The Founding Fathers said the tree of liberty must be watered from time to time with the blood of patriots. However, it should not be the blood of innocents like in Parkland, Newtown and Las Vegas.

How do we stop the slaughter of innocents and still preserve our constitutional rights?

The inadequate responses of Congress, the vacillations of the president, and irrational obstinacy of organizations like the NRA have ignored and belittled the frustration and anguish of survivors and the loved ones of the victims. Both sides have failed in their extreme responses and lack of rational leadership.

Cries for severely restricting or even rescinding the constitutional right to bear arms create more antagonism and no solutions. While some call for changes to the laws and Constitution and an end to military assault-style weapons, others fear “the slippery slope” and fight every, and any, change to the free access to any firearm by anyone.

Rational and valid arguments on both sides of these issues are being blown away by tempests of vehement, virulent obstinacy. How do we fix it?

Everyone must accept the constitutional right to bear arms and accept the well-established limitations placed on constitutional rights. For instance, limiting free speech by not allowing shouts of “Fire” in a crowded theater.

All gun owners should be background-checked as a protection of the rights of others.

The NRA and their congressional and industrial advocates will be the greatest stumbling block to any resolution. Why? Follow the money as it flows among the gun makers, the “any gun, any time, for any one” advocates and the always cash-greedy office seekers.

Our elected leaders have failed us; hopefully, the movement begun by the magnificent Parkland kids will lead to a resolution by leading and shaming both the gun rights extremists and NRA and the antigun extremist groups.

— Richard Sorensen

Salisbury