Get more guns off streets; offer buyback programs

I respect our founders and the Constitution. However the “right to live” will always trump the Second Amendment. More guns are not a safety net. Guns are designed to kill.

I am part of a large extended family of over 200. Not one ever owned or carried a gun. Guns do not make me feel safe. They frighten me. Guns are not beautiful collectors items. Melted down, we could fix our bridges, railroad tracks, roads and build new schools and hospitals.

Instead of helping the NRA make more money and corrupt our leaders, we should campaign to offer incentives to turn guns in. More guns off the street and out of our homes would make it less necessary to buy and carry more guns. Don’t always blame the mentally ill for killings. These individuals should be helped to live a productive life. The real killers are distraught spouses, jealous lovers, racists, the ultra-religious, collectors of debts, guards for the wealthy, and the poor who might kill to eat and survive. Even children accidentally kill!

Each day I pray and hope for change. So far this has not happened. Our elected leaders are spineless and do not really care. We must replace and vote them out of office.

Each human being is a blessing. We must make sure the precious babies, children and young adults we all love have a “right to live.” That’s a big and honorable goal. It will not be easy to reach that goal, but we must try and succeed.