On Dec. 14, 2012, our nation wept for reasons of which we are all well aware. The devastating tragedy in Newtown, Conn., brought us to our knees. It was a heartbreaking event that we can neither forget or ignore.
As a civilized society, we must take action to better ensure the safety of our children and to ensure that our self respect as human beings is not further diminished.
We need to act quickly, before the event in Newtown lapses into history only to be replaced by another unthinkable tragedy and the cycle of inaction repeats itself.
There is no easy solution to gun violence in America, or the problem would have been resolved long ago. But surely, reasonable minds can agree on sensible steps to make our country more safe.
This can be done while also protecting the Second Amendment rights of millions of law-abiding citizens who own guns and do so responsibly.
First, let us be clear as to the extent of gun violence in America. When you compare our gun-related death rate to other industrialized countries, the U.S. is an extreme outlier.
For example, gun-related death rates per 100,000 persons in Australia, Canada and the U.K are 0.10, 0.50, and 0.03 respectively. By comparison, the U.S. rate is 2.98 (Source: Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney.)
In some cities, gun-related death rates are five to 10 times the overall rate for the U.S. In Chicago alone, there were 505 gun shooting deaths in 2012. The majority of the victims were people of color, and more than 100 of them were elementary to high school children.
Gun deaths in Chicago outnumbered American troop deaths in Afghanistan last year. These facts are largely ignored by the mainstream media. This is unacceptable, and it is absurd. Clearly, we should take steps to study and reduce the culture of violence in America.
But any serious efforts to reduce gun violence must include the following common-sense measures regarding the availability of guns. We need to restore a ban on military-style assault weapons and ammunition clips.
Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, who served as commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan, recently said the following about assault weapons: “That’s what our soldiers ought to carry. I personally don’t think there’s any need for that kind of weaponry on the streets and particularly around the schools in America.”
We need a federal law that requires universal background checks for all gun purchases. This would close the gun show “loophole,” which allows about 40 percent of gun sales to be done without background checks. Fixing this problem would prevent a dangerous person from going to a gun show and walking out with an armful of weapons.
Finally, we need the federal government do more to require states and federal agencies to submit information about disqualified individuals, including people with mental illness, for inclusion in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
Each of the above measures are broadly supported by a majority of Americans.
A recent poll by the Pew Research Center finds that 55 percent of Americans favor a ban on assault-style weapons, 85 percent favor background checks for private gun shows, and 80 percent favor preventing people with mental illness from purchasing guns.
The Allegany County Branch, NAACP urges you to contact your federal, state and local elected officials to request their support for safe, sane and sensible gun violence prevention laws, policies and programs.
Concerned citizens need to make their voices heard. As a decent country, we can no longer accept the status quo.
Richard W. Jones, communications chair
Allegany County Branch, NAACP
Cumberland
Letters
We can protect ourselves and the Second Amendment
- Letters
-
-
Walk Smart
Many local residents will be visiting Ocean City this summer, so it is worth noting that the resort has launched a campaign that it hopes will keep pedestrians out of harm’s way.
-
Trailer case bound to increase scrutiny on town of Piedmont
This letter is in response to the recent story concerning the guilty plea entered in federal court by Piedmont’s town foreman (“Piedmont town foreman Shingler enters guilty plea,” May 21 Times-News, Page 1A).
-
Fixing community’s problems starts with your young people
I am writing this letter to the editor because I think our community really needs to work on plenty of issues. Some of them are:
-
Why are there no answers to these questions?
We currently have the most corrupt administration in the history of the country. Every day more and more lies come from the Obama administration.
-
Roaming dogs prove menace to some residents of LaVale
I am writing to inform your readers and the animal control staff of Allegany about a problem that is dragging on and unresolved, yet.
-
These types should look to the Boy Scouts for an example
Consider these headlines:
NRA will “Never Surrender.”
The Tea Party will “Never Surrender.”
The No Tax Group will “Never surrender.”
Neocons will “Never Surrender.”
Far Left Liberals will “Never Surrender.” -
Housing project will have bad effect on property in this area
I am writing to you to voice my opposition to a low income housing project that has been proposed for construction on a tract of land on Pine Swamp Road in Mineral County, W.Va. I am a registered voter and resident of Mineral County and live in the New Creek/Pine Swamp area.
-
Why have the media been silent all this time?
When I read the Cumberland Times-News Editorial this morning, Friday, May 17, entitled, “Outrageous,” I laughed like a kid at a birthday party!
-
What are chances this much money will be spent on road?
I was intrigued by cost data summarized in reporter Kathy Mellott’s recent article, “Completing southern link of U.S. Route 219 said to be best use of highway funds,” which appeared in the Cumberland Times-News on Tuesday May 14 (Page 1A).
-
School board should be doing better job with less money
The Allegany County Teachers Association (ACTA) board of directors recently submitted a letter to the editor asking the Allegany County commissioners to fully fund the Board of Education’s budget request for the upcoming fiscal year (“Commissioners should fund school board request,” April 29 Times-News).
- More Letters Headlines
-
