Alistair Cooke's Letters from America- John Lennon's Assassination and the Gun Control Debate (1980)

[@robalston590]

I remember listening to this voice on our radio in Christchurch, NZ.. it was a calming voice, even though I was too young to understand what he was saying.

[@ausimike1]

Me too

[@richardsharpe2966]

Alistair Cooke was just one of the greatest broadcasters I every heard

[@UncleBoratagain]

Absolutely agree, intelligent, wise and erudite Englishman.

[@Ryan-on5on]

Mr. Cooke's eloquent statements here stand as one of the best, most sober-minded appraisals of my nation's obscene and continuing gun violence problem. How I wish sensible minds back then had prevailed in the halls of government with the result that there was now such a thing as effective American gun control rather than the present dismal state of affairs with regular mass shootings, attempted assassinations, and inner-city gun battles!

[@cassiusw90s]

Thanks for posting this. It's thirty-three years old and still stunningly true.

[@andrewgrosset9327]

Now 44 yrs, we should remember and debate history as it happens to repeat itself...

[@alistaircooke7000]

Well said.

[@lifeisimportantkate]

Very informative. Thanks

[@Labienus]

This shows not, how things haven't improved, but have become worse. He keeps talking about handguns-little could he imagine that assault rifles in the intervening 30 + years are the debate now-and all the same arguments against gun control prevail, with the idea of arms being necessary for protection even more acceptable. Whether it's Lennon, or school children or what is the unbelievable number of Americans killed by guns over the last 40 yrs. it makes no difference.

[@Fm-xo5sb]

More relevant now than ever

[@christinelee450]

Obviously a Republican. Didn’t realise until l listened to this broadcast. Part of his charm was that he always appeared none political. He comes across as pretty right wing here.

[@kingarthurusatenniscoach1415]

Alistair Cook change his name ,,,,, He may have been a snob and chancer

[@twinsoultarot473]

If Lennon believed in bodyguards, he would still be alive. Have we seriously considered this??

[@garmit61]

Lauren Todd if he hadn’t met a psychopath with a gun he would’ve lived longer.

[@perceptionmanagement2116]

Shhhhhhh 🤫 Common sense is not allowed.

[@quarstrongforce]

i am ready to own a gun. long or short of it. it has many use. just a tool that need skill.

[@timwingham8952]

The English language is also a tool whose use requires skill. A skill you clearly don't possess.