Four actions to take

America is frustrated with all of the mass shootings and killings that have occurred in the last 10 to 15 years. Proposed fixes by our state, federal government and our president are insufficient and not the solution. I believe the following are the actions needed to start solving this problem.

1. Change the gun law to disallow semiautomatic and automatic guns to be manufactured and sold to most people — the exceptions would be law enforcement and military personnel and their needs. 2. Buy back all such illegal weapons and make it a felony to have one. 3. Stop giving recognition to these killers and keep their names and photographs out of newspapers and television. 4. Initiate a nationwide death penalty for convicted mass killings. A swift trial and execution should follow.

This should be a national priority for our country. People are beginning to be afraid to go out because of this threat. First it was schools, then churches and now shopping malls. Where's next?

Don G. Foster, Dallas

Only in America

"Only in America." That's a phrase we've all heard to describe a great American accomplishment or success story. Sadly, it is also the correct response for the question "What country has more guns than citizens?" Anyone arguing that the easy availability of guns is not a factor in the epidemic of mass shootings is delusional.

One of your letter writers recently defended the use of AR-15 assault rifles and said they are needed to protect our homes and kill feral hogs. Really? I've read that an experienced shooter can fire 90 rounds a minute with an AR-15. Do civilians need that kind of killing machine? I think not.

We need to ban the sale of any weapon for civilian use that can fire more than a certain number of rounds in a minute. I don't know what that number should be. It just needs to be a heck of a lot less than 90. And it should be a felony to retrofit one post sale to fire more. If a weapon with no governor on the firing mechanism is really needed to kill feral hogs, let folks with a legitimate need apply for a special permit.

Fred R. Neary, Far North Dallas

Nothing sporting about rifle

Gun manufacturers can label the AR-15 as a "semiautomatic sporting rifle" if they want, but it and its kin are no more sporting rifles than a Sherman tank is a recreational vehicle.

The AR-15 is an assault weapon, as was tragically demonstrated last week in Dayton and El Paso, where the only "sport" was the massacre of human beings. Their use or ownership by anyone other than the military and law enforcement agencies should be outlawed.

Ownership of huge magazines should be banned as well. Put simply, if you can't hit your target with 10 rounds, you have no business holding a gun.

The banning of the manufacture and sale of AR-15s would not be an attack on the Second Amendment. Most adults are allowed to own firearms, but even today, in the name of common sense, there are limits. You can't own a working 105 mm Howitzer, for example, or an 81 mm mortar. So-called sporting rifles like the AR-15 should be added to that list. Just one step toward ending the national insanity.

Holmes Brannon, Plano

Worth repeating

Ban assault weapons. Ban assault weapons. Ban assault weapons. Ban assault weapons. Ban assault weapons. Ban assault weapons. How many more times do the people have to say this?

John Dunne, Frisco

Criminals will be armed

Yes! We should ban ownership of guns from those who might commit a crime! Should we start with the politicians who want to destroy our Constitution? Anyone with any sense knows that not all people who act like criminals commit a crime. Keep in mind that only honest citizens will obey laws of any kind. Criminals are criminal because they don't obey laws. Honest folks will give up their guns or fight those who try to take them. Criminals will not surrender their firearms. Do we want honest folks to have guns or do we want criminals to be the only folks armed?

Edgar Carol, Kaufman

Why U.S. stands out

After reading the recent Dallas Morning News opinion page in the struggle for an answer to our gun death plague, we must return to simple facts:

Our United States has many times more mass shooting deaths that all the rest of the world combined. We do not stand out with the most mental illness on earth. We do not stand out with the most racism on earth. We do not stand out with the most white supremacy on earth. We do not stand out with the worst ability on earth to identify killers.

Our nation does stand out with the most guns per person. Our nation does stand out with the most gun deaths per capita with only one nation in "competition." Our nation does stand out with the most publicly available assault weapons per capita in the world.

Other nations have reduced gun deaths significantly. Our nation has not. These facts have not changed in over a decade, except that deaths are increasing, including mass murders. When will the U.S. gun deaths ever slow down?

Bill R. Betzen, Dallas

If you don't feel safe, move

Re: "Feeling unsafe at home," by Karen Myers, Aug. 8 Letters.

I do not need people like Karen Myers telling me or anyone else what they think I do or do not need. That is a decision for me and my family to make. The Second Amendment clearly states our right to bear arms "shall not be infringed." If you feel less safe in America, then move.

Chad Blacklock, Kennedale

Consequences of substance abuse

Re: "Handshakes and hostility — Laws urged, but attack had no red flags," Aug. 8 news story.

The recent proposed red flag laws have many up in arms over additional reform measures for gun control. Conversely, demand is and has been high, literally, for those substances that control us, including alcohol, pot and medications. That we need more guns and more dope is a sad commentary on our society.

The consequences of substance abuse alone factor into, but are not limited to: trillions of dollars toward health care; the majority of abuse, neglect and sexual assault cases; and homelessness. Essentially, the loss of lives, broken homes, etc., are incalculable.

Sadly, we love our alcohol more than life (ours and others), and lives that are lost to acts of violence are, indiscriminately, dear to many only as tools or catalyst for the advancement of political agendas.

However, considering that alcohol and drugs are involved in most violent and property crimes,

it ultimately would appear that the fix for what's "ale-ing" us isn't restricting that which we control but protecting ourselves from that which controls us.

Sunny Cornett, Dayton, Ohio

Before you knock, think

I find it fascinating that just a few weeks ago the big fuss was over whether the census taker could knock on your door and ask if you were a citizen. Now the same folks who said no, you can't ask, are clamoring to have legislation that will allow the government to come knocking at your door, tell you that in the government's judgment you are mentally unstable and you must hand over any guns you own. So the government should be able to knock-knock and tell you that you are crazy but they can't knock-knock every 10 years and ask if you are a citizen? That is crazy!

Mitch McConnell is right to slow-walk legislation. My experience has been that knee-jerk emotional decisions from the heart usually do not turn out as well as well-thought-out intellectual decisions from the brain.

Ted Gold, Plano

NRA won't support reason

Short of an unlikely bedside conversion, it is unlikely that President Donald Trump will fight the NRA in any meaningful way. If he really cared about gun safety, he would not have overturned an Obama executive action to allow the Social Security Administration to communicate with the FBI on issues of mental illness. What is wrong with the FBI being aware of mentally incapacitated people (such that they qualified for disability due to a mental issue) when reviewing gun permits? The only thing "wrong with" it is that the NRA never seems to support any reasonable gun safety measures.

Merrill McHenry, The Colony

Before you vote, think

To those of you outraged by yet another mass shooting (this time two over a weekend) and frustrated that nothing is being done or will ever be done, please note former Florida Republican Rep. David Jolly's recent comments.

"Republicans will never do anything on gun control. Nothing. Ever. They won't," he was quoted.

Those interested in a country where you can go safely to a concert, Walmart, church, nightclub, school or movie theater need to register and vote. Until we elect representatives who listen to their voters rather than the NRA, we will not achieve reasonable restraints on these military-style weapons. Take your thoughts and prayers to the voting booth.

Hans Voorn, Frisco