I grew up during the "golden age of TV," when westerns were king; Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, The Cisco Kid and dozens of others. All of the boys were out at every recess and at lunch time playing cowboys and Indians. Every boy I went to school with carried a pocket knife from the second grade on. In high school, some even had hunting knives on their belts. No one ever even thought of pulling one on another person or threatening anyone. Why? Because there were standards and ethics, and we knew there would be severe consequences.

During my senior year, a classmate of mine brought a shotgun to school and kept it in his locker all year while making a new stock for it in wood shop. No cops were called, and he wasn't suspended. No on-scene analyzing by some fluff reporter trying to make a name for herself. No liberal spin merchants like NBC's Brian Williams or Matt Lauer calling for gun control.

I played hooky one day and went squirrel hunting. On the way home, while walking down a country road, the school bus driver gave me a ride. He made me sit on the steps but other than that, no restrictions. Furthermore, every boy I grew up with could use a firearm. So why weren't there any mass killings?

Shortly after the November election, one of our astute liberal writers to this forum bloviated that "this isn't 1954 anymore." Sadly, he is right.

Roddy D. Riggs

Highland