A couple visits a makeshift memorial near the road leading to Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore., last Saturday, two days after a man shot and killed nine people. (John Locher, The Associated Press)
Re: “Gunman opens fire at Oregon college; at least nine people killed,” Oct. 2 news story.
Another mass murder of our children, with our outrage shorter-lived as we become accustomed to the gun culture we helped create. We take a moment to ponder how we should do something about mental illness, when itap our collective insanity that accepts the gun culture we now live in. We are all complicit in electing lawmakers who care more about their job security than standing up to the gun lobby. How can we look the grieving parents of murdered children in the eye and say we are sorry for their loss when we are a big part of the problem?
Itap way past time to stand together and say enough, voting out self-absorbed legislators and electing people who will protect our children with strict, common-sense gun laws. Until we do, we best express our condolences, then slink back to our lives with our little priorities, glad it wasn’t our kid pulling the trigger or being blown up on the wrong end of yet another gun.
Pat Pendleton, Lakewood
This letter was published in the Oct. 11 edition.Well, the latest slaughter on a school campus comes as no surprise. The main blame for this and other tragedies can be traced in large part to gun-free zones, which allow any sicko with a desire for whatever motivates them to have a killing spree in perfect safety knowing that there is no one allowed to have a gun or other lethal means to oppose them in their dastardly deed. Gun-free zones are a killing field. Period. Get rid of the gun-free zones and these tragedies will come to a virtual halt because any person on a school campus, whether it is a teacher or an armed guard, trained in the use of and in possession of a firearm, can take out any sicko invading the school.
Larry Ray, Rawlins, Wyo.
I can’t react with sadness about gun violence any longer — only with anger. The National Rifle Association calls all the shots, and the shots are lethal. We are upset that nine people were murdered in Oregon, but more than 30 Americans per day are murdered by gunfire. The reason is the NRA’s complete control of our elections. Few candidates can survive an unkind word about gun ownership; the NRA will use gun-industry money to shoot them down. We who are innocent and desire to live without fear of death by guns have no ammunition against the NRA. We are all in their sights and we must be very afraid.
Mary Phillips, Denver
This letter was published in the Oct. 11 edition.
