Letter: Guns will never bring peace

In the aftermath of the Connecticut slaughter of innocent children and adults, my faith observed “Holy Innocents’ Day.” King Herod, in his fear of losing power, had all children younger than age 2 killed, hoping to kill Jesus.

Every day children are victims of war, slavery, neglect and, yes, murder.

Sadly, it has taken the loss of 20 children, in a town like ours, to get our attention.

Quality child care, youth centers, money for education, help for families and homelessness must be addressed.

Then it comes to violence, which is a symptom of social unrest. Guns will never bring peace. Criminals and terrorists can purchase guns at gun shows.

Restrictions on guns protect responsible gun owners and police as well.

Write your legislators, use your economic leverage, donate to organizations that support gun control. Don’t take your children to gun shows! Send them to peace camps. Better yet, start one.

Teach your children to fight social injustice, to love and promote peace. If we respond with fear by putting guns in our schools, we will teach our children to fear and to respond with more violence. “Raise up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs: 22:6.

Claudia M. Frahm

VANCOUVER