Rather than paint folks on either side of the gun control issue with a broad brush of condemnation, we need to get closer to the heart of a solution. People — angry, demented, depressed, mentally ill, or immature — kill with guns. These are folks we have all run across in our families, social groups, and at and through our jobs. We need a confidential, safe and secure means to report these situations to authorities for resolution similar to the mandatory reporting systems used by professionals who work around children to report child abuse.
Such a reporting system would have checks and balances, making it an offense not to report these situations and an offense to falsely report. Given that most are killed by those they know, this could go a long way toward resolving this problem vexing our citizens.
Pat Campbell
Vancouver
