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Regarding the Dec. 3 special section “Terror on repeat: A rare look at the devastation caused by AR-15 shootings”:
I am a retired lieutenant of police from Houston, the fourth-largest city in the nation. As a teenager, I grew up hunting primarily deer and migratory birds in the Katy Prairie area. My father taught me to responsibly use a firearm.
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When I became police officer, I was extensively trained on how to safely use a handgun and an assault rifle, namely this type of rifle. Thank God I never had to use either weapon on duty. AR-style rifles were designed for one reason: to kill humans on the battlefield. Later, the AR-15 became a weapon of choice for certain police tactical units such as SWAT officers. Then, it became available as a weapon of choice for anyone in the United States, age 18 and over (in Texas), for whatever reason. It is perfectly legal in our United States of America because some of us feel it is our constitutional right to keep and bear any arms.
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As I am no longer a police officer, I no longer need to own an AR-style-rifle. This firearm should be classified as a weapon of mass destruction, as has clearly been demonstrated to most of the recent mass shootings at our schools, churches, shopping centers and outdoor gatherings. It should only be used as designed, in war, and perhaps by highly trained police tactical units.
The GOP is not representing the majority of Americans. Most Americans want some form of gun control: a ban on AR-style rifles and high-capacity magazines, common-sense background checks, anything at all. Simply put, the GOP is not practicing democracy.
Robert Smith, San Antonio
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The “Terror on repeat” section provided graphic information and photographs of horrific devastation from mass shootings with AR-style guns. But the focus on the weapons and not the shooters is akin to blaming automobiles for drunken-driving fatalities instead of the drivers.
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Though a reasonable argument can be had about whether weapons designed for military use should be in the hands of private citizens, banning AR-style rifles, as many advocate, is a simplistic, ineffective, bumper-sticker response to a very complex problem. Given their number in our society, the genie is out of the bottle, and such rifles are not going away, save for mass government confiscation, which is neither legal nor feasible, much less politically tenable for any administration.
But focusing on an inanimate object as the source of the issue, rather than the shooter, is misplaced, detracts from realistic solutions and only perpetuates the evil of mass murder. As alternatives, what we need are universal red-flag laws and tougher background checks to keep, to the extent possible, such weapons out of the hands of unstable individuals, and greater mental health appreciation and resources to treat those who are identified as being at risk.
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Perhaps the sensationalism of violence in video games, movies and TV shows should be curbed. Unquestionably, something realistic and feasible needs to be done, less this evil continue unchecked.
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Stephen E. Freeman, Springfield
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Though people of certain faiths believe the Ten Commandments are God-given and we cannot tamper with them, the Constitution and its amendments were crafted by men. These men agreed that slavery was legal, but, with time, other men thought that should be changed, and it was. We progressed.
The time has come to reconsider the value of the Second Amendment. It not being a divine mandate, we should abolish it. Gun commerce should be regulated by law, including following the language of the current amendment that underscores the need for a well-regulated militia, terminology that was lost in the Supreme Court’s interpretation.
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Doing this is in our hands. Failing to act will necessitate more thoughts and prayers that, so far, have not saved a single life nor prevented any killing.
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Saul Malozowski, Rockville
I could not watch The Post’s entire video of gunmen killing people in the online version of the Dec. 3 special section, “Terror on repeat: A rare look at the devastation caused by AR-15 shootings,” but I think it was the right thing for The Post to publish it. It is factual news of atrocities that have produced a multitude of grieving survivors, parents and loved ones who endure every day. Perhaps it will jolt just one person to work for gun-safety laws.
Here are some other facts: This horror show has become American life. The gun industry’s pursuit of money has successfully caused all Americans to fear for their lives on a daily basis. But we can and we must do something about it. We must all advocate and work to have our representatives pass stricter gun laws — because they work: States with stricter gun laws have fewer gun deaths. And, at least in Virginia, representatives who run on gun violence prevention win! As they did in last month’s election.
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So, Post, publish away.
Peggy Pridemore, Vienna
Thanks for posting pictures of U.S. shooting scenes, complete with blood on the floor, etc. It is about time that we are made uncomfortable with the visual experience (albeit secondhand) of our unfettered allegiance to the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Second Amendment as all guns, for almost everyone, anytime, everywhere.
To those who complain of gore: We see gore from Gaza. We see gore from Ukraine. We see gore from every troubled spot around the world, except from the United States. It is past time that we should see gore from U.S. shooting scenes.
Judy Schneider, Sun City, Ariz.
I was grateful for The Post’s courage in showing photographic evidence of the aftermath of mass shootings. The Post has demonstrated that, if we are to be a nation of assault-weapon owners, then we must also be willing to face up to what those guns can do. The pictures tell a substantial part of the story.
Now, photographs of the victims should be published. Perhaps everyday citizens need to see what happens when one of these weapons is used on a human body. It might take photographic close-ups to show why victim identification is done by DNA and why there are often no open caskets.
Linda Gaffney, Spokane, Wash.
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