Shootout at Shopping Center

Re “Shopper Killed in Shootout at Van Nuys Costco,” Aug. 14.

When I read LAPD Lt. [Jim] Grayson’s comment, “It was a totally wanton disregard for the welfare of the people who were out there,” I agreed completely, although perhaps not in the sense the lieutenant intended. The armored car personnel who engaged those robbers in a gun battle in a crowded parking lot were extremely irresponsible.

Whoever trained and / or instructed those personnel to “draw and shoot” when faced with armed robbers, regardless of the location or the presence of crowds of innocent bystanders, was equally negligent.

I’m curious to know how much training the armored car drivers have had in the use of firearms. I’m curious why their mandate isn’t “give up the damn money” when there are that many people in the line of fire.

I wish I were also curious [about] why the robbers possessed an AK-47, but we all know the answer to that one.

JIM HOUGHTON

Encino

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Re “2 Remaining Gunmen Evade Capture After Costco Shooting,” Aug. 15.

The Democrats should take a few minutes out from patting each other on the back to look at the situation they have created in California, where we have to duck for cover in our shopping centers. Democrats in this state have created a situation where criminals have access to firearms and law-abiding citizens don’t. The few police officers we do have are mostly deployed downtown, protecting these same politicians. The only way the Democrats could have made it any easier here for criminals would be to hand out T-shirts with targets on them (for the rest of the public) that say, “It’s OK to shoot or rob me; I’m unarmed.”

MARK KEHLENBECK

Canoga Park