Think of the kids

When my daughter was in third grade, the mother of one of her classmates shot and killed her daughter, the girl’s fifth-grade sister, and herself. How do you explain that to an 8-year-old?

My daughter now has two little boys, 3 and 5 years old. They are the lights of our lives. I vow to do everything I can to ensure they grow up in a safe, sane world. My son-in-law is an avid hunter, and I fully appreciate and respect how important that is to him and others.

Nevertheless, the assault weapons the National Rifle Association so selfishly defends have no place in civil society. The monsters that have used such weapons to inflict recent outrages could not otherwise have been so tragically effective. It is too simple to say guns don’t kill, people do. Clearly guns can be a horrible instrument of destruction.

We need better enforcement of existing gun laws, improved mental health programs and increased school security. We also need to take action on assault weapons. I used assault weapons in Vietnam and under the circumstances was glad to have them. Those circumstances do not exist within this country.

Please, think of the children.

John Taves

Cheney