Advertisement
Letter

Letters for Nov. 30: Gov. Glenn Youngkin, now is the time to talk about guns

Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at The Virginian-Pilot.

Talk now

Gov. Glenn Youngkin, when asked recently about gun control in light of the University of Virginia and Chesapeake shootings, responded as follows: “‘I fundamentally believe that there is going to be a moment to talk about these things. I believe the people who are trying to bring them up are trying to talk about things that really have a time. Today’s not the time. Today’s the time to support families and bring people together. There will be a moment to talk about these things,’” according to the Virginia Mercury.

The Chesapeake shooter purchased his firearm the morning of the shooting. Now is the time to discuss a mandatory waiting period for purchasing firearms, governor. Whatever demons were in the shooter’s head, perhaps a waiting period would have given him time to talk to someone before carrying out his evil act. The moment is now, governor. Supporting families and bringing people together, to use your hollow words, should mean that no gunmen-in-the-making can get a gun as easily as same-day dry-cleaning service. And to the Second Amendment absolutist who would instinctively oppose a reasonable waiting period, please remember that no constitutional right is absolute.

Advertisement

Jim Grandfield, public defender for Suffolk, Virginia Beach

Lame response

Re “‘I literally watched bodies drop’: Witnesses describe Walmart manager’s shooting rampage that killed 6 at Chesapeake store” (Nov. 23): After one of the recent mass shootings I heard that our governor put out a statement saying that we needed to do more in the area of mental health care.

Advertisement

This brings some points to my mind.

Point one, yes, you are right, our mental health care system definitely has room for improvement.

Point two, if you felt this way, what have you done since you have been governor to improve our mental health care system? I haven’t noticed anything.

Point three, is that your only suggestion? I believe an important sign of a good leader is that he or she tries to solve problems using multipronged solutions. Is improving our mental health system your only idea?

Point four, as for the validity of your solution, as statistics show, other countries have as much of a problem with mental illness as our country, so how come our country has so many many more shootings (mass and otherwise) than other countries in the world?

Point five, the majority of Americans favor stricter gun regulations. So, how come our governor doesn’t? Is he just another politician with his hand out to the gun lobbyists?

Admit it, governor, your response is as lame as the “thoughts and prayers” of so many other politicians that only care about their power and donations, and not the people they are supposed to serve and protect.

Neva Beierle, Hampton

Advertisement

American problem

Re “‘I literally watched bodies drop’: Witnesses describe Walmart manager’s shooting rampage that killed 6 at Chesapeake store” (Nov. 23): According to past Supreme Court rulings, the Congress, states or localities can enact restrictions on guns. The assault weapons ban President Joe Biden wants is doable. Even gun owners recognize that there is no legitimate use for these guns to go hunting with or anything else.

Virginia has no waiting period between buying a gun and obtaining it. That needs to be changed. The Chesapeake shooter bought his gun the day he used it. Lack of sensible gun control laws is ternary of the minority.

Viewpoints

Weekly

The week's top opinion content and an opportunity to participate in a weekly question on a topic that affects our region.

The gun problem is the unique American disease.

Georgette Constant, Norfolk

Solutions needed

Re “‘I literally watched bodies drop’: Witnesses describe Walmart manager’s shooting rampage that killed 6 at Chesapeake store” (Nov. 23): I recently went to my local Walmart early in the morning like I always do. I’ve been going there more than 20 years and know about half of the employees. Usually I run into a neighbor or a friend. I was only a few steps inside and a somber reality came in view. It was a uniformed policeman. I’ve never seen one there, granted I do not shop on Black Friday. Something so simple gave me a sinking feeling. Now, more than ever, I realize our world is changing. I will not pretend to know or propose a solution. I have thought and prayed about it all day. We need solutions that will work. We need to change this trend of hatred.

Dallas ONeal Jr., Virginia Beach

Advertisement

Control guns

I see the press and police report the weapons used in mass shootings as “long guns,” not AR-15s, etc. The National Rifle Association says guns save lives. Really? Not going into that rabbit hole.

Assault weapons in the hands of disturbed youth and angry people do an effective job of killing quickly and in mass, as they were designed to do. It is time the government place this type weapon in the “machine gun” category and apply the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rules for licensing this perfect “killing machine.”

Robert Donnelly, Virginia Beach


Advertisement