To the Editor:

Dick Peterson’s “Views” column of Dec. 21, about the Newton tragedy, was excellent. As he said, such an event always prompts questions about a perpetrator’s mental health. Dick referenced the facts that people with mental illness are no more likely to be violent than people without mental illness, and that alcohol abuse and other drug abuse is far more likely to result in violent behavior than mental illness by itself.

The Associated Press article of Dec. 22 about the NRA spokesman’s comments was disturbing. Wayne LaPierre spoke defiantly in a lengthy tirade at a so-called news conference, and forwarded rather bizarre ideas. He unequivocally connected mental illness and violence.