With the recent shootings in Hawaii and Seattle a flurry of politicians and others with an axe to grind are calling for further restrictions on gun ownership. Each time there is a shooting at a school or workplace, there arises a hue and cry that “Guns are bad, and anyone that owns them is a time bomb waiting to explode.” Displaying an opinion that seems to typify that of the media, Mr. Cerra chooses to draw the inflammatory picture in the Nov. 4 Daily.

I agree that mass shootings are tragic and something needs to be done to prevent them. The answer to these mass shootings is not to impose further limitations on firearm ownership.

There are already laws prohibiting the ownership of firearms by those deemed mentally incompetent or dangerous to society.

These laws need to be enforced. Further laws regarding gun ownership will do very little to prevent mass shootings. Exemplifying this fact is the much heralded “Brady Bill,” which does not seem to have altered mass shootings at all.

The answer to the problem of mass shootings lies within society itself.

Each person must first of all take responsibility for themself. Failing a test, losing a job, losing a spouse or being an outcast is not a plot by society to condemn an individual. There are “strange looking” people with lots of friends, less than smart people who succeed academically, people who lose a job and find it to be a move towards greater success, and divorce is apparently very survivable. Just because life hands you a lemon does not mean you should be sour.

Secondly, the answer to mass shootings involves every mother, father, sibling, roommate, teacher, student and coworker. If you become aware of a person with problems, try and lend a caring ear, or make someone aware so they can lend a caring ear.

I can’t help but feel that the individuals committing the heinous mass shootings would not do so if they felt someone cared about their plight.

Curing mass shootings can only be accomplished through a change in society. However, societal change cannot be enforced from Capital Hill and has not won any elections or increased ratings, now has it?

Greg Brown

Graduate assistant Health and human performance