Given that thousands die in car accidents each year, William T. Stokes’ Jan. 8 letter, “Why the misplaced screams?” wants to know why there is no great cry to ban cars comparable to the growing cry to ban automatic and semi-automatic weapons.
Perhaps the difference is this: Cars and trucks are designed to, and do, transport people and goods. There is much social and economic utility in private citizens owning cars and trucks.
Automatic and semi-automatic weapons are designed to, and do, kill many people quickly. There is zero social and economic utility in private citizens owning automatic or semi-automatic weapons.
That’s why there is no similar cry to ban cars.
Paul Dodds
Vancouver
