Guns: Letters to the Editor

Theme 1: Protecting our schools

199 words

Our schools are supposed to be places of learning, exploration, and safety. But we’ve watched as over and over, they’ve been targeted by crazed gunmen with assault rifles and high-capacity magazines. And thanks to gun industry lobbyists and their enablers [like candidate], nothing changes: instead of common-sense gun reform to help end the bloodshed, we make our kids suffer through endless, traumatizing lockdown drills.

Instead of focusing on the real problem, MAGA Republicans have looked desperately for something to blame other than the easy availability of high-powered guns: school security guards, gun-free school zones, even the number of doors in the building. They demand that we turn our schools into armed fortresses, with only one door in and out, armed guards at the doors, and teachers forced to carry guns in case of yet another shooting. We don’t want prison schools! We want playgrounds, field trips, and a return to our schools as a place of shelter and learning, not a place of fear.

Our kids have suffered enough. Voters should demand to know why MAGA Republicans like [candidate] aren’t doing more to protect our schools. Do they stand with our families and children, or with gun industry donors?

Theme 2: Weapons of War

172 words

Over and over, we’ve watched in horror as the same overpowered weapons are used in mass shootings. Guns like the AR-15 were designed for use on the battlefield, but thanks to gun industry lobbyists and their MAGA Republican enablers our laws regulating the sale of military-style weapons were allowed to expire in 2004. Deaths have skyrocketed ever since. 

Movie theatres, schools, churches, groceries stores — our community spaces have been terrorized by attackers who choose the same deadly gun, designed to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible. Americans deserve to feel safe while going about our day without fearing a mass shooter with a high-powered assault rifle.

A bipartisan majority of voters support common-sense limits on high-capacity magazines, raising the age to buy guns from 18 to 21, and closing background-check loopholes. It’s time for [candidate] to explain why they’re letting gun-industry donors and lobbyists set policy for our state instead of listening to voters, and why they aren’t doing more to prevent the next Uvalde or Buffalo.

Theme 3: America stands alone

180 words

No other wealthy country allows the kind of easy access to high-powered weaponry that we do. And Americans pay a terrible price: over 45,000 people died due to guns in 2020, a new record. Guns are the leading cause of death for children under 18 in the United States.

Now, the MAGA Supreme Court has made the problem even worse, and made it harder for states to place limits on carrying guns in public. As a result we’re going to see more shootings and more bloodshed. While the recently passed federal gun guidelines are a great first step, they’re not even close to what we need: universal background checks and closing background-check loopholes, raising the age to buy guns, and banning high-capacity magazines.

These common-sense reforms have extremely strong bipartisan support. American voters are tired of the endless fear and seeing our schools, churches, stores, and community spaces terrorized. It’s time for [candidate] to decide: do they want to do the will of the voters, or will they continue to allow their gun-industry donors to write our laws for us.