On Dec. 22, 2001, a Muslim man from England attempted to detonate a shoe bomb unsuccessfully on Flight 63 from Paris to Miami. Richard Reid was subdued by passengers. There were no fatalities. As a result, all passengers on American flights must take off their shoes and have them X-rayed before boarding. This has been a requirement for over 10 years.

June 12 — To the Editor:



On Dec. 22, 2001, a Muslim man from England attempted to detonate a shoe bomb unsuccessfully on Flight 63 from Paris to Miami. Richard Reid was subdued by passengers. There were no fatalities. As a result, all passengers on American flights must take off their shoes and have them X-rayed before boarding. This has been a requirement for over 10 years.



In 2006, on transatlantic flights, there was a terrorist plot to carry liquid explosives on board at least 10 airliners traveling from the United Kingdom to the United States and Canada. The plot was discovered and foiled by British Police before it could be carried out, and as a result, unprecedented security measures were immediately put in place. Following the operation, United States Homeland Security banned all liquids and gels except baby formula and prescription medications in the name of the ticket holder in carry-on luggage on all flights.



There have been 74 shootings on school grounds since the Sandy Hook School massacre, and on average, there are 30 gun murders a day in America by predominately white Christian men. There has been a school shooting every 7.35 days in America after Sandy Hook. The National Rifle Association states we need more guns. Congress sits on their hands doing nothing. There are approximately 32,000 gun deaths a year in America, including suicides. There are approximately 100,000 shootings in America every year.



Your dead children nor your dead relatives, friends or acquaintances will not affect the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Constitution concerning the right to own weapons of mass destruction. You can be reassured that in the event of any attempt which causes even a threat of injury or death by a Muslim or perceived terrorist, the action will be swift and harsh. One-hundred thousand shootings a year is terrorism and should be dealt with the same vigor as the attempts by Muslims to do the same with a different weapon. Corporate lobbying by the NRA prevents Congress from any legislation on gun control for fear of negative publicity by the NRA affecting lawmakers' re-election. Gun legislation is needed now with no regard to how unpopular it is, and lobbyists need to be run out of Washington, D.C., so our representatives can do the people's work unencumbered by the influences of lobbyists and money.



Nelson Linscott



Kittery, Maine