The following facts about the 21st century are closely connected:

• Almost every day, innocent people lose their lives to gun violence;

• The United States has the highest per-capita rate of gun ownership of any developed nation;

• Legislators, the National Rifle Association and other gun-huggers have misinterpreted the Second Amendment (which was intended to authorize bearing arms for a formed militia — not to provide mentally unstable people the privilege of bearing firearms); and

• Those same people refuse to acknowledge that this nation has a serious problem.

Are people so desensitized to human tragedy and suffering? Have those victims become so dehumanized? Are we immune to the horror?

I urge the public to open its eyes and give value to the staggering number of lost lives.

Only military and law-enforcement personnel should be allowed to have firearms.

Anne Ceplikas, Auburn