Letter: Fight NRA money at ballot box

After the happenings of the past few weeks, I am compelled to write this letter. I was only 19 when I was handed my first automatic weapon, an M-16. I was trained by professional people, drill sargents in the U.S. Army, how to U.S.e it to injure or kill others. We were in a war at the time. Thankfully I never had the opportunity to U.S.e it for that purpose.

That brings me to today, as I ask myself how and why an 18-year-old is able to obtain a weapon similar to mine at a gun shop without any type of checking as to need and purpose and why they would need it in the U.S., not being part of a law enforcement group. We are not fighting a "war" here, although at times I wonder.

Many politicians continue to turn a blind eye to the gun problems our nation has, citing the rights of the people.

Stephen King has a very good idea when he states that the simplest way to stop all the lobbyists and the funneling of money to the politicians pockets from the gun manufacturers and the NRA is to vote them out of office. I totally agree.

Another person, was once quoted as saying: "Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They both should be changed regularly and for the same reason." I agree here also. Term limits need to be discussed.

It is time we all get off our dead behinds and do something, otherwise we will run out of "thoughts and prayers" as this will be a never ending occurrence.

Alan A. Cukla

Carpentersville