Why do we need all these guns?

I understand the great attraction of hunting, recreational shooting and gun collecting, but with only 4.4 percent of the world population, Americans have 42 percent of the privately owned guns.

A gun is a tool designed to kill at a distance. If you have a gun, you must be ready, able and willing to shoot or kill something or it is useless.

If you carry a concealed gun, I assume that you do not want those near you to know you are able to shoot them.

If you use a silencer, you do not want anyone to hear you shoot something.

I simply do not understand why Americans are so fearful and hate one another so much that we want to be ready to kill each other.

Now our country routinely has mass shootings, and all our prayers, condolences, concern and guns have not stopped this evil.

Henri Nouwen, a prominent theologian, wrote: “The bullet that kills is only the final instrument of the hatred in the heart that began long before the gun was picked up.”

Maybe God understands. I surely do not.