On April 17, a bi-partisan piece of legislation, which included “common sense reforms” to help address gun violence, was defeated in the U.S. Senate.

In the wake of all of the tragedies in the news recently, there’s a groundswell of support for tighter gun restrictions in order to protect our children.

A proposal to make it illegal for some Arizonans to enforce federal gun laws is raising concern by the nation's largest defender of the Second Amendment.

Twenty days after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, students returned to a remodeled, substitute Sandy Hook. I heard several news accounts and read several articles. I pray that anyone connected to that incident has found a measure of peace.

Calling it a compromise between extremes, Attorney General Tom Horne on Wednesday proposed training and arming the principal or other top administrator at every public school.

Twenty-seven dead. Twenty of them little kids, who as President Obama said, won’t see their graduations, won’t get a job, won’t get married. Murdered in childhood.

Well, Bob Beane got part of it right (“Death reduction via sensible gun control is possible,” AFN, Aug. 15). Current and former gun controls have done little to curb mass violence.

I’d like to both agree (on one view) and take issue with Susan Stamper-Brown’s Guest Commentary of Aug. 3 (“The Futility of Gun Control”). I find several of her views to be very closed-minded and illogical, as I do those of many people who advocate no attempt at sensible gun control.

In the Aug. 3 AFN, Susan Stamper-Smith provided us with the normal National Rifle Association (NRA) talking points on the futility of gun control, as a response to the horrific massacre in Colorado (“The futility of gun control”). Her basic assertions are that mad killers will always find the way to kill (“If every last gun was shipped across our borders fast and furiously, murderers would still find a way to kill”), and that if only people in the Aurora movie theater were packing heat a tragedy could have been minimized.

I'm a strong 2nd Amendment advocate, absolutely. But, every right and every law must be driven by common sense. The idea of opening up college campuses to guns cannot be reconciled with wisdom. Just ask those who will be forced to manage the consequences.

I'm a strong 2nd Amendment advocate, absolutely. But, every right and every law must be driven by common sense. The idea of opening up college campuses to guns cannot be reconciled with wisdom. Just ask those who will be forced to manage the consequences.

As a resident and businessman in Ahwatukee since 1991, I'm writing to express my complete disgust with state Sen. John McComish's performance in the Arizona Legislature, first as state representative and, now, as state senator. His recent sponsorship and votes in favor of "big government" intrusions on reproductive freedom (HB 2384, HB 2416 and HB 2443), his support of expanding the presence of guns into every aspect of Arizona society (SB 1467), his support of racial profiling and the fostering of anti-Hispanic racism (SB 1070) and, finally, his support and vote in favor of the Arizona "Birther" Bill, HB 2177, places him firmly in the right-wing tea party camp and well outside the mainstream of this district. McComish's performance, and those of his benighted colleagues, has made Arizona a national joke. Indeed, I find myself at a loss for words when friends and business colleagues from around the country ask me what is going on in this state.

As a resident and businessman in Ahwatukee since 1991, I'm writing to express my complete disgust with state Sen. John McComish's performance in the Arizona Legislature, first as state representative and, now, as state senator. His recent sponsorship and votes in favor of "big government" intrusions on reproductive freedom (HB 2384, HB 2416 and HB 2443), his support of expanding the presence of guns into every aspect of Arizona society (SB 1467), his support of racial profiling and the fostering of anti-Hispanic racism (SB 1070) and, finally, his support and vote in favor of the Arizona "Birther" Bill, HB 2177, places him firmly in the right-wing tea party camp and well outside the mainstream of this district. McComish's performance, and those of his benighted colleagues, has made Arizona a national joke. Indeed, I find myself at a loss for words when friends and business colleagues from around the country ask me what is going on in this state.

Calling the legislation "poorly written,'' Gov. Jan Brewer on Monday vetoed legislation that would have allowed individuals to carry their weapons in the public rights of way going through university and community college campuses.

Calling the legislation "poorly written,'' Gov. Jan Brewer on Monday vetoed legislation that would have allowed individuals to carry their weapons in the public rights of way going through university and community college campuses.

Jared Loughner is accused of emptying 31 rounds from his Glock 9 in front of the Safeway in Tucson, enabling him to hit 19 people before he had to reload.

Some of the 107 candidates who received public money to run for state Legislature this year bought computers, cameras and printers that are theirs to keep and paid relatives as campaign workers and consultants, a Cronkite News review found.

Younger, McCartney announce engagement

Dear Editor: Once again our local National Rifle Association propagandist, Linda Turley-Hansen, displays her colossal credulity in her defense of that recklessly unpatriotic organization (AFN, Feb. 1, "How do they really stand on firearms ownership?"). Led by a Vietnam draft dodger, Wayne LaPierre, the NRA fought legislation that would block gun sales or permits to suspected terrorists. It also opposed legislation to require explosive manufacturers to include electromagnetic "taggants," thus enabling investigators to determine the source of terrorist bombs. The NRA also opposed legislation establishing a national database recording guns' "ballistic fingerprints." For the NRA, profits trump patriotism. The NRA's elitist hypocrisy is also evident in its contradictory policies on Second Amendment rights. In Arizona, the NRA backed legislation to allow guns in bars. But it quietly accepted a ban on guns at the 2004 Republican National Convention, and at the Super Bowl. I'd appreciate some gun nut's explanation of why Republican plutocrats deserve protection from guns in their purlieus, whereas lower-class bar attendees don't. Does the Constitution distinguish among economic classes in distributing alleged Second Amendment rights? Maybe Linda could explain. C.W. Griffin

Dear Editor: Once again our local National Rifle Association propagandist, Linda Turley-Hansen, displays her colossal credulity in her defense of that recklessly unpatriotic organization (AFN, Feb. 1, "How do they really stand on firearms ownership?"). Led by a Vietnam draft dodger, Wayne LaPierre, the NRA fought legislation that would block gun sales or permits to suspected terrorists. It also opposed legislation to require explosive manufacturers to include electromagnetic "taggants," thus enabling investigators to determine the source of terrorist bombs. The NRA also opposed legislation establishing a national database recording guns' "ballistic fingerprints." For the NRA, profits trump patriotism. The NRA's elitist hypocrisy is also evident in its contradictory policies on Second Amendment rights. In Arizona, the NRA backed legislation to allow guns in bars. But it quietly accepted a ban on guns at the 2004 Republican National Convention, and at the Super Bowl. I'd appreciate some gun nut's explanation of why Republican plutocrats deserve protection from guns in their purlieus, whereas lower-class bar attendees don't. Does the Constitution distinguish among economic classes in distributing alleged Second Amendment rights? Maybe Linda could explain. C.W. Griffin