Uvalde, Texas massacre spurs grief and anger from Middle Tennessee residents | Featured letters

Uvalde massacre left me in tears

I started the last few days being excited because my significant other’s birthday was May 25th and my youngest grandson’s birthday is May 29th.

We also have a family reunion at my godson’s house Memorial Day weekend every year minus last year because of COVID. We will spend Saturday at Opryland and enjoy soundwaves with the grandchildren. We are living the American dream.

But Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning all the excitement and joy was gone and replaced with tears. Tears for the families and community of Uvalde, Texas.

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It is inconceivable that this is still going on in America. We are an intelligent people. There is absolutely no reason anyone needs military-grade weapons and equipment especially high-capacity magazines. Those weapons cannot be used for hunting. My grandmother was safe at home in the country with her shotgun by the door. My grandfather hunted with a rifle for squirrels and rabbits not people.

I learned to shoot an M16 in the army when I was 18 years old. If someone wants to shoot those types of weapons, join the military. I learned to shoot a pistol as a police officer. Oh, wait, both of those careers involve the possibility of people shooting back.

Guess it does not apply to those who massacre people that cannot shoot back. But that is the point. Leave the military-style weapons to the real heroes, service members and police officers.

Sylvia Russell, Nashville 37218

What are we doing to stop gun violence?

I’m sickened. Newtown, Connecticut is barely 30 minutes from where I grew up. And the horror of Sandy Hook occurred just a few months shy of a decade ago.

How?! How can we excuse ourselves, not only as Tennesseans – forever easing gun restrictions – but as Americans, doing quite literally less than nothing over the past 10 years, as mass shootings abound?

Our passive approach leaves us all to blame. In January 2021, hundreds of halfwits nearly overthrew our entire system of government. How can the hundreds of millions of us, who would prefer not to see children gunned down, fail to have similar leverage?

We live in a time where our constitutional rights are being reconsidered. While we’re empathizing with fertilized eggs, maybe that “well regulated Militia” bit deserves a second look, for those unfortunate kids who’ve already been born.

Nobody, including me, is trying to take anyone’s guns away. But we've “college-tried” doing nothing. In Tennessee, we've even tried deregulating “nothing.” I ask the zeitgeist, sincerely, if there wasn't a good guy with a gun in Texas, what’s the likelihood that there will be one here?

Chris Frasco, Nashville 37216

We are doing nothing over and over

Another day, another mass shooting by someone with multiple assault-style weapons. I have given up on the idea that the GOP and its NRA-funded elected officials will allow any form of gun control. Therefore, let's take a new tack.

The primary social messaging companies, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc., must be made to forward threatening emails to some sort of authority for investigation so they may possibly be able to prevent these hate-inspired murders.

They have this ability and it is obvious all we are going to get from the GOP is “thoughts and prayers.” Maybe if we can have a large group of psychologists and psychiatrists available to counsel the would-be murderers, we might stop a few.

Because what we are doing now – nothing – is not working.

Albert Hubbard, Hendersonville 37075

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Blah, blah, blah

Another school shooting. I am sick to my stomach. Somebody should do something! Blah, blah, blah ..

Bonnie Jackson, Nashville 37214

It’s time for action

If you believe that there needs to be background checks for gun safety and assault weapons have no place in our society and something must change and you voted for Marsha Blackburn, please do not vote for her again!

Not only does she take huge sums of money from the NRA but she has also met with Russian nationalists here on Tennessee soil with ties to the NRA.

Ask yourself, are those weapons now being used by the Russians to kill Ukrainians? We must demand transparency from our political candidates to disclose ties to the NRA. The recent events of mass shootings have once again broken my heart! No more thoughts and prayers, but action!

Libby Evers Perryman, Nashville 37215

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Hold all culprits responsible

It is overwhelmingly sad that 19 innocent school children were gunned down for no reason. It is sad that the 18-year-old killer was able to buy the guns and body armor. It is sad that the Republicans across this country allow this type of pf killing.

They allow weapons of war to be bought and put in the hands of anyone with enough money. It is sad that no license is required, no permit is required, no training is required, no background check is required. Buy and sell guns at gun shows without regulation? No problem. Why? Because Republicans care more about guns than lives! They caused all this; they must be held responsible!

It is extremely sad that there are more mass shootings in this country than there are days.

Don Geddes, Nashville 37214

Why these shooters would kill

I don't think we are getting anywhere with these shootings and I do not want to label these young men as just evil people.

But is does seem that these school shooters are young men of a certain age group.

They feel they are failures or are threatened to fail by certain groups through media or lies on social media. They also need some help.

They also need to know that there are many second chances to turn your life around.

I am a victim of gun violence and a survivor of a suicide.

I know what I am talking about! They need hope!

Steve Scarborough, Antioch 37013

Yet another massacre in our country

How many will it take before Republicans admit what is killing so many people?

Not politically correct to vote for sensible gun legislation?

Please tell me just one reason why automatic weapons should be owned by anyone other than military or law enforcement personnel.

Red flag Laws are great, but they are not enough.

It is abundantly clear that mental illness is also an issue, but without these devastating weapons these mentally ill people might still kill a few people, but not 19 children in a matter of minutes.

I totally understand that Americans have the right to bear arms, but nowhere in the Constitution is that unlimited with no limit to who, no matter how unqualified for responsible use, what kinds of guns,  no matter how devastatingly capable of mass murder.

Can Republicans not have a grain of common sense?

Ban high-powered weapons now.

Red flag Laws: yes.

Background checks: yes

More access to mental health care: yes

If not all of the above, why not?

I am sick of these senseless heartbreaking massacres all over our county and I am sick of do-nothing senators and their constituents who continue to oppose anything that might stop even some of this devastation.

Just tell me why not.

Frances Garner, Nashville 37205

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Uvalde, Texas massacre: Middle Tennessee resident mourn victims