Another gun tragedy: Time for change because current laws don't work

Letter to the Editor,

One of the things, I believe, in my 20 years in the military not only helped ensure people had the right to their opinions and the freedom to voice it, but it also gave them the right to be wrong and to stay ignorant as long as they choose.

These people ignore the fact that with freedom  comes with responsibility.

I and 93 percent of Americans are no longer willing to allow irresponsible Americans who believe that scraping the brains of our children and grand-children off the walls and floor of school rooms is just the price we have to pay so people like Bill Payne won’t get upset and call us nasty names. Meanwhile, this do-nothing policy keeps putting guns in the hands of the loonies.

As in Payne’s letter to the editor of Jan. 18, I, too, agree that the Newtown tragedy was caused by a loon with a Bushmaster having a high-capacity magazine, not a Toyota.

The number of people who aim their cars at someone with full intention to kill is less than 1 percent of the number of bystanders killed by stray gunfire. 

Automobiles kill by accident. The operative word here is accident. You know, like the five people accidentally shot nationwide recently at gun shows in your gun-appreciation day celebration.

The people you mock as gun-control fanatics are human beings who care about our country, our society and their fellow human beings. Many have been victims of gun violence or lost loved ones because of senseless gun violence. Your way hasn’t worked.

The classic definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.” We are going to change this whether you like it or not.

Your voice and mine are one of millions who need to be heard in this debate, and yours will be ignored if all you do is name-call and talk down at us and not with us.

— Harry Turnland

Libby