Leave use of guns to trained authorities

I am shocked and appalled by recent calls in the press to arm teachers in light of all the tragic campus shootings.

I'm also concerned about calls for the expansion of concealed carry, allowing for the legal carrying of guns in public places by anyone.

While I firmly believe in the right of citizens to own firearms, I do not want to see a return to the Wild West, where guns were proliferate and even minor scores were settled with deadly force.

Who wants to be caught in the crossfire between a hoodlum and some naive citizen who thinks he's Dirty Harry?

Police officers receive far more training in the proper use of lethal force than any private citizen will ever have, and even they too often make mistakes that result in serious consequences.

There is far too much gun violence already. What we don't need, however, are thousands of gun-toting George Zimmermans roaming our streets and classrooms.

What we do need are well-trained, well-equipped, well-staffed, properly regulated law enforcement and common-sense gun regulations.

We have a long way to go in both of those arenas, but in the meantime, I'll take the status quo over any expansion of guns in public forums.

Bob Dohn

Schaumburg