Is anyone as tired as I am of the 24/7 coverage of the tragic shooting in Connecticut? Why is it that when a story like this happens, all other news in the world stops?

Are you tired of all of the politicians and pundits pontificating about more gun laws? Most of these clowns wouldn't know which end of a gun to hold. To all of them, if it is black and has a pistol grip, it's an assault weapon. Please!

How about passing laws prohibiting homicide or assault with a deadly weapon? Wait a minute, we already have. So back to reality. How do we protect ourselves, especially our children? Take a look at other countries thathave successful programs; do we have the wherewithal to follow their lead?

Israel requires every household to have a firearm (Read: assault weapon) and is full of people who could copy the Newtown tragedy -- but it hasn't happened. Switzerland has real, full automatic assault rifles in just about every home but no school shootings. These places have successfully handled the potential problems. And their airliners are much safer, too.

Again, the subject is how to protect ourselves and our children -- not how to resurrect some failed, silly, feel-good, useless gun control legislation. Even the gun control proponents who crafted the last law and thought themselves quite capable agreed that it did not work.

And if you don't think increased recreational drug use is not causing this insanity, you had better take another look.

Roddy D. Riggs

Highland