Both sides wade in the blood of the Sandy Hook shooting. One side claims we must ban all the evil weapons in the world. The other suggests arming school teachers and administrators. Few on either side mention the elephant in the room, mental health care.

In China, people have few firearms (because of poverty, not restrictions). Attacks similar to Sandy Hook occur with frequency, using knives. On Dec. 14, one madman in China stabbed 23 children before being stopped by law enforcement. Fewer died, but all had “their innocence torn away” as well.

Nearly all mass murders in this country have happened in “gun free zones.” No matter the size of the signs, or the laws in place, they still occur. They are perpetrated by mad men and women.

We “handle” our mentally ill by ignoring them or incarcerating them. We do not treat them well enough, nor hold them so that they cannot harm society.

Until we can assure every law abiding citizen complete protection from the criminal and the criminally insane, we must not infringe upon their constitutional right to keep and bear whatever arms necessary to do so themselves.

Charlie Dyer

Shellsburg