Dear Mr. President,
You have significant power due to your office. I have enormous respect for you. I voted for you in 2008 and 2012, if it matters.
Another day, another shooting. 27 are reported dead at the time of this writing. I am sickened by these constant deaths at the hands of mentally unstable people who have more access to guns than mental health care.
I realize this is a touchy political issue, particularly for a President who is constantly vilified by his political opponents, which includes Fox News. But you, sir, are not running for office anymore. You are now free to govern, which is independent of politics. I realize that's a little naive to say, but it's true at its core. You are the President, not the Candidate.
Please, do something. Start a dialog and refuse to let it drop because it is awkward to talk about.
We spend more time making sure a person is fit to drive a car than own a gun, but you can't drive a gun to work; they are a tool intended for a single purpose: death and injury. Cars may be tools that can kill, but at least they are primarily intended for transportation.
I'm deeply concerned about what is happening in America today, with our constant fixation on killing. In general it seems there is a sad agreement that killing is best. Killing murderers. Killing perceived terrorists from the sky. Killing innocent shoppers. And now, school children.
Please do something. Please change the dialog. Please help. Please. I am scared of my neighbors. America is scared of its neighbors. Something is very wrong. Optimism is a tool, but it is not enough. We have to talk about difficult things because they are important.
I am not perfect, and neither are you. But we need you to lead.
Thank you, and may wisdom guide you.
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By the way, I wrote this off the top of my head, and I didn't go back to edit, so it may be rambley or typoey, or not fully thought-out.
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Here is a petition to get The White House to address this issue NOW.
President Obama:
Vice President Biden:
Senate Majority Leader Reid:
Speaker Boehner:
Senate Minority Leader McConnell:
Senator Durbin:
Congressman Quigley:
