Tight gun control is the only answer

If anyone who feels citizens have the right to bear many arms can answer the questions posed in my previous letter with a reasonable answer, I will back down on my stance that we have a desperate need for tighter gun control laws.

I am not a "fascist" nor am I part of some conspiracy to hurt gun sales nor am I on some bandwagon to take away the so-called rights of citizens who feels it's their right to bear arms.

What I am is a normal, law- abiding citizen who does not want my next-door neighbor or any citizen bearing a cache of guns. True, it was some deranged individual who purchased the guns and chose to use them at NIU.

But if there are such tight and effective gun laws and background checks already in effect, then tell me how is it that the NIU shooter was able to obtain those four guns in a six-month period? Who needs four guns?

Guns landing in the wrong hands are creating these catastrophes and our government needs to impose tighter laws and control over the purchase of guns and ammo in all of our states.

I ask those who feel it's their right to bear arms, if a person broke into your home and shot your family, would you still feel our gun laws are adequate?

Ask the families of those who died or were injured at NIU what they think.

Just because you may have a gun doesn't mean you are protected. Sometimes -- a lot of the time -- having a gun in the house backfires. People are shot with their own guns. Their children find their guns with dire consequences and the wrong people steal guns.

The need for tighter gun control laws is here.

Cheryl Bast

South Elgin