Gun control

Re “Gunfire in nearby neighborhood ends Virginia Beach football game in the fourth quarter” (Aug. 25): The article on the shooting near Kempsville High School’s football game really portrays and explains how all the back-to-back gun violence affects our communities.

Although the story was incredibly heartbreaking, it has become common to the point where entire communities are desensitized to violence and show little to no outrage. To better address this issue we must have reflections and resolve to act against all this gun violence.

Treating the gun violence as the public health crisis it is or simply limiting access to firearms would greatly benefit our communities and help to slow down the multiple shootings. All the surviving gun violence victims should be provided with health care to heal from the trauma that these experiences can bring.

The friends and family who attended that football game will forever be affected by this incident. The terror of gunshots and the fear of having to evacuate for cover will be with them. It’s a problem that can affect everyone.

Not very long ago, there was a shooting just a few houses down from my home in which a 10-year-old boy tragically died from the cross fire. His family will forever have to deal with this devastating loss, and it’s something that will haunt them for their entire lives. Adopting strong laws to keep firearms away can resolve a lot of these incidents. This will only continue if we allow it, and this can be the moment to change lives if we take action.

— LaMontae Dunn, Franklin