If guns are no threat, why are they banned at Trump’s NRA speech this weekend?

Not so safe?

Why does the NRA have gun-free zones at its upcoming national conference in Houston this weekend? Attendees are barred from carrying firearms in the General Assembly hall of George R. Brown Convention Center, including during Donald Trump’s address.

If NRA members really want to assess the commitment of the NRA and pro-gun politicians to their Second Amendment rights, they need to take their guns anywhere they want at the conference.

- Cynthia Puppel Stofiel, Kansas City

What I am

I was loved that last day of my life by my family, whom I loved back and who meant the world to me.

In school, at a fair, hanging out with friends and even shopping, I was the happiest when surrounded by those who loved me.

But on Earth, my life didn’t matter to someone who had a need for violence, who showed their insecurities and shortcomings.

I am now a picture on my mama’s nightstand by her bed, a daily reminder to my father, too, of what might have been. I am now a statistic for the history books and pain in my grandparents’ hearts, in their dreams at night.

I had a right to be a child, and then an adult with children of my own someday. But your right to own a weapon was more important than my right to live in this world.

Now, my world is shared with other children whose lives were cut short because of these guns of mass destruction. But at least in heaven, our lives matter.

We remember all children lost to gun violence.

- Karen Zentz, Raymore

Dangerous shots

“Children die from shots.”

If this were a COVID-19 vaccine headline, there would be outrage, headlines, recalls, conspiracy theories, calls for action, legislation at all levels, lawsuits.

Unfortunately, it isn’t.

The instrument in this case isn’t anything as innocuous as a syringe, the delivery method only a needle. Instead, we have been forced to recognize this killer by its famous name: AR-15.

If AR-15 were a vaccine, we’d stop giving it. If AR-15 were a pill, we’d pull it from the shelves. If AR-15 were a toy, we’d recall it. If AR-15 were a cancer, we’d fight it. But AR-15, in addition to the weapon of war that it is, is a powerful and addictive paycheck for too many in our government, and they seemingly can’t give it up.

They aren’t alone. Too many people have their AR-15s to play with. They don’t want to give up their toys.

As Corinthians says: “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put away childish things.”

Time to grow up. Too many lives depend upon it.

- Andrew McCarl, Overland Park

What opportunity?

“America, the land of opportunity” — the increasing opportunity to have your children gunned down at school. That is what this nation has come to, thanks to Republican lawmakers and a rogue Democrat from West Virginia posing in sheep’s clothing, who refuse to support stronger gun-control laws, putting their political aspirations ahead of innocent lives.

How will you explain this on Judgment Day?

- Carol Malarky, Overland Park

Lower the count

I’ve heard — many times — that guns don’t kill people, people do. But guess what? Bullets do. So, could the government regulate the sale of bullets? Of course. Especially ones used in semiautomatic guns. Limit the number of bullets purchased in this category to a reasonable number at a time. That’s for practice. Exclude imports. And register and monitor every purchase.

It’s common sense. After all, how many bullets does it take to kill a deer?

- David Welty, Westwood Hills

Ups and downs

Randy Mason’s lovely Wednesday front-page story “The hole world” and its accompanying photographs of Missouri’s many caves reminded me of what a young tour guide in Colorado told me and other tourists: “When it comes to stalactites (hanging down) and stalagmites (protruding up), you might be able to remember that it’s stalagmites that you ‘might’ trip over.”

It’s worked for me for some 40 years.

- Larry Heffel, Lenexa

A worthy read

Thursday’s interesting front-page “feel good” story about mechanic Tom Keegan was worth the price of my subscription to The Star. (“After 19 years, midtown Kansas City fixture hits the brakes”) Thank you.

- Sara Colt, Mission Hills