Second amendment and assault rifles

In his response to the horrific mass killings in El Paso and Dayton, President Donald Trump used language to imply these mass murders were perpetrated by deranged individuals. He proposed that we need more 'red flag” laws to allow law enforcement to restrict gun purchases by individuals who might harm others.

I'm tired of the NRA's argument that 'people kill, not guns.” Yes, some people who commit mass homicide have mental disorders. Yes, people commit homicides with knives. But if our laws didn't allow private citizens to own weapons of war designed to kill people, we wouldn't have had 34 (and counting) people killed in a matter of minutes in California, Texas and Ohio. I am sickened that the power of the NRA buys the acquiesce of a majority of the U.S. Senate. If you believe that assault weapons should not be legal for private citizens, step up and make your voice heard now. If you think it's a Second Amendment right to own such weapons, may your loved ones never be killed by one attending a community festival, their local Walmart, or at an evening out.

Carolyn Stephenson

Cedar Rapids