LETTER: We can’t afford not to vote this November

I say enough is enough due to legislative inaction on gun violence since the Sandy Hook shootings.

This November, everyone must vote if we want action on gun violence.

I’m tired of hearing the endless parade of news stories about gun violence devastating families and communities across the country.

But since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, 2012, when 20 first-graders and six educators lost their lives, Congress has failed to pass a single piece of legislation to begin to reduce America’s gun violence epidemic.

Not one.

Since Sandy Hook, there have been many more mass shootings.

More than 300,000 people were injured or killed by firearms in the three years between Sandy Hook and December 2015, according to The Newtown Foundation.

In addition, 555 children died from gunshots during the same period, according to an NBC News analysis.

Enough is enough.

This November, Americans have the chance to elect leaders who will finally take action to reduce gun violence.

Voter turnout may hit new lows, but let’s not let that happen in our community.

Every mom, dad, grandparent and family member in Port Angeles who wants to see an end to America’s gun violence epidemic should plan now to vote, vote, vote.

With so many lives at stake, we just can’t afford not to.

Robert Kaplan,

Port Angeles