Yes, another tragic shooting, this time at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Seventeen people, mostly students, were slaughtered by a 19-year-old killer armed with an assault weapon designed to kill as many humans as possible, as quickly as possible, according to media reports.
A dozen others, mostly students, are injured. Hundreds of others, mostly students, are severely traumatized.
A bill currently in the state legislature (HB 1387/SB 5444) would raise the age of purchase for AR-15s and other assault weapons from 18 to 21.
This bill would extend to assault weapons the provisions of existing state law that apply to concealed handguns, including requiring safety training and annual background check renewal.
This is reasonable, rational legislation that will save lives and make our communities safer.
Citizen pressure is urgently needed to get it passed into law.
Please call Speaker of the House Frank Chopp at 360-786-7920 and Senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson at 360-786-7667 and urge them to bring HB 1387/SB 5444 to the floor for a vote.
To join the gun violence prevention movement here on the Olympic Peninsula, please join the Alliance for Gun Responsibility at gunresponsibility.org.
Paula Barnes,
Sequim