George,

The issue of gun control in this nation goes beyond limiting the sale of certain weapons, such as semi-automatic weapons, clips, magazines, etc. Though any effort to reduce the killing power of weapons such as the AR-15 used recently in the school massacre in Connecticut might be helpful, the fact remains that there are an estimated 280 MILLION guns in the hands of the American citizenry.

Those millions will not be eliminated, in large part, and will remain menacing to all.

But there are other practical ways that might be useful in reducing the daily carnage of gun terror in this nation. Eliminating the ability to purchase guns and ammunition on the internet. Anyone, regardless of those with a violent criminal background or mental instability, can legally buy the most dangerous guns available, including the "Bushmaster" rifle used by Adam Lanza in Newtown, Connecticut.

The murderer in Aurora,Colorado purchased thousands of rounds of ammunition directly through internet suppliers.

Registration and thorough background checks along with a national information bank available in all fifty states to screen out felons with previous records of gun violence, spousal abusers, minors, and those with serious mental instability, surely could eliminate some potential danger to society.

But, in my opinion, the larger issue is what appears to me, the level of the acceptance of violence overall in our society,,,,

I would start by eliminating a government's ability to legally kill a human being. Not only is capital punishment unequally applied, mostly to the very poor and minorities, the entire process is flawed and haphazard with almost daily examples of injustice in the administering of this ultimate punishment.

When a democratic society makes it clear that every life is precious and worth saving even the most evil among us, are not subjected to nothing better than "legal murder."

As a nation we must also find avenues to avoid endless wars to settle every issue on the planet. And, in the process of war, stop the use of Kafkaesque methods in the form of unmanned drones that kill human beings indiscriminately.

I am not alone in the opinion that a "kinder, gentler society" might be helpful in curtailing the daily violence and mayhem in our nation. There are regular pleadings from the informed in our society suggesting a "calming of the waters" will create a more humane society.

Harry Tenney (Electronic mail, December 19, 2012)