Columbia, SC — The Newtown massacre of children should be the absolute limit of America’s tolerance for the slaughter of innocents. Australians sickened of these mass killings, and their government outlawed assault weapons. So should we. No valid reason has been given for anyone except our military to have the capability to annihilate so many in mere seconds.

While most NRA members consider themselves a benign consolidation of game hunters and target shooters, the NRA is very much into the arms business and profits from gun and ammunition sales. One gun dealer — MidwayUSA — has contributed more than $7 million to the NRA through a customer “round-up” program. So of course the NRA proposal is to arm teachers and guards at every entrance; that’s good for increasing gun sales and profit.

Sadly, many of our legislators vote as the NRA dictates, knowing that the money and votes of the organization determines their re-elections.

Maxine Dexter

Aiken