Letters: Don't shift murder blame to cops
David Laffer is led out of Fifth Precinct in Patchogue. (June 23, 2011) Credit: James Carbone
Regarding "Detective urged department to confiscate Laffer's guns" [News, Sept. 23], the insinuation that Police Officer Kelly Smith and/or the Suffolk County Police Department's pistol licensing bureau were in some way to blame for David Laffer's alleged murder of four innocent people is grossly unjust. First, notwithstanding Det. Kenneth Ripp's recommendation with respect to an earlier family dispute, there is no way that any person could have had the clairvoyance to predict the horrific actions at Haven Drugs in Medford.
Moreover, while your article cites the terms of the Suffolk's Pistol License Information Handbook in support of its thesis that the ultimate tragedy could have been avoided, it failed to note that the U.S. Supreme Court has recently twice confirmed that citizens (with certain exceptions not applicable here) have a constitutional right to possess a handgun in the home. Accordingly, the SCPD Pistol Licensing Bureau probably could not have lawfully seized Laffer's legally owned weapons even if they were so inclined.
Further, Laffer did not need his licensed handguns to commit theft and murder. Unfortunately, as the news bears out almost daily, illegal handguns are easily obtained by criminals bent on using them.
Lloyd M. Eisenberg, Wading River
Editor's note: The writer is a lawyer.
What is of great concern to Long Island's law-abiding pistol licensees is the potential ramifications resulting from the Laffer case. All too often, after a senseless tragedy (especially a highly publicized one) those who obey the law always seem to suffer by way of the actions of those who don't.
When justice must be served, let it be served upon the guilty and not the innocent.
Laurence C. Dittmer, Levittown
Editor's note: The writer is a certified firearms instructor.
All over the news, all I heard was how the four drugstore victims would be alive today if Suffolk County police had taken away David Laffer's guns. Hello? Did the police pull the trigger multiple times without regard for four people's lives? Did the police plan the robbery to obtain prescription drugs?
The circumstances for which one officer, Det. Kenneth Ripp, suggested removing guns from Laffer did not seem to me to be one where guns would be removed. It seemed to be a case of identity theft. That doesn't wave a red flag.
Even if the guns were confiscated, who can say that the shooter wouldn't have gotten another off the street? A desperate person will find a way.
Letta Gano, Farmingdale
