On Oct. 1, a person decided, for some unknown reason, to kill nine people with America’s favorite tool — a firearm.

Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin, in 2013, said he would not follow President Obama’s executive orders regarding firearms. Now that nine people were killed at a community college in his county, hopefully his mind will change.

The idea that guns are the only way to prevent gun violence is totally wrong. It’s a wake-up call to people who own guns and are not afraid of losing their guns to stand against the National Rifle Association’s way of thinking. We need universal background checks — time is easier to pass waiting for your check than grieving for a lost family member.

Until the militarization of America is stopped, guns being the biggest problem, we will continue to create terror amongst our own society.

I’m sure many will oppose my view, but as a Marine combat veteran, weapons instructor, and retired “gunny,” we need to stop the ignorance and get involved with local law enforcement and stop the killings.