Guns were the No. 1 cause of death of children and teens in America in 2020 and 2021. The Republican Party continues to make excuses. The party blames mental illness yet votes down funding for expanded mental health services.
An overwhelming majority of Americans want stricter gun laws and to close loopholes in the purchases of guns. There is an obvious disconnect between our elected officials and voters. Our lawmakers have the power to change things, yet many of them do not want to make changes for fear of losing “their base” and/or losing funding from the National Rifle Association and other gun lobbies.
This is a complex problem. Many Americans want a renewed ban on weapons of war like the assault weapons used in most mass shootings. During a ban on such weapons between 1994 and 2004, deaths in mass shootings decreased by as much as 70%.
If only our elected officials would choose to put people over profits.
Barb Osen
Orr’s Island
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