Gun safety laws cannot be ignored. As an Oregonian and as an American, I feel we have the constitutional right to expect that firearms are well and adequately regulated. http://www.zerocensorship.com/t/uncensored-us-politics/173957-oregon-sheriff-handling-massacre-john-hanlin-fought-the-white-house-on-gun-control-after-newtown#axzz3nMpcTDiR

I am part of a growing American "interest group" recently identified by Andy Borowitz in a brilliant satirical essay. That is, I am "an American Opposed to Being Shot." http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/americans-opposed-to-being-shot-seek-representation-in-washington

Gun control must happen and happen now.

I am sick of how we are getting used to these horrific crimes while we do nothing to control the types of guns being sold, how they are sold, and how it is way too easy for them to get into the wrong hands--especially of our youth.

No one seems to be proposing the one most effective approach to reducing the slaughter: gun registration.

The insanity of thinking people need guns to protect themselves. With the exception of law enforcement, no one needs a gun much less an automatic weapon.

How long can we continue to hear about innocent people being killed by mentally unstable individuals with access to guns? It's time our elected representatives listen to their constituents' concern about gun violence and stop being afraid of the IRA and gun manufacturers.

I was affected by this when my Aunt was killed by her son accidentally. He intended to kill his father for beating his mother. The father pushed the gun aside and killed his mother instead. His life was ruined after that incident.

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.