When it comes to the Sept. 6 issue Letter to the Editor in response to John Allen’s piece “More than a swing vote,” I'm always surprised that so many Catholics see “life” only in terms of abortion.

The Catholic teaching on life is that we defend and value human life from conception to natural death. That covers death from abortion, disease, gun violence, euthanasia, extreme poverty, war, etc.

Gun violence is now the No. 1 cause of death of children. When voting, each Catholic must follow his own conscience: Which leader advocates policies that are likely to save the most lives?

— Linda Johnson, Long Beach