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Invoke: Readers: Stricter gun laws will not lessen mass shootings
Op-Ed · October 08, 2015


After the shooting in Oregon last week, we asked readers on Twitter and Facebook: “Should America eliminate gun-free zones so law-abiding can protect themselves? Or do stricter gun laws help?”


The question received four “Likes” on Facebook.

Editor’s note: Umpqua Community College, as required by Oregon law, allows concealed carry, but prohibits “possession, use, or threatened use of firearms,” even BB guns and water pistols, “except as expressly authorized by law or college regulations, ...”

For more: www.umpqua.edu/safety-security-information.



Cathy Lynn Ohrt: Chicago has some of the strictest gun laws in the country and it is a virtual war zone. Yes, gun free zones are a dumb idea. 3 Likes

Mike Kessler: If you can’t enforce the gun laws already on the books, how will more help?

And, yes, gun free zones don’t work, they are considered a soft target because nobody is there to stop the bad guy. 7 Likes

Matt Hills: The wrong type of restrictions are implemented. 80% of guns involved in school shootings (46 in 2015) are acquired from family or friends. CR Police Chief states more than 20 guns have been stolen from vehicles this year. Make the gun owners responsible. Harsh penalties for the owner will assist in preventing stolen and “borrowed” guns which are the bulk of these incidents. 5 Likes

Kandi Baylor: The college in Oregon was not a gun free zone. 2 Likes

Michael Hayes: Constitution, 2nd amendment. 1 Like

Cathy Isabel-Johnson: Gun-free zones will do nothing for the person with mental illness. 4 Likes

Michael Hayes: No killer will follow the laws, only the victims will. 6 Likes

Travis Simmons Sr.: Gun-free zones are easy targets for criminals. They need to make gun owners accountable for there own fire arms to an extent.

If every attempt was made to secure your firearm then there is only so much you can do.

For example, If your home is broken into and your gun safe is stolen then kinda hard to prevent that. Firearms in a dresser drawer and a kid gets it, then hold the kid and the gun owner of responsible. If you own a firearm it is your responsibility to secure your weapons to the best of your ability. I do carry and I own firearms if they are not on me they are secure.

Tony Wasion: One of my brothers is a Correctional Officer in a high-security prison and you know what? Criminals don’t care about laws — hence the reason they’re in prison. To think that a law will stop criminals from using a gun is insane. The only thing that will stop a bad person with a gun is a good person with a gun. Many of these anti-gun politicians who want to take our rights away are themselves corrupt. 1 Like

Kay Eberhart Norfleet: What will help, I think, is EACH ONE OF US paying attention to the people around us. Perhaps police intervention is needed, but somehow we must convince those who appear to be lonesome that their conduct matters. We shouldn’t be afraid to get involved! 3 Likes

Nancy Eberhart Martin: As the saying goes, take away the guns and only the bad guys will have them. How do we protect ourselves then? I am sooo against any kind of gun restriction.

How pathetic it is now that even our church has a cop on guard and our safety team all carry guns ... and this is in a very nice area of town!! 2 Likes

Tony Wasion: Christian churches are a target-rich environment. I never go unless I’m prepared. The church I’m attending now has a police chief as the preacher. Oh ya!