Letter: Human rights worth more than gun rights

There have been numerous letters to the editor in the past several years addressing the ever-increasing number of mass shootings in the U.S. Many writers agree with the Republican Party and the N.R.A. that mental illness is the major cause of these shootings. Since there have been few mass shootings outside the U.S. are they claiming that mental illness is a uniquely American disease?

The major difference between the U.S. and the rest of the world is not that we have more anger and mental illness, but that we have more guns in private hands in our country than in the rest of the world combined.

Anger and mental illness only lead to mass shootings when an individual has a gun and Republicans and Republican state legislators refuse to impose any restrictions on gun ownership. In most states, it is as easy to purchase and own a gun as it is to purchase a box of cereal. 


We have seen that "thoughts and prayers" make no difference. When and if legislators accept that human rights are more important than gun rights we will pass laws that control gun purchases and enact sensible restrictions on gun ownership. And that will make a difference.

Robert Frankel

Schaumburg