The July 31 editorial “Stop shooting off mouths: With mass shootings proliferating, U.S. must have reasoned discussion on guns,” justifiably laments the number of mass shootings of recent times. But predictably, it focuses on guns. Our country has always had guns. What has changed?
We never read that 90 percent of the shooters have been on psychiatric drugs. Just Google “mass shootings and psychiatric drugs.” The more you read, the more heartbreaking the news of parents and others trying to solve problems and incurring tragedy. If you have access to the fine print connected to these drugs, and FDA statements, you can read about the side effects: suicidal thoughts, hostility, erratic behavior, aggression.
Don’t advocate cracking down on my right to keep a gun for home and self-defense. My revolver has never once hurt anyone. Amazing. Guns are used to repel criminals and save lives an estimated 1 million times a year. Why do we never see these incidents reported in The Columbian?
We are all safer because of our constitutional Second Amendment. Think about it. A criminal looking to make trouble does not know if you or your home is armed. Thanks to gun owners, that very uncertainty is a crime deterrent.
