Take action to stop gun massacres
PARKLAND, FL - FEBRUARY 15: 16 year old Alyssa Kramer (C), gets a hug from her mother Tonja Kramer during a prayer vigil for famlies of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a mass shooting took place, at the Parkridge Church, on February 15, 2018 in Parkland, Florida. Yesterday Police arrested 19 year old former student Nikolas Cruz for killing 17 people at the high school. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images / Mark Wilson
The school massacre in Parkland, Florida cannot be another case when we accept this type of atrocity as the price of freedom or as an inevitable part of the American experience [“Florida horror,” News, Feb. 15]. This is a public health crisis. To just accept it and do nothing is to fail our children.
Increase funding to expand checks of criminal backgrounds and mental health of gun buyers. Give our law enforcement agencies resources to prevent firearms from being sold to those with demonstrated violent tendencies. Reinstate the Obama rule that would have prevented an estimated 75,000 people with mental disorders from being able to purchase a firearm. Reinstate the assault-weapons ban. Ban the sale of ammunition in bulk.
Increase public funding of mental health services through both Medicaid and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
James Sheridan, Wantagh
Take drastic measures to protect our children. Gun control is a must. Metal detectors in every school should not even be a second thought. Add security and cameras.
Every school should have one person to monitor the social media of every student.
Mick Du Russel, Lake Ronkonkoma
I feel helpless sitting here at my kitchen table, but we all have the power to do something. We can vote. We can teach our children about their right to have their voices heard through the ballot box. Let’s teach them to research candidates’ voting records and who contributes to their campaigns.
Andrea Witt, Huntington
