Ben Carson says Kindergarten teachers should be armed. It would be funny if he wasn't serious, and if our children weren't being gunned down in an epidemic of violence that has led to 15 school shootings in the last 3 months alone. As the father of a first grader, I'm sickened by this. Politicians like Ben Carson kowtow to the NRA while our kids have to do drills in school where they practice hiding in closets. This is madness. There are actual steps that would help: effective background checks, commonsense safeguards around gun sales, better mental health care, etc. More guns in schools is decidedly not the answer. Dr. Carson is a GOP front-runner and his words matter. He should apologize, withdraw his proposal, and start talking about actual solutions. Or at least be quiet.

Enough is enough. We will not start to see reductions in levels of gun violence until Congress begins to truly lead on this subject and stands up to the overly influential "gun lobby". No more.

I am saddened by the loss of innocent lives. We are a civilized country and yet we have more homicides with firearms than most of all countries. Domestic violence using a firearm causes irreversible damage whereas domestic violence without a firearm can be approached with effective counselling .Mass shootings are almost unheard of in other countries! Let's stand up and say we have had enough deaths already.

I am an American. This country has the highest incidence of gun violence of any not engaged in active war. I feel it is my patriotic duty to support focus on an issue which causes the deaths of more Americans, including children, than all American war deaths combined.

I was moved by President Obama's speech in response to the most recent mass shooting at a community college in Oregon. He had a direct answer for each and every protest made by those who oppose gun control, and his plea for action to be taken struck me as powerful and urgent. The majority of Americans, including many Texans, agree that our laws need to change. We have nothing to lose and so, so much to gain.

We have long been concerned about the increase of mass shootings in our country since the 2005 Congressional action that no longer holds gun manufacturers responsible. This must change!

My brother committed suicide with a gun, which he obtained easily in spite of his criminal record. I also have two cousins, sisters, who were murdered by one of their former boyfriends. He, too, had a criminal record, and also obtained a gun with no trouble. I also have friends and neighbors who have lost loved ones because of gun violence. This problem is way too common and it has to stop. No one is safe any more.

I am starting this petition not to further our spiral into a more and more litigious society, but to get the attention of the firearm industry and make them understand the depth and breadth of the issues caused by lack of responsibility by gun sellers. Sadly the fastest way to do that is to hit them in the wallet. Imagine how powerful it would be to have the influence and money of the Gun Lobby on the side of gun reform. I am also tired of sending thoughts and prayers to mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and all the others whose lives are forever changed by the lack of responsibility among us. We need to take a stand. Make a promise and act. Don't talk about what needs to be done. Do it.

I am tired of reading about mass shootings and how everyone deflects to media, mental health, and excuses. Fine. Fix those other things, too. But for the improvement of our supposedly civil nation--get laws in place for better gun safety. There is a more intense process for learning to drive than there is for purchasing, owning, and using guns. We must start somewhere. Get gun manufacturers, the NRA, and others helping. Nobody is saying you can't be a responsible gun owner. Help the citizens of New Hampshire to force these organizations to be accountable.

I am sick and tired of hearing about all of the shooting deaths that occur in my city, state, and country. There is too much death and destruction in this world. Let's do our part to end it by starting right here at home in Ohio. There is simply no need for guns in a civilized society.

I am a concerned citizen and mother whose is just beyond frustrated with the fact that guns have become more important than our children's lives!

Having both a grand-daughter and a grandfather murdered by mentally unstable persons, I believe we need to enforce sensible restrictions on gun ownership in order to save lives.