This is in response to a letter from Heidi Weber (Feb. 14). In the photo that was published on Jan. 27, I saw an adult coaching a child shooting a paintball gun and having fun. Somehow, another individual sees the same photo and envisions the next Sandy Hook.

We live in a world where criminals live among us. That cannot be legislated away. Gun control activists ignore this fact: criminals break the law. Even if you make guns illegal, criminals will still have them. Law-abiding citizens will then become incapable of defending themselves and their families.

The world is not filled with dolls and teddy bears, as Weber would suggest, that our daughters should be trained to knit and crochet for.

I would rather that children are trained to protect themselves from evildoers and be alive.

James Barron, Lewiston

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