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Letter: Shooting shows we need to do better

Thursday, April 19, 2007 | 6:55 a.m.

In response to the Virginia Tech tragedy, a Las Vegas Sun editorial on April 17 noted that "Our society has become increasingly violent, and our government has made it far too easy to obtain guns." I agree.

The shooter at Virginia Tech was known to be mentally ill and suicidal. He also had a record of stalking two women. Certainly he was no candidate for gun ownership, but he had no felony record. I don't see how Second Amendment supporters can argue that mentally ill, aggressive and suicidal people should be permitted to be a part of "a well-regulated militia."

The Virginia Tech shooting also illustrates the need for an aggressive approach to mental health care everywhere in our society. This would require something from government other than just more prisons, which are overflowing .

Jerry Bitts, Las Vegas

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