...AND ANOTHER THING

John Ogge, Highett

Gun violence

USING the NRA's logic, Iran should be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, because "nuclear weapons don't kill people, people kill people".

Fabio Scalia, Windsor

A GUN without something to fire is just an interesting artefact.

Rosie Brick, Mount Martha

DO YOU think they would get the message if we told them that it was God's punishment for insisting on their God-given right to bear arms?

Colin Smith, St Kilda

YET another mass shooting in America? I bet no one saw that coming.

John Howes, Belmont

PERHAPS the US gun lobby will suggest that children carry guns to school to protect themselves.

Lance Cranage, Mount Waverley

THOUSANDS of words have been written and spoken since the latest US shooting. None of these have affected me so instantly, so deeply, as Tandberg's "Class of 2012 - when will they ever learn" (Comment, The Age, 18/12).

Dawn Evans, Birregurra

Politics

HEY, Bob Carr, what a legend, coming out of retirement to wreak more suffering on the most vulnerable people in the world ("Foreign aid shift draws protests", The Age, 19/12).

Trish Bolton, Northcote

THE spirit of Christmas is sadly lacking when the government cuts foreign aid to the world's most needy to pay for those in detention.

Mary Fenelon, Collingwood

LEND Lease banned from government contracts ("Lend Lease ban could go to court", The Age, 19/12) Ted must have forgotten that union members vote too.

Allan Russell, Whittlesea

THE North Korean satellite Kwangmyongsong-3 is supposed to be broadcasting patriotic songs but appears silent ("N. Korean satellite orbiting but 'dead"', The Age, 19/12). It just goes to show they are on a different wavelength to the rest of the world.

Alan Inchley, Frankston

Other matters

ATHEISTS can freely express their dislike of Christian celebrations and beliefs. Could they give their opinions of Jewish, Muslim and indigenous festivals, too?

Beryl Bartacek, Emerald

NO, PETER Hanlon, I can't convince my children about thongs, either ("Thongs, sung blue. Enough to make you primal scream", The Age, 14/12). They have to be told, too.

Francis Smith, Caulfield North