The Newtown massacre gives us one more opportunity to learn. How many more experiences will be required? From all we hear, it seems that this was an act of violence that could not have been prevented by any external means. However, it also seems that if a semi-automatic weapon had not been involved, fewer people would have lost their lives.

Let’s begin by at least banning the proliferation of semi-automatic weapons and those weapons’ ammunition. The argument that “guns don’t kill people, people do” is weak. The same could be said of nuclear weapons. That’s why we control them with non-proliferation laws and treaties.

It is time for Congress to stop putting NRA dollars in their wallets and to do the right thing.

Daniel and Virginia Mitchell

Cedar Rapids