When politicians and others call out for more gun laws, they seem to forget the simple fact that laws only affect law abiding people. If laws stopped people from doing bad things, there would be no need for police or courts or prisons.

Yet, with the thousands of laws we have, police are overwhelmed, courts are backlogged and prisons are overcrowded. People who commit atrocious acts of violence are already breaking the law and facing the harshest penalties we have. But they do it anyway.

Even if it was possible to completely ban guns, nothing would change. A prime example is drugs. It is against the law to buy, sell, possess or distribute illegal drugs. Look how well that has worked. Anyone can get them most any place at any time. The same would hold true with guns.

Even if people set on violence could not get a gun, they would find another way. We have all seen mass casualties carried out around the world using bombs, vehicles and even knives.

We don’t have a gun problem, we have a social, mental health and anger problem. Ever since the first caveman picked up a rock and hit another one in the head with it, humans have had a perceived reason, need or desire to kill other humans. Figure out a way to end those reasons and killings would stop. Good luck.

Phil Craig

Durango