Guns make killing easy

To the editor:
    Two days after the Tucson tragedy, a politician who was talking on one of the major TV networks, insisted that guns do not make people kill people. He said it was hatred of groups or individuals that makes people kill people. There is truth in that, but guns make killing easy.
    People will say that knives, hatchets, clubs, poison and strong hands kill people. Yes they do, but nowhere as easily or risk free as using guns. Only guns will let you mow down dozens of people and do it from a distance so you can run or drive away from the crime scene.
    Last year 9,500 people were murdered in the United States. In all of the European countries, Asia and Canada the average number or murders was just under 250. I feel ashamed knowing that China had so few murders compared to us. That statistic also makes me realize the tremendous influence the NRA lobbyists have had on our legislators.
Elbridge Gagnon
Houlton