In the last 25 years, there have been ?hundreds of school shootings with thousands of deaths and physical injuries and tens of thousands children in America suffering from major trauma as they watch their classmates, friends, teachers and loved ones killed or maimed.
This is a preventable problem though legislators will say, ”It is about our Second Amendment rights,” or “It’s not the time to make changes."
I think 25 years of school mass shooting makes this exactly the time to make changes to gun laws. To them, I say, "Be rational, use your common sense." There is no well-regulated militia in the United States. The perpetrators are mostly young White men who feel disenfranchised. No gun will help that. We need a modicum of rules to prevent a world of sadness.
Here are some common-sense proposals: Ban assault rifles for anyone who is not in the military or police.? Require background checks to assure that seriously mentally ill patients will not have access to guns.? Do not allow children under the age of 21 to have access to guns.?.
It’s simple: Fewer guns will result in fewer school shootings. I know there is a lot of money to be made from guns, and legislators enjoy the benefits of endorsements from entities like the National Rifle Association, but enough is enough. It is indeed the time to act.
PATRICIA KISSINGER
New Orleans