I have never lost someone to gun violence. And I never want to. It shouldn't take losing someone close to you to care.

It is outrageous that gun violence and mass murders have become all too commonplace in our society. By remaining sedentary on this issue, we are sending a message that killing children is bearable. Imagine for just one moment this happened to your child. Perhaps a little empathy can bring some common sense to this pressing issue.

I am tired of seeing senseless massacre of the innocent, when the problem is so easily solved. I'm tired of the gun lobby controlling the quality of our lives, telling us the only way to be safe is to arm ourselves.

Sandy Hook. Columbine. Red Lake, Minnesota. Essex, Vermont. Lancaster. Aurora. Virginia Tech. How many more innocent victims must die at the hands of an antiquated and oft-misinterpreted amendment? Enough. It's time to stop the violence. Gun control doesn't have to mean no guns. I'm not suggesting we take guns away. I'm suggesting we put tighter controls on acquiring and owning them. Gun show loopholes must be stopped. Ammunition should not be sold online. Mandatory wait periods should be enforced, during which time a thorough background check, psychological and medical evaluation, and character references should be completed. More accountability should be placed in the hands of retailers. When patrons refuse wait periods, authorities should be notified. Training and testing should be mandatory, as should a renewal process that includes many of the above-mentioned evaluation terms. Gun owners and non-gun owners need to come together and agree on regulations that protect the right to own a firearm for sane, responsible adults and keep them out of the hands of the mentally unstable. I would hope that we could all agree to submit ourselves to these terms when it's easier to go to a gun show and pick up a firearm than it is to go to the local pharmacy and buy cold medication. Acquiring and owning a gun should be at least as controlled as getting a learner's permit, license, and privilege to drive a car. If you are a sane, responsible adult, your right to own a gun will not be taken away, but your responsibility as a gun owner is to ensure the safety of those around you.

All of us are affected by this issue. The ability to get a handgun, no matter who you are, is shameful.

I am starting this petition because I'm terrified by the escalating gun violence in this country. I am a grandmother, mother, aunt, retired teacher, Sunday School teacher and women's Bible study coordinator. And I will not stop fighting for gun control in every arena of my life and you should do the same. Please sign my petition.

I cannot continue to sit idly by while more innocent people are killed by guns in this country. Other countries have figured this out. Now it's up to us and our elected leaders to find solutions.

My husband is an English professor in a community college, the same kind of class that was attacked in Roseburg by a man with armor and multiple guns. My daughter is a 1st grader, the same age of the children who were killed by a man with an assault rifle in Sandy Hook. Until assault rifles are illegal and background checks are mandatory for gun buyers, I feel like my family is at risk. No community is immune to this trend in America.

We have seen too many mass murders, especially here in Colorado. If the federal government cannot stand up to the NRA, then we Coloradans surely can!

Can there be anyone in this country who isn't appalled every time we are greeted with the news of yet-another mass shooting? Or, every time we see more senseless gun violence and innocent lives lost on our city streets? I'm just one of millions who want change, and want our representatives in Washington to take ACTION, now!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: In December 2016, the Journal News revealed that County Executive Astorino will permit a new Gun Show to take place at Westchester County Center on January 21-22, 2017. In response, on January 9, the Westchester County Board of Legislators approved legislation to ban gun shows on all county property, by a vote of 9-8. County Executive Astorino is expected to veto the bill, and we expect to keep working to pass it, by obtaining enough votes to override the veto. We will deliver all signatures on this petition to the Westchester County Board of Legislators and County Executive Astorino in January 2017 before the vote. Please SIGN THIS PETITION and visit our Take Action center at www.PreventGunViolence.org to see how you can help. Thank you!! PERSONAL STATEMENT: As a Westchester resident, I am shocked and saddened by the recent horrific shooting of eight students and a faculty member at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. My friend Rachel was shot and killed by a 14-year-old playmate in 1982 when she was only 12 years old. Over 30,000 people die in the U.S. every year from gun violence, including suicide, homicide, and accidents.

My nephew's life was stolen and my family have suffered injustice at the hands of local police when called for a Wellness Check.