Opinion : To the Editor: Writer awaits discussion from gun rights advocates

To The Editor,

I need to again restate what I wrote. I did not use the term “gun lovers” rather people who love guns which is a true statement. I did not suggest that you turn in your guns, I did not say we need more laws. Why is it that it is all or nothing with gun rights advocates?

My late husband was a hunter, heck I even purchased a gun for him as a gift. What is disturbing is that gun rights people will not have a discussion or show compassion for the many thousands of people who are murdered, accidently or purposefully or accidently injured by guns.

What I was hoping for is for someone who is supportive of guns and gun owners would admit that the senseless killing of people by guns is unacceptable and we as a country need to examine why and try to find solutions to stop the violence.

Instead what was printed was the same old rhetoric---hammers!!, it is the person not the gun, gun shows are safe. (On that one I did a quick Google search of people being injured at gun shows or ranges and found the websites below detailing people actually getting shot at gun shows or other ways and it was not an exhaustive search.) Criminals won’t obey the laws; everyone should be packing all time because the boogie man might gonna getcha.

I stated 25 years ago that I would be supportive of the NRA if they would say, “Too many people are getting killed senselessly because of guns. We want to change that, while ensuring that law-abiding people knows how to use guns for hunting, sport, or protection.” But what the NRA and others gun rights people do is spread fear of the big bad government and a fear of our neighbors. How many guns would be sold if that fear disappeared? And that is what this is all about, keeping the public fearful so you will continue to buy guns and keep the profits up for gun manufacturers who support the NRA.

But avid gun rights advocates will not have the discussion I mentioned. For them it is all guns all the time and never mind about the next innocent person getting killed or injured by a gun just as long as we have opportunity to buy more guns. The ability to purchase more guns trumps all and that is a sad commentary on our society.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/30/gun-show-shooting_n_5542670.html

http://kxan.com/2014/06/28/man-shot-killed-outside-cedar-park-gun-show/

http://archive.wkyc.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=278913

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/25/us-accidental-gun-deaths-100-children-yearly

http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/local/2014/07/01/11882565/

http://tbo.com/news/crime/deputies-woman-accidently-shoots-7-year-old-grandson-20140819/

http://www.news9.com/story/26333051/community-remembers-mwc-teen-killed-in-accidental-shooting

This one appeared today.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/utah-teacher-shoots-herself-the-leg-while-school