Confederate flag not the problem

While I agree the Confederate flag is a symbol of our county's darkest days against African-Americans, the ability to purchase guns by erratic individuals is far more at issue as we move forward from the terrible killings in South Carolina.

It should be evident to any rational American that our impotent gun control laws have failed to keep us safe. With the NRA and gun manufactures contributing millions of dollars to many politician's coffers, the laws that should be enacted will never be enacted unless citizens of this county make it happen with our votes.

Let's face the facts, we not only have to confront the danger of lunatics with weapons, a portion of the populous are allowed to conceal those weapons. And although the vast majority of those allowed to conceal weapons are honest, sensible people, we all know what this issue can lead to.

If Americans want to feel safer against the ever-growing increase of these senseless shootings, we need to demand our lawmakers create more stringent yet viable gun control laws that ensure our safety from those who seek to hurt us, while allowing decent Americans the ability to purchase and use firearms.

I certainly don't know the right answers to this paramount dilemma, but our lawmakers must make it a priority each and every day to find the those answers. In absolute essence, none of us want to be the next victim.

Gary Lukens

Des Plaines