Congressman Reichert is correct when he says that America
needs to be engaged and involved at every level of our society in order to
achieve the shared goal of reducing gun violence. The President is doing his part and as the
good representative explains, so is Congress.
These activities are not mutually exclusive. The entire spectrum of effort is needed to
make headway on the tricky, divisive issue of balancing the rights of
responsible gun owners and dealers with the desire to regulate and control the
proliferation of weapons that can produce massive carnage in a few
seconds.
This is not an impossible task. Americans of good will can work together, with
respect, to reduce the chance that criminals, hot-heads, and mentally ill
individuals will obtain and use these weapons.
No level of effort can prevent a determined, crazy, and
perhaps lucky person from defeating a defense system. Posting armed guards will not make it
impossible. We need to ask ourselves
what sort of society we want here in America and take steps to make our
positive vision real. Using a negative
vision as a model is not the way forward.
This is the task of any generation that seeks to improve
the general welfare. We need responsible
words from our national leaders and I thank Congressman Reichert for sharing
his. It is a difficult challenge but we
are equal to the task. With good will and good faith all things are
possible.
Yours truly,
