Guns have made society less safe

To the editor:

If more guns are the answer, why are there more gun-related deaths now than there was 30-40-50 years ago? Didn't the sheriff's deputy who was recently shot in Houston have a gun? How about all the other police officers shot recently?

All this proliferation of guns in society has made life less safe for everyone, including law enforcement. Now every public building has to add security measures to keep guns out and we are not safe anywhere, the mall, the movies or on our job.

The minority in this country who worship the outdated 2nd Amendment are holding our legislators and the majority of this country hostage with their scare tactics. Common sense would require strict background checks on all purchases, more comprehensive mental health services and better recognition of people with mental problems.

But perhaps most troublesome is that whenever a parent loses a child and says they are going to do everything possible to make that death the last one, we empathize but do nothing. The needless death of any child should move every parent and grandparent to take action and demand our representatives put an end to this madness before you are the next grieving parent.

If a candidate will not vow to stand up to the National Rifle Association, they don't deserve your vote. Gov. Martin O'Malley has and will.

Larry Hodgden

Tipton