Docs entering the gun fray
Unity in crisis
Regarding “Docs feud with NRA” (Front page, Tuesday): Why haven’t we thought of this before? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been crying for gun deaths to be defined as a public health issue for years. Now it’s the emergency room doctors. Why aren’t they joined by the American Medical Association, the American Society of Psychiatric Medicine, the American Hospital Association and the health insurance lobby — all stakeholders in this health crisis?
Together they could crush the obstinacy of the gun manufacturers, since a large majority of the NRA membership supports reasonable control measures. Britt D. Davis, Katy
Seeing effects
We must begin to deal earnestly with the carnage from gunshot wounds and the growing violence in our society. Certainly, lax gun laws are only a part of the problem, but it is morally irresponsible to ignore their contribution to this epidemic of shootings.
It is also unconscionable to gag the doctors on the front lines of this war and expect them to remain mute when encountering losses of life and limb from preventable causes.
It is not the NRA or gun lobbyists who look into the anguished eyes of parents and loved ones after these tragedies. James Wilson, Houston
Core issues
The story reports that 26,000 doctors, nurses, paramedics and social workers signed an open letter (blasting the gun lobby) to the NRA. The petition says “Gun Violence Is Our Lane.” It is clear these are the professionals whosee gun violence at its worse: children, the elderly and those in between. Why address a letter to the NRA? That organization is just protecting the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms. We need to address the criminals and gang members and those dealing with mental health issues. James E. Muecke, Houston
Time for action
I am delighted that doctors have taken on the NRA because it arrogantly thinks it owns gun control, or lack thereof, in America.
The reality is that gun violence is owned by all Americans. It is our nation’s freeway. Our violent gun death rate is 8 times Canada’s, 32 times Germany’s, and 64 times China’s.
In the wake of the mass killings at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, the synagogue in my area of Houston just hired an armed security guard to be present during services. Our schools are having lock-down drills to prepare for shooters. Road rage in Houston is often settled with gun violence.
It’s time for peaceful citizens to appeal for action from legislators to curtail our inordinate death rate from guns. If the National Rifle Association does not want to come to the table where sensible legislation can be formulated, then its lane is nothing more than a trail that leads nowhere. John T. James, founder, Patient Safety America, Houston
Solutions
Regarding “American carnage” (Editorial, Wednesday): Thank you. I truly appreciate the Chronicle's determination to keep the focus on finding solutions to the epidemic of gun violence and call out those standing in the way of addressing this public health crisis. We are failing our kids.
Please keep up the good work and the good fight. Julie Marinucci, Houston
Bad actors
Regarding “American carnage” (Editorial): You say we unjustly condemn Muslims who did not participate in terror attacks, but you have no qualms about making the same types of blanket condemnations relative to firearms.
Cities in this country with the most comprehensive gun control laws have the highest rates of gunrelated violent crime. None of your proposed bans of certain types of equipment and registration requirements will impact criminals who do not obey laws anyway.
A more effective means of reducing gun violence would be a ban on gangs. David Morrison, Conroe