On average, 89 people in the U.S. are killed daily by guns (roughly two-thirds are suicides). In the week since the tragic events in Orlando killed 49 innocent people, that means guns have caused another 623 people to lose their lives. But collectively our society shows no sorrow, no outrage over those 623 deaths, no demands that something be done to stop, or at least reduce, this continuing carnage.

If it weren’t for the easy and legal accessibility of large capacity magazines and assault style weapons, many of those 49, and many of the subsequent 623, would be alive today (not to mention those killed in other recent mass-murders at schools, churches and theaters).

If we’d all open our eyes, we’d discover that there is common-sense actions we could take that would reduce this loss of life while protecting the rights of individuals to own guns for hunting, target shooting and self-defense. But as a society, we’ve all become so jaded, so paranoid, so closed-minded that we won’t even discuss possibilities. In the meantime, we refuse to acknowledge that as each day draws to a close, another 89 people have lost their lives to guns.

Gary Klingsporn

Spokane