Dear Editor:

I am adding my voice of outrage to Harriet Bloom Wilson’s and, yes, to many other voices. There are numerous reasons for political differences, but as a country we should be working on ways to have civil conversations about them.

When the current issues include the fear of violence at the hand of a shooter — quite often based on the victims’ race, religion, country of origin or sexuality — they become much more than an item to debate. The incidents are often due to anger, yes, “toxic masculinity,” and easy access to weapons.

Studies have shown we actually have less video games than countries with almost non-existent shootings, so not a true correlation. Other countries have people with mental illness, that is not just an American problem, but gun deaths are. Those with mental illness face enough stigmas without people thinking that they are all going to be violent and gun down crowds. Even if studies proved that to be true, why has funding for programs to help the mentally ill been cut the past few years? Why are those who have psychological/emotional issues still allowed to purchase guns?

Yes, we have guns in my house, my husband and grandson hunt. I can even see why some feel they need a gun for self defense. But easy access to guns that are only designed to kill multiple people at a time will continue to result in multiple deaths. Those types of weapons are suited for wartime use by trained military. They should not be in the hands of angry men in our communities who have violent tendencies. Otherwise the horrendous deaths of school children will continue. The deaths of moviegoers, people in places of worship, festival and concert attendees, bar and restaurant patrons ... will continue.

If more guns made us safer, we’d be the safest nation in the world. As we barely begin to mourn victims of a mass shooting, the next one occurs. Why has this become our “new normal?”

Cyndi Barski

Powell