We have all noticed the gun shows at the fair ground every couple of months. I am not opposed to people taking advantage of their rights to own and use firearms in the USA. But I also want to recognize the protesting students and staff members from the Florida school shooting that tragically and needlessly took the lives of 17 students, in ways most of us cannot come close to imagining. What would it be like to see this happen and be in their shoes?

I also saw the gun show signs with big blood-red “x”s on them this weekend as well, some right outside of Thunder Mountain Middle School where kids are dropped off and busses come in with kids, only a couple of days after this latest mass school shooting with a high powered military assault rifle. I understand this frustration as well and why something did this protest. I think people have had enough and I think in my heart that we need to have a rational discussion about what responsible gun rights really are. People are not going to remain silent any longer.

I support responsible gun rights. Most people do, but 98 percent of people also want much stronger background checks in all weapons purchases. An overwhelming majority of all Americans want a ban on military assault weapons, and so do a majority of responsible gun owners like me. But when they speak out, small minorities of gun owners immediately attack anyone who says this. People have a right to speak up and to not be killed by these military weapons. We don’t need weapons of war in our streets and in our schools. That was never the intent of the founders of our country. Please join the discussion and make your voice heard.

April Hurst

Enumclaw