What do the recent shootings at the Westroads Mall in Omaha, Neb., have in common with the Virginia Tech, Trolley Square and Columbine High School tragedies? They all occurred in gun-free zones.

When are we, as a society, going to realize that the only ones who are going to obey a “gun-free zone” sign are the law-abiding, not those intent on killing as many people as they can.

Currently, this country has more than 20,000 gun control laws, and a study by the Centers for Disease Control has concluded that not a single one of them has done anything to reduce crime. It is the gun-free zones that should be outlawed. Those supposed gun-free zones are nothing more than victim-rich killing zones where madmen can kill as many people as they choose, and the law-abiding can do nothing to protect themselves.

Forty-eight states allow some form of concealed-carry of firearms. Nebraska allows people to carry concealed handguns, but it allows property owners, such as the Westroads Mall, to post signs banning permit holders from legally carrying guns on their property. Maine schools, universities and certain restaurants are also gun-free zones.

Holders of concealed-carry permits have taken a firearms course, been fingerprinted and had mental and criminal background checks done. It is time to stop disarming the law-abiding, and ban all gun-free zones in Maine and elsewhere.

Mark Cushman, Poland