To the Editor. —After reading the June 10, 1992, issue ofJAMA, it is clear that a consensus seems to be emerging on how to solve the epidemic of firearm violence sweeping our country. The message is that gun control, and possibly destruction of anything that shoots, is the cure. Clearly, this will be a bitter pill to swallow for many sectors of our society, such as people living in rural areas where there are more cows than gang members. There also will be strong opposition from groups that promote civic, responsible, and sporting use of firearms such as the NRA, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the US Olympic Committee. But drastic times require drastic cures as stated by Koop and Lundberg: Firearms are intended to be lethal weapons.1Research into why, in present-day society, guns turn people into killers is needed but must await more pressing public