About the publisher: Jackie Calmes discusses AR-15 style weapons. She doesn’t seem to know enough about these guns to argue convincingly that civilian possession, possession, and sale of them should be illegal.

These weapons use ammunition that consists of a long, relatively large diameter case designed to hold a large amount of explosive powder, but with a very narrow neck to accommodate a long, narrow bullet. This projectile is thus ejected at a very high muzzle velocity of 3,300 feet per second.

The AR-15 is designed to generate a very damaging shock wave that causes an unusual amount of tissue damage. Due to the projectile’s exceptionally high speed and relatively heavy weight, it injures or kills virtually anyone in its path. It can also easily penetrate walls, furniture and even people and still injure or kill someone behind it.

These characteristics make the AR-15 far too dangerous and destructive for home or business defense. Due to the extraordinary tissue damage, an AR-15 is totally unsuitable for hunting. It is a weapon of war, only suitable for waging war at a distance of at least a mile from civilians.

David Rudich, Phoenix

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About the editor: The lesson of the 1999 Columbine High School mass shooting was that law enforcement must act quickly and decisively when such a shooting occurs.

Police responding to the 2022 shooting in Uvalde, Texas, did not receive that memo. In contrast, the Nashville Police Department and the faculty and staff of The Covenant School acted heroically and saved lives.

And the Republicans in Congress? Stop looking at your phones and sanitizing your hands. Swift and decisive legislative action to ban private ownership of assault weapons will save lives.

Leonard Wapner, Seal Beach.

About the publisher: It’s disgusting, I’ve seen some GOP representatives blatantly wear pins in the shape of an AR-15 assault weapon.

I suggest that Democratic representatives wear a button with the face, name and age of a child killed by gun violence. These gun-loving legislators need a direct reminder of what those guns are doing to children.

Joyce Chonis, Westchester