Viewpoint: Readers comment on Florida school shooting

Music, not gun shots

Editor,

17 people. Count ‘em. 17 – students and teachers – dead. That would be 34 cold dead hands.Not the two hands that Charlton Heston held up in a video years ago. Yes, Mr. Heston’s two hands are also cold and dead. He and all the others who supported, and still support unlimited gun rights must look in the mirror and accept responsibility for this aspect of our country.

The fight to make guns sacred objects took place, and with the help of big money interests, was won a number of years ago. Anyone who didn’t understand that the probability was very high for these kinds of events happening, was practicing willful ignorance. If you voted, contributed or even approve of politicians who support unlimited gun rights, this is your responsibility. This is what you wanted.

Our country is in decline. Our love of violence and our willingness to use it is only one of the signs of our corruption and decline. I do wonder what our world would be like if we made the same investment in musical instruments and facilities that we make in guns and shooting.

Jim Leschke, Rhinelander

Thoughts on thoughts and prayers

Editor,

When is enough enough? I am tired of hearing "our thoughts and prayers are with you." It is too late by then. When I hear excuses like "we need 30-round magazines for our rounds because it is easier to load our guns when we are out on the firing range," I am bowled over.

Are you kidding me? We need to stop the madness. In every community where these horrific massacres take place, we hear the same thing, "we are a community that would never expect something like this to occur." Another statement that we hear too much. Yes- enough is enough. Time to act.

Anita O’Brien, Rhinelander