Mailbag: Wireman: On guns

Peggy Wireman: As guns kill kids, we cut resources Dear Editor: We grieve for the 20 children killed last week but ignore the fact that on an average day 11 children and youth are slain using firearms. For those aged 1 to 24, firearms kill more than cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Every day another six use firearms to commit suicide. What is our national and state response? New laws permitting concealed guns in schools, bars, churches and day care centers. Passing stand-your-ground laws. To cut taxes, politicians want to cut pay for and numbers of police and teachers. Budget cuts mean fewer community police, school nurses, social workers, special education teachers working with problem children, fewer resources for domestic violence prevention, mental health diagnosis and treatment, especially Medicaid users. Before the funerals are over, another 20 young people will die but we will not notice. Their deaths occur not as shocking mass murder but part of normal daily life. Peggy Wireman Monona Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/opinion/mailbag/peggy-wireman-as-guns-kill-kids-we-cut-resources/article_48b5b0da-e2ea-5a94-930e-a88822dac170.html#ixzz2FcYLtwDU http://tinyurl.com/cy9386s http://bit.ly/UJzqqf ©2012 Wireman & Associates | 4001 Monona Dr, Madison WI 5371