<h3 class="briefHead">We fixed other things; why not guns?</h3>
Automobile manufacturers and DOT have stopped the use of faulty air bags because they could cause death. They fixed it.
Food manufacturers and USDA have stopped the use of chemicals because they could cause illness or death. They fixed it.
Pharmacy manufacturers and FDA have discontinued the use of medications that could cause illness or death. They fixed it.
Yet, our government cannot stop the sale of semi-automatlc weapons that could cause death. These arms should only be used for military and SWAT teams. Why can't the government buy these and supply them to the army and law enforcement departments?
When will they fix it?
Judy Donofrio
Palatine
<h3 class="briefHead">A chance in a crisis</h3>
If an armed gunman stormed into your child's classroom, would you prefer that a teacher who has been trained and competent in handling a firearm be in the room? Or, would you rather have an unarmed teacher there? What would be your choice? Risk the lives of the students or give them a chance of survival? Just wondered.
Richard Leonhardt
Schaumburg
<h3 class="briefHead">Bump stocks are not enough</h3>
The Second Amendment to the Constitution reads, "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." At the time that was written, our founders wanted militiamen to keep single-shot powder-req­uiring muskets at home with them in case they were called out on a moment's notice to defend themselves and their neighbors.
Today, we have the National Guard, federal forces and well-regulated police to fight against insurrections. We trust them to defend our liberties. Our founders had no crystal ball to warn against our modern use of the Second Amendment interpreted to suggest that nonmilitary civilians can have weapons of mass destruction even hidden on their persons or in their homes.
We need constitutional clarification of the Second Amendment that could keep these weapons out of the hands of all but the "regulated" militias. Just outlawing bump stocks is not enough, Mr. Trump. All military weapons should be kept with the military.
Robert M. Gerhold
Arlington Heights