It's time to curtail growing horror

The recent tragedy in northern Illinois puts into light the flaws in the laws regarding firearms.

Although the second amendment gives the citizens of United States the right to bear firearms, I believe that it is a flawed amendment.

When the second amendment was added in 1787, it was with the intention that every citizen should have the right and the capacity to defend himself or herself.

However, more than 200 years since then, we live in a society that is very different.

Back then, the total population of the United States was around 5 million. Now America is a nation with more than 300 million.

Our laws regarding usage of firearms must adapt to the ever-changing demography.

I am not calling for the government to ban firearms starting immediately because I believe that it would lead to disastrous results, but rather the government should implement a more thorough screening process for those who wish to procure a gun.

Tests that determine one's state of mind should be made compulsory and those who sell firearms illegally should be tried and punished to the full extent of the law.

I suggest that over a period of years, decades even, that all civilian firearms be recalled and instead be replaced with non-lethal weapons such as Tasers and stun guns.

We have seen an influx of violent crimes and at the rate we are going, things will only get worse.

It is time to do something to curtail this ever-increasing horror.

If it means that the government has to infringe on my right to carry a firearm, so be it. I would rather live in a safe society with no guns than live in a society where everybody is armed and a simple matter such as going to school might be a life or death decision.

Kaushik Tharmiyam

Plainfield