Dear Next President, 

Our gun control laws need to have more restrictions and make sure they don't end up in the wrong hands. So many innocent people are being killed or injured by guns.

Living in the US, I hear about many gun related deaths and injuries. About a year ago, there was a young teenage boy who I knew that lived in the same area as me that was shot 7 times and was killed. Later on I attended this candle lighting for him and a “drive by” occurred. Everyone was shocked and scared. The gun violence needs to stop. So many people are using guns in the wrong way.

About 4 years ago in 2012, 6 teachers and 20 elementary school kids were killed because of a shooting. This happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The shooter, Adam Lanza, was diagnosed with different mental illnesses. He was obviously mentally not capable of having a gun. This is just one of the many shootings that have a connection with mental illnesses.

According to the Brady Campaign, in the US 306 Americans are shot and some are killed everyday. So many of theses deaths were innocent people that shouldn't have died. The mental illness policy reports, at least 1,000 homicides a year are done by people with a serious mental illness. This is a large amount of homicides. According to Pro Publica, people are 3 to 4 times more likely to be aggressive when diagnosed with a mental illness. We shouldn't be letting people who mentally aren't capable of owning a gun have one.

We need to learn from other countries. In Germany, you have to pass a mental illness test to see if you are capable of owning a gun. They are 73rd on the murder rate list compared to the US, which is 14th.

Our gun control laws need to have more restrictions and make sure they don't end up in the wrong hands. By requiring a mental illness test before owning a gun, it could eliminate so many deaths and injuries.

Thank you,

Gina Latimer, 10th Grade

Saint Paul, Minnesota