To the Editor:

Re “Man Kills at Least 12 in Virginia Beach Rampage” (front page, June 1):

In Virginia Beach, a “law-abiding” citizen with legally purchased guns and no history of felonies went on a murderous rampage. It is reported that the shooter had recently become belligerent in his workplace.

The gun industry has churned out guns for millions of “law-abiding” citizens. However, at the point of sale, there is no way to know if the purchaser has a hair-trigger temper, anger management issues or poor impulse control, or is seething with resentments.

The motive of the Virginia Beach shooter may never be known. But why make it so easy to buy a gun? Yes, he had a Second Amendment right to buy a gun for personal protection. But each of the 12 victims also had a right to life.

Ronald Kallen

Highland Park, Ill.