Fighting for Gun Reform — Letters that should have been in the new york times

10.28.23

To the editor:

Re. Stephen King on Mass Shootings: We're Out of Things to Say (nytimes.com; 10/27/23):

Stephen King laments the unending cycle of violence in our gun addicted, gun loving culture. He sees no way forward in the current political environment. However, according to the Pew Center, the majority of Americans believe it is too easy to legally obtain a gun and support stricter gun laws. Our politicians are out of step with the majority of Americans.

We would do well to have a litmus test for candidates for elected office their commitment to gun reform and supporting legislation to make that happen. Pro-life constituents succeeded in catalyzing massive legislative and judicial changes with respect to abortion; while I abhor the outcome of these efforts, perhaps these conservative, largely Republican individuals can apply the same pro-life pressure in supporting candidates willing to break with the NRA and make real their commitment to life whereby the right to life takes precedence over the right to bear arms.

Larry S. Sandberg