In response to the mass shootings plaguing our nation, we ask our leaders to step up and find solutions.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Readers filled our inbox over the weekend with words of pain, love, anger and ideas. Here are just a few excerpts:
More tragic mass shootings and more of the same gun lobby-approved responses: “It’s too soon to talk about.”
That’s just an excuse to do nothing. Do people say that after a tragedy like a bridge collapse? No. They immediately start working on preventing it from happening again.
“We’re sending our thoughts and
prayers.” Thanks, but that alone is not enough to stop even one shooting.
Wrong. More guns mean more dead children, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, coworkers and neighbors. It is a fact that countries with fewer guns have less gun violence.
If you ever said any of the above quotes, you are a pawn of the gun lobby, wittingly or unwittingly. But you can be a part of the solution.
Vote against any candidate who has taken even a cent from the gun lobby; or speaks hatefully about immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ , women or people of a different faith.
Turn your guns into buy-back programs and encourage everyone you know to do the same. Don’t let your children go into homes that have guns and tell the owners why. Use Colorado’s new red-flag law to alert law enforcement about anyone who is in distress and has a gun. Kids, use Safe2Tell if you are alarmed by any of your friends or schoolmates. Don’t let anyone speak hatefully about others in your presence. Cynthia Stone, Denver
Blaming any president for the actions of mentally ill and unstable people is just irresponsible. I don’t recall anyone blaming past presidents for the mass shootings including Columbine, the Aurora theater, Sandy Hook, and more.
The problem is that too many guns are in the wrong hands, yet the guns of the “good guys” are kept away in a locked safe at home. Unless “good people” carry 24/7, and are willing to use them (a true citizen militia), I don’t see this problem ending anytime soon. Barbara Adams, Parker
After the Challenger shuttle disaster, when seven astronauts were killed, the Rogers Commission was established. After the 9/11 terrorist attack, a commission was established. Many more people have been killed by gun violence. Congress is not acting. Isn’t it time for a commission to study causes and solutions for gun violence? Barbara Schwartz, Estes Park
Now Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is telling us that violent video games are responsible for the recent, tragic mass shootings in Texas and Ohio. I agree that there is little socially redeeming value in such games. But there is one huge problem with McCarthy’s assertion: No one can walk into a club, store, church, school, mosque, or synagogue, or any other gathering place, and kill multiple people “armed” with a video game. Please contact your congressional representatives and senators and tell them we need universal background checks and a revival of the assault weapons ban. Please help stop this insanity. P.J. Pitchford, Lakewood
Whether you believe in God, universal power or have no idea how the world began or exists, it’s time that every living soul take a moment and close our eyes and say a prayer that this will stop. No human has come up with a reasonable answer to this question.
The United States of America should have a national day of prayer, put aside political hatred, religious differences and join together and ask for a solution.
We say on our currency and in public buildings, “In God We Trust.” It time to put these words into action. Elaine Little, Denver
I don’t want your guns. Or at least, I don’t want your hunting rifles or handguns. Your assault weapons should never have been considered guns, and I want them banned. I do want every gun owner to register their guns, take a safety course, store them unloaded in locked cabinets. I want all gun owners to go through background checks.
And yes, of course, we should be putting more money into treating mental health in this country. But that isn’t enough. And yes, we need massive education on the effects of violent games and programming. And yes, we need a president who doesn’t espouse hatred and laugh at jokes about shooting immigrants. But that isn’t enough. We also need common-sense gun laws.
If you love the Second Amendment, then you’d better come up with something that works. Because us leftist, pinko, communist snowflakes (and whatever other insults you choose to call me) have had enough! Peter Westcott, Carbondale