Letter: Yes, guns are a problem

As soon as I saw the heading for a recent letter, my heart sank: "Guns not the problem."

The letter explained that if parents raised their children properly, then we would not have a gun problem. It also mentioned we should have high expectations, hold people accountable for their actions and encourage honesty.

Nothing wrong with any of that, but the letter writer's implication is all we need to do is see that all people are perfect. That would solve a lot of problems indeed, not only misuse of guns.

The fact is that people will always get angry. People will always make mistakes. There will always be people who feel the need to resort to violence in some form. If a gun is available, the violence or mistake will assuredly be deadly.

I say that my heart sank as I read "Guns not the problem," because I have seen those words in one form or another for more than 50 years. After every mass killing. After every attempt to better control the use of virtually any type of firearm. After every killing of an innocent child. After every deadly accident involving a toddler shooting a friend while "playing" with a loaded gun.

If you are one that thinks guns are not the problem, then take action to fix what you think the problem is. There are certainly many issues that need addressing, such as more accessible mental health care. But in the meantime, while all the other issues may or may not be addressed, I think we could do a much better job of controlling access to guns.

Guns - when completely uncontrolled and unlimited - are a problem.

Gerry McGovern

Naperville