How many more deaths will it take before our elected representatives have the courage to pass common-sense legislation to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in our country?

The U.S. has a much higher number of gun violence deaths than any other developed nation. The reason is clear: lax gun control laws.

Multiple studies have demonstrated that nations with strong gun laws have less gun violence. Nations that have weak gun laws have more gun violence. Similarly, most states with more stringent gun laws have fewer gun violence deaths than states with more lax laws.

The argument that the Second Amendment to the U.S constitution prevents the government from passing effective gun laws is totally false.

The most recent Supreme Court ruling on this question, Heller vs District of Columbia, was very clear that the federal and state governments have a constitutional right to pass laws limiting the types of weapons and ammunition being sold and requiring universal background checks on anyone wanting to purchase a gun or ammunition.

The need for effective new laws to reduce gun violence in our county is very clear. In order to pass these laws, however, our elected representatives will need to find the courage to resist the intense lobbying efforts of the National Rifle Association, which has become a front group for gun manufacturers.

The only way these representatives will be able to resist the NRA’s pressure is if we the people rise up and say, loud and clear, “enough is enough.”

Please contact senators Stabenow and Peters and Rep. Upton and demand that they vote for common sense laws to reduce the gun violence epidemic in our country.

Virginia Washburn

Grand Beach