Many letters have appeared lately that advocate teaching respect for firearms through gun and hunter safety courses in an effort to stem the horrendous gun violence that has been occurring in schools across the country.

What we really need to be teaching our youth, and many adults also, is respect for each other, not guns. If a person receives respect, and is raised with respect, that person will have respect for others as others will have respect for him or her.

A person who has respect for others will not engage in the bullying activity that seems to be driving those youths to turn to gun violence.

In a way, these children who turn to gun violence already respect guns because they turn to them, knowing that guns can be used to maim and kill their tormentors. There is no gray area here – these children know exactly what a gun can do and safety courses will not stem them from their quest to injure others. Safety courses can make them better shots, but they cannot take away the fear and rage that is produced in them by the lack of respect they are shown by those around them.

To propose that a high level of gun ownership in Maine is responsible for our low crime rate is to deny the possibility that most Mainers have a higher regard for those people around them than in those states with a higher crime rate. I would, however, like to have an understanding of what portion of our crime rate involves firearms.

Kenneth L. Horn

Bangor