To the Editor:

When Mr. Charlton Heston (NYT, May 4^th, p. A11) points out the right of the people to keep and bear Arms provided by the 2^nd Amendment to our Constitution in 1791, he seems to forget that that article establishes this right within a well regulated Militia, for the security of a free State. I challenge Mr. Heston to explain how allowing every fool to own a gun in an unregulated way aids the security of our State at the doorstep of the 21^st century. The owner of the guns used in the Jonesboro killings, who irresponsibly left them within a child's reach, should be held liable for those deaths, to encourage responsible gun ownership. After all, we do not hesitate to warn medicine buyers to keep drugs out of the reach of children; should we not do the same with guns? Rights come with responsibilities.

Sincerely,

Alex Bäcker