A recent letter writer against gun control uses a female walking in a dark garage as an example of having less gun control [“Gun control bill a ‘fool’s errand,’ Gazette, Oct. 23]. If his intention is to make women fearful enough to agree with less gun control, he’s way off. If I shoot to scare someone, they may shoot back, especially if they mean me no harm and I’m trigger happy. Sometimes women are scared while out running or walking, in bars where drinks need to be protected, at home with partners who are abusive, or like those folks in Maine, when we go bowling or out to eat. Most of us are no strangers to fear. Assault rifles are something every single one of us needs to fear, not just women. If you all want to talk about mental health, please remember that the shooter with the assault rifle in Maine, who wasn’t dangerous before he picked up the gun and decided to end lives, has created more mental health issues. I absolutely want assault rifles, and high capacity magazines banned as well as anything else that will keep us all safe.

Linda Hillenbrand

Leverett