The horrific murders of four police officers was committed by a madman with a gun who was also a felon and was not in the least deterred by the upwards of 20,000 gun laws already on the books.

Yet the public will blame the gun and want to see more laws passed to keep them out of the hands of criminals.

Consider that violent felons belong in jail permanently. Overcrowding is no excuse and we don’t need more prison space. Just stop jailing citizens for things like smoking (not dealing) pot, or for nonviolent crimes for which fines, community service, or restitution will be a punishment to fit the crime.

Remember also that an officer with a gun put an end to a criminal career that might have been ended at the time of the attack on the four officers by the presence of one or more armed citizens.

Those citizens are the ones who will be affected by more anti-gun laws. The criminals will be happy to know that they are at last the only ones with guns.

Do you think that is a good thing?

Howard W. Smith

Poulsbo