I found President Obama’s big plan to curb gun violence more of a wish list than an actual plan to stop the violence. He pawned it off to Congress, stating that it must do something.

Also, Obama should be ashamed of himself for exploiting children to promote his agenda. He and his ilk want to disarm law-abiding citizens while ignoring the fact that only criminals will have weapons.

I am a Marine Vietnam veteran and former cop who was considered a weapons expert in the military and on the job, but I didn’t learn what I knew there. My father, who was also a cop, pounded gun safety into my head at a young age and taught me to respect weapons.

If you tell kids that guns are dangerous, then you are asking them to see for themselves. If you show them the do’s and don’ts, it takes the mystery away.

If the schools administered a psychological test as well as an aptitude test for children at ages 8 an 14, then they may be able to tell who should be watched and helped through puberty.

If children are taught safety and respect for weapons, gun violence can be nipped in the bud.

Gregory J. Topliff

Warrenville