The senseless, insane killing of 20 innocent children and six adults in Newtown, Conn., is beyond our understanding. It violates every ethical and moral standard that we have held dear. Our hearts and sympathies go out to the victims families and the residents of Newtown.

It is not surprising that the liberal progressive left element of our society would exploit this tragedy to mount a campaign for gun control. What is hypocritical about their campaign is that it is their teaching and philosophy which causes such reprehensible behavior.

Those on the left are behind the elimination of prayers in school. They have caused the removal of the Ten Commandments from our governmental buildings. They have encouraged the teaching of the theory of evolution as science. In these three steps they have declared that their is no higher authority than man. They have encouraged a culture of relativism with no moral certainty. These are the causes of such unconscionable behavior.

Guns, like automobiles, hammers and knives, are not evil. They are merely instruments used by people. Automobiles kill an average of 41,000 people every year. Guns account for about 11,000 homicides. Neither of those statistics are acceptable, but the truth is that it is the people who operate both of these instruments that are the causes of the deaths.

The one truth that we must remember is that if we are denied our Constitutional right to bear arms we are effectively rendered helpless to defend ourselves against those who would take our freedom from us.

Until we re-establish the moral consciousness of our society it will make no difference how many laws we pass for highways or gun ownership.

Thomas Day
Buford