Opinion articles provide independent perspectives on key community issues, separate from our newsroom reporting.

Letters to the Editor

Gangs are the No. 1 problem

In the next few weeks, gun control will rule our news as Democrats, Republicans and independents want gun violence stopped.

The subject “gun control” sounds great but is not the answer. The majority of mass shootings, like San Bernardino and Paris, would not have been affected by stricter background checks. D.E. Schmidt’s letter (Dec. 27) noted that gangs are the major problem with gun violence, ISIS is not now our major problem in the United States.

If we cannot control gang violence in our own country, ISIS will then become a real problem. Gang violence and killings in many big cities is out of control.

In Fresno a gun-firing locator has been installed, but our police cannot react until after the gunshot is heard.

The general public does not seem concerned about gang violence. The public feels that our criminal justice system is taking corrective measures, but that is only window dressing. There is so much more about the gang problem that this one article cannot cover it all.

If readers feel as Mr. Schmidt and I do, please let your concerns be known.

R.E. Lynch, Coarsegold

This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 5:18 AM with the headline "Gangs are the No. 1 problem."

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