When the Second Amendment became law, our country was a lot different. Most people lived on farms, with little police help if someone tried to steal or do them harm. A large number were hunting for meat to put on their table when times were tough. With no army the local citizens were called on to fight when needed.

Times have changed. We have an active military. Every state has troopers, every county has sheriffs and every city has police.

Today the National Rifle Association is fighting tooth and nail against anyone who even thinks about changing the Second Amendment. No one wants to do that. What we need is a responsible enforcement of the existing laws to make sure that guns never get into the hands of people who will use them to commit crimes, including murder.

Every law enforcement agency should set up a program that requires a license to own guns and teach the owner how to use and when to use them properly. Otherwise, we will have more murders like the recent one at the school back east. It is reported that 10 percent of our population has some kind of mental health issue and many are extremely unstable.

Gun sellers should be required to fill out a form, to be cleared by the local law enforcement agency for a felon check. If a person wants to buy a gun he should pay all the costs. Military guns should be banned from personal ownership. Don't change the Second Amendment.

John Kronenberger

Belleville