When I was growing up, there were always guns in our home. Throughout my marriage, there were always guns in our home.

My father, brothers, brothers-in-law, husband and sons (after gun safety class) hunted.

I am not anti-guns.

My father, brothers and other family members did not need an assault weapon with extended magazines, capable of firing up to five rounds per second to protect our homes or to hunt deer, elk, moose, ducks or pheasant.

The only purpose for an assault weapon with extended capability is to kill humans in great numbers in a very short period of time.

No one is suggesting taking anyone's legal weapon, except assault weapons and extended clips.

We need common sense, not paranoia, when it comes to gun control.

There will always be mentally ill people in this world. Can't we at the very least reduce their fire power?

ELVA SHIPLEY, Kennewick