Ban wouldn't impact citizens' rights

In response to Gail Smith's letter “Don't interfere with my rights” (Dec. 26), the author sidesteps a basic question regarding gun ownership, preferring to hide behind attempts at humor.

Forgive me, but the mental image of 20 dead first-graders, splattered across their classroom floor, has impeded by ability to laugh at your juvenile delinquent felines.

The central question in my mind is, do civilians need assault rifles? Single, non-single, female, non-female has nothing to do with the question. What is the purpose of an assault rifle other than to commit mass killings?

I am not so naive as to believe that the banning of assault rifles will bring an end to murders in this country, or even an end to school shootings. I do believe that such a ban is a step that we must take, and that we can take without impinging upon Americans' right to bear arms.

REBECCA BAGNALL
Yuma