In our hands
When is enough enough? How many times do we have to have a mass shooting at one of our schools, or wherever, before our wimpy politicians in Washington take action?
I am a gun owner. I believe in the right to bear arms. Our Second Amendment calls for “a well-regulated militia”. Where the hell are the rules? It is unscrupulous that an 18-year-old can walk into a store and buy not one, but two assault rifles without any check.
Unfortunately, our thoughts and prayers do not do much to address this problem. What it does address are our voices. The vast majority of Americans support gun control with common sense. you have the power to effect change in Washington. Regardless of your party membership, vote for representatives who will effect change and vote for those who will not.
Let’s finally put an end to this terrible madness.
– Jeffrey S. Simkins, Overland Park
My only problem
For years, I’ve criticized single-issue voters like my fellow Catholics who vote for abortion-restriction candidates, but ignore those candidates’ other serious flaws (lying, megalomania, sedition).
However, I am strongly considering becoming a single-issue voter on gun regulations.
I wouldn’t make self-defense pistols or hunting rifles illegal, but I would only vote for candidates who actually do something toward passing gun laws requiring universal background checks with no loopholes, raising the gun purchase age, requiring gun locks, banning assault weapons, banning bump stocks, promoting red flag laws, and informing the FBI when someone buys body armor.
Even many NRA members support these sensible measures. The NRA itself is bankrupt (morally and financially) and Bambi can’t shoot back.
Any senator or representative who does not support such measures should be fired. They are no longer allowed to hide behind “thoughts and prayers”.
-Mark Johnson, Kansas City
They have to act
Actions rather than words. The words of condolence from our elected officials after another mass shooting are meaningless unless followed by meaningful legislation. The least Congress should do is ban the sale of assault and ghost weapons, and make it illegal to own both — period.
It is shameful to accept campaign contributions from the NRA and those who manufacture and sell weapons. Too many of the office holders are in the pockets of the arms industry.
The life you save could be yours or someone you love.
– Susanne Shutz, Praire Village
Not a big hope
Like many of us, I vividly remember the bleak news of the Sandy Hook massacre of 20 innocent children and six adults. At the time, I thought that such a heinous crime would surely shake the consciences of even the most adamant gun-owning advocates in Congress and lead to some form of gun control legislation. I was wrong.
I would like to believe that Tuesday’s massacre of 19 children at a Texas elementary school, along with the murder of 10 innocent black shoppers in Buffalo, New York, on May 14, could finally be the catalyst for realistic action in the fight against the proliferation of weapons in America.
But I won’t hold my breath to wait for that to happen.
-Eddie Clay, Grandview
fitting memorial
As we all know, we should not politicize mass shootings. Instead, now is a time to offer thoughts and prayers to the victims and families. Even after a period of mourning, there is nothing we can do to control guns, for we must not infringe on the right to guns enshrined in the Second Amendment.
In this crippling climate of gun control, I make a humble proposition.
We should erect a monument, ideally in front of the National Rifle Association headquarters, that recognizes the sacrifices of the hundreds of Americans who lost their lives in mass shootings in the service of the Second Amendment.
The great advantage of such a monument is that, after a mass shooting like the one this week in Texas, we can all come together as the names are put on and commemorate the people who died for our right to keep and bear arms, and to remember why we can do nothing to control weapons.
I look forward to gun rights advocates launching a GoFundMe campaign for such a monument.
– Bob Yates, Kansas City
