Editor, Gazette-Journal:

The horrible mass shootings that occurred in Texas and Ohio recently cry out for something to be done to prevent such things. It has caused some to react first without thinking things through. A statement credited to Ben Franklin comes immediately to mind. He said, “those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety, deserve neither.” In this instance, he was talking about taxes and the ability to raise money. If taken out of context, the same can be applied to gun rights.

The first consideration for a common-sense approach is recognizing the liberty our Constitution gives us in the 2nd Amendment. It reads, in part, “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Some will say that it was intended to apply only to a militia like the National Guard; I strongly disagree. It is an individual right provided to citizens as a means of protecting themselves from an oppressive government. Secondly, ...