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Dear Editor;
I am sad again about all the mass shootings in our country. The killers used mainly automatic weapons - AR 15's and AK-47's and high clip magazines/bump stocks (these weapons were designed for the military). I lived in Denver when the Columbine (I knew some families whose children attended) and the Aurora theater shootings (the killer ordered 5,000 rounds of ammo over the internet) occurred. Now the Atlanta and Boulder shootings. While living in Boulder, I shopped at that grocery store many times and my daughter worked there PT when she went to CU-Boulder. The thought of a shooter entering the store was the furthest thing from our minds. It is time the NRA, the largest lobby in D.C., compromises on certain aspects of gun control (their cliche is "if they take our guns, only criminals will have guns"). Gun reform is not about taking our guns. I am a gun owner and have no worry about them being taken away and never will.
It is time to take action about these guns (go to a gun store and see how many are displayed on the walls), so families will never have to go through the trauma of losing loved ones (they will never get over it). What's the problem with a 7 day waiting period and Red Flag laws to check for mental issues? Colorado (I have a sick story about a group of hunters when I lived in Vail) and Wisconsin are big hunting states and most hunters, if not all, are very responsible. Many go to Colorado from Wisconsin for Elk hunting. I used to hunt in Colorado, but I had an ethereal experience and put my gun in my scabbard, but I still enjoy eating venison and elk.
I don't understand why gun owners aren't upset about these travesties that have happened. If you don't agree with me about these weapons, ask police officers about them having to face these weapons. I don't think they would. I know many people will disagree, so please offer your answers to this very serious issue.
John Jacka
Edmund, WI