Reading Tuesday’s article “Stanly officers train for the unknown” ( https://www.thesnaponline.com/2019/08/06/officers-conduct-active-shooter-training/ ) left us with a feeling of deep sadness.

Although we’re sure it was not the writer’s intent, the tone of the article seemed to reflect a normalization of the tragedy of school shootings.

Is this what we’ve come to as a nation? Lockdown drills once a month? The need for small children to learn to make a snap decision whether to run, hide or fight? Descriptions of such events as “just unfortunate?”

Our nation’s tolerance for the continuing tragedies of mass shootings must stop.

While all of us can agree that each individual tragedy has multiple causes, let’s not omit the proverbial elephant in the room: the easy availability of military-style weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Before our letter receives blistering criticism from friends and neighbors who are avid hunters, we’ll be clear that we respect your right to safely and responsibly engage in your sport or to keep a firearm in your home for safety purposes.

We fail to understand, though, how measures such as universal background checks, “red flag laws” or a 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases are likely to infringe on or to erode one’s Second Amendment rights. These and other provisions are included in two bills, HB454 and HB86, which currently are awaiting floor discussion in the N.C. General Assembly.

Those of us advocating for stronger gun safety laws in our state and nation are not crazed, “gun control” fanatics whose ultimate goal is to take away guns from law-abiding citizens.

We are citizens, many of whom also are people of faith, who believe that the well-being of others in our community takes priority over our own individual rights.

Let’s come together and have a respectful, honest discussion about ways we as a community can pressure our lawmakers to take meaningful action to combat this serious problem.

Tom and Anne Lipe
Richfield