The alleged July 4 gunman near Chicago, who is 21, is charged with killing seven people and sending dozens of others to hospitals in a parade shooting. A neighbor in town and her boyfriend say there is nothing we can do to stop sick people from obtaining guns. She says it is up to the schools to lock down schools so a gunman can not enter them. The parade was wide-open, public celebration.
The neighbor said a normal person can just sell a gun over a fence to an unbalanced person. Why are we not standing on top of background checks for gun sales? When instances of illegal sales occur we need to go after the seller when that information is available. What about the information on weapons, which should be identifiable and recorded? Sales of unmarked weapons need to stop.
The neighbor and her boyfriend said there is no way the government can make rules that will work to stop people from using weapons. She cited the Second Amendment right to own weapons and they are needed when the government comes after us. She sees no problem with gun-owners having multiple rounds of bullets.
More and more people are saying they have a right to weapons of mass power yet accept what is happening to our society because of weapons. Adamantly saying “You cannot take my weapons” while accepting our children die from availability of guns. Our me-first attitude is pushing the good of society out of the picture. Let our children die and blame it on the schools. Who gets the blame for parade, store, theater and club shootings?
Kath Allen
Peterborough