As elected officials worked to enact new legislation after several, recent mass shootings, we asked readers if they believed such legislation would have any impact, and what type of legislation, in their opinion, was necessary.

 

“Of course, I’m familiar with the legislation, but nothing is going to help because the government is into all this stuff. They are allowing certain things to happen to their benefit. Drugs and guns, it’s the same thing. I would like this to stop immediately, because so many innocent people are dying. They must ban all guns and why do you think that’s not going to happen? The Republicans don’t want it to stop. It starts with them. You’re not safe at the hospital, in the stores, at the emergency room or the supermarket. It’s crazy what’s happening; at home, you saw the girl that got shot inside her home? You’re not safe anywhere.”

Lisa Blair,

Norwood

“Yeah, they want to raise it from 18 to 21 and now they’ve got to have the micro-stamping on the bullets, yeah. I think it will help for the State, but obviously not for the country. The politicians can’t seem to work together to come up with some kind of comprehensive compromise. The ‘iron-pipeline’ is a problem, absolutely. I honestly don’t know why they can’t close these loopholes; you would think they would have some commonsense laws about some of these things. You don’t need an AR-15. I served in the military, and I know you don’t need that kind of weapon. I don’t think it will pass the Senate. The way the Republican Party is now and we’re coming to the midterms, they don’t want to see [President Joe] Biden get a win.”

Joe Bello,

Parkchester

 

“Oh, my goodness! That’s a hard one! I think the legislation might help; it depends on what kind of guns you’re talking about, and what kind of bills you’re talking about. I think if they pass something it will help people stop killing each other; that’s what’s important. I do think the National Rifle Association is controlling Congress a little bit, I guess. I haven’t seen gun violence around here but yeah, I am concerned a little bit for my safety. As long as people stop killing each other, that’s what’s important.”

Karla Gonzalez,

Westchester Square

“I’m somewhat following it. I work for the City so I know a little about stuff like that. I think what the governor did could be helpful. More elected officials need to get behind it because it’s needed. There are too many guns on the streets; it’s like a Catch-22. I feel like ever since COVID, the rise of guns on the streets has been worse than drugs, kidnapping, sex trafficking with the kids, sexual abuse, any kind of abuse. I feel like things have gotten worse. My hope is that Washington [D.C.] will pass it, but I don’t know. It’s just one of those things; I don’t think they will ever stop the guns coming from the South. It’s sad, because I know of people that know people who are doing this, and I can’t associate myself with that, because you have innocent kids dying. People are afraid to come out their homes; they’re afraid to take their kids to the park. It’s not like when I was raised in the 90s, when you could let your kids go outside with no worries. Now, you have to be worried for yourself, along with your kids. There’s no real safety, especially here in The Bronx.”

Patricia Miller,

Tremont

“I don’t think it will help. You either get rid of them all or get rid of none; it’s all or none. It’s a ‘no brainer’ to me. If you don’t have the guns, you can’t kill. Look at all these other countries: London, and other places. You don’t hear about mass shootings there. It’s because they don’t have guns. It’s too easy to get a gun here in the United States; that’s the main problem. This is the only way; if you stop the guns, you’ll stop the shootings. It’s that simple. I’m hardly ever out at night. Once it starts getting dark, I go inside. That’s how you live to be 60, okay? I try to keep a low profile and look over my shoulder because you never know. It’s like that old saying: even when you’re crossing a one-way street, look both ways.”

Howard L. Douglas,

Fordham Manor