Shooting was one man, not all gun owners

To the editor:
Mr. Heidtke’s column title last week implies the horrific shooting of innocent people at a movie theater is the fault of all gun owners instead of a single, very sick person.
With his background in law enforcement, he has to know that gun laws do not stop criminals from illegally obtaining and using firearms. He may find it interesting to interview some of the New Orleans folks who, after Hurricane Katrina, were illegally disarmed (and left defenseless against thieves and looters) by the police who were supposed to be protecting them.
As with firearms, laws against alcohol/drug use do not stop people from getting and using them. I wonder how many people died yesterday from crimes associated with their use?
I grew up playing with toy cap pistols, graduated to BB and pellet guns, then on to firearms. My dad taught me their proper function and use, as did all of the dads of kids I grew up with. He taught me guns were tools; used responsibly they could provide food, fun and, if needed, protection. Used criminally, we get the murder of innocent people.
As far as concealed-carry training on a human silhouette target as opposed to a bulls-eye, I have never heard of or seen a would-be attacker walking around with a bulls-eye painted anywhere on his body.
I wonder how many deaths/injuries could have been prevented at that theater if just one trained, concealed-carrying person had been in attendance and taken the shooter out at the beginning of the melee?
Norman Horne
Ash