Dear Mr./Madam president,

I believe that there should be very strict gun control laws. It is very important to have these policies because I believe many mass shooting would not have happened had there been stricter gun control policies. Several of these shootings have killed over 20 people. These people are getting semi-automatic weapons that shoot many rounds at a time! Just this year there have been roughly over 11,000 gun related murders! This needs to stop!

One mas shooting has occurred in Newtown, Connecticut. This shooting happened at an elementary school! A man came in with a semi-automatic weapon, and killed 28 people! If there were better gun policies, this wouldn’t have happened. This man was mentally ill, and was able to get a gun. If there had been stricter gun policies, this wouldn’t have happened.

A huge mass shooting has occurred recently, this past summer. A man, went into a night club with an AR 15 (a semi-automatic weapon) and shot and killed 49 people, and injured 53 people. This man, who did not appreciate same gender marriage, bought this gun without any background checks. If there had there been stricter gun laws this wouldn’t have happened.

Lastly, many people say that they are going to use the guns for self-defense. Just in 2010, there were 8,275 criminal homicides (meaning that they were not for self-defense, and were purposely planed and shot), and only 230 “justifiable homicides” (meaning that it was for self-defense, and not purposely shot). That would be 36 criminal homicides for every “justifiable homicide”! Also in 2011, only 0.79% of victims protected themselves with a firearm.

In closing, I believe that America would be a much safer place if there are gun laws. There have been many mass shootings due to soft gun laws. Also many people say that they are getting and using a gun for self-defense, and many do not. I hope you consider my suggestion.

Thank You,

Genna P.

Louisville, KY