In regard to the piece, "After Tucson, don't expect sanity to prevail on guns" (Jan. 11) Dan Rodricks clearly demonstrates that he is a master of blame. What he hasn't figured out yet is that his words only serve to cause even more animosity. He writes of "toning down the vitriolic political rhetoric," but that doesn't seem to apply to him.

He mentions the "soul-searching" prescribed by "the remarkably candid sheriff of Pima County." Mr. Rodricks needs to follow the example of the one he has quoted. If he wants to point a finger of blame, he needs to look in a mirror and start with himself. To do so requires courage. We'll see.

George F. Spicka, Baltimore