Reader supports increased gun control

How many more hardworking, dedicated Americans and innocent children have to die before Americans wake up and take steps to end the senseless slaughter taking place in our schools and other public venues?

Stop being duped by cry-babies whining about their second amendment rights and/or people complaining about hunters' rights. It's time to ban the sale of military assault weapons and high-capacity magazines that were designed, manufactured and intended to create maximum death and destruction in a minimum amount of time inside a military combat zone by trained individuals against an enemy. Elementary school children can hardly be classified as the enemy or a serious threat to our country.

As to the second amendment: Eliminating the purchase of military-style weapons and high-capacity magazines doesn't violate anyone's right to bear arms. It only slightly limits what kind of arms they can bear.

As to hunters' rights: A majority of states already have regulations against using assault rifles and/or high-capacity magazines for hunting purposes. Most self-respecting hunters wouldn't use them anyway, as they take pride in their skills and rarely, if ever, need more than one shot to hit their target.

I wouldn't want to hunt with anyone who'd use the weapons and have to worry about ducking for cover or dodging all the extra bullets flying around. For the same reason, I wouldn't want my neighbors to "bear arms" with military-style firepower.

While making it harder for mentally ill people to purchase assault weapons is a step in the right direction, it is not enough: two of the recent shootings were committed by persons who had stolen their weapon from someone who didn't secure it well enough. Eliminating the sale of such weapons is the only way to keep them out of the hands of mass-murderers, and protect our families and children from senseless slaughter.

It's time to write your senator and/or congressperson. Urge lawmakers to support the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013, a bill to stop the sale, transfer, importation and manufacture of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition feeding devices.

Brian Lynch

Moses Lake