Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

Here.

To the Editor:

I congratulate and thank The Times for the courage to expose the well-crafted scapegoat that people with mental illness are responsible for the American epidemic of large-scale gun carnage. It is a myth perpetuated by the National Rifle Association with the oft-parroted phrase, “It’s people, not guns.”

The prevalence of mental illness is essentially the same worldwide; the obscene scale of gun ownership is unique to the United States, including personal stockpiles of military-style weapons. During a 50-year career as a psychiatrist practicing in the inner city, I treated dozens of psychotic individuals with delusions that included plans to harm themselves or people known to them, but none fit the profile of the indiscriminate killers you describe.

The only sane cure for our nation’s malaise will be to rescind the Second Amendment and ban the personal possession of all guns not designed exclusively for the hunting of animals, not humans.

BARRY BLACKWELL

Milwaukee

Note from KBJ: We're more likely to rescind Barry Blackwell than to rescind the Second Amendment. Do you have any other ideas, Barry?

Never Say Die! (1978). The review at All Music is laughable. This is a great album.

The Texas Rangers had a magnificent final two months. During August, September, and the first four days of October, they went 38-22, which is a winning percentage of 63.3. That computes to 102.5 victories over the course of a 162-game season. If Prince Fielder comes out of his slump and if Josh Hamilton continues his fine hitting of the past few days, the Rangers will be hard to beat. They have three solid starting pitchers (Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, and Cole Hamels), excellent set-up men, and a top-notch closer (Shawn Tolleson). Their manager, Jeff Banister, is superb.

Here.

Here.

An amazing story. It reminds me of Jedediah Smith.

Here are three facts about Seven-Inning Felix, a.k.a. Felix Hernandez:

1. He failed for the 11th consecutive year to win 20 games.
2. He failed for the 11th consecutive year to appear in a postseason game.
3. He has completed only two of his past 96 starts.

He may be a good pitcher, but he is not a great one.

To the Editor:

Re “Protecting Apes Could Backfire,” by Peter D. Walsh (Sunday Review, Sept. 27):

The era of conducting invasive experiments on chimpanzees confined in laboratories is ending, yet there are still some within the research camp resisting the inevitable transition toward more humane and cost-effective research strategies. Mr. Walsh argues that if we can help develop an Ebola vaccine to help chimps in the wild, then we should continue to keep them in labs here in the United States.

But many disease experts agree that there are alternative methods for developing a vaccine, such as studying apes in African sanctuaries. Indeed, apes in Africa have also received various vaccines without testing on apes in American laboratories first. Why should Ebola be different?

Let’s not backtrack on a decision that is right and good. Let’s use our creative genius to find the scientific answers we need without continuing to victimize these endangered, highly sociable creatures.

WAYNE PACELLE

Washington

The writer is the president and chief executive of the Humane Society of the United States.