffic violations refused to get out of his vehicle. The police broke the driver's side window and the man responded by firing several shots at the three officers, wounding one. The shooter, 23-year-old Daniel Faust, fled the scene of the shooting and remained at large for several hours.
   Around 12 p.m., approximately 11 hours after the initial shooting, Faust was shot to death on a farm in rural, southern Lancaster County by a state police corporal and a federal marshal. Faust apparently drew his gun when confronted by the two officers and fired a shot before he was shot and killed.
   At approximately 8 a.m. Sunday, Michael and Cathryn Borden were shot to death in their Warwick Township home. The alleged shooter, 18-year-old David Ludwig, then abducted their 14-year-old daughter, Kara. Authorities believe Ludwig committed the crime because the Bordens had reservations about Ludwig being involved with Kara romantically.
   I used to blame gun crimes on the people that committed them. However, after these two incidents that hit extremely close to home, I have changed my tune. There are too many guns in this world and all too often, they end up in the hands of the wrong people. Who knows how the Borden abduction would have turned out if authorities weren't able to cause Ludwig to wreck his car.
   When Michael Moore released his "Bowling for Columbine" documentary, gun control was still a rather important issue on the national level. Now, as shown during the 2004 presidential election, gun control is a minor issue.
   It is time for the issue to be put back on the table. It truly boggles the mind that, in Pennsylvania, our government has spent more time complaining about their own salaries than working on serious issues. Property tax relief, Medicaid funding and gun control - all issues that the state government should at least attempt to address, and they sit and do nothing.
   How many people have to lose their lives before we take this issue seriously again?

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