Opinion
Opinion

The left wants you to know: It’s not mental health, it’s not society, it’s the guns

A woman places roses on a stage during a vigil at Pine Trails Park for the victims of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018. Nikolas Cruz, accused of using a semi-automatic rifle in a shooting at a Florida high school, confessed to carrying out the killing and carried extra ammunition in his backpack, according to a sheriff's department report released Thursday. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Credit: Brynn Anderson

Credit: Brynn Anderson

A woman places roses on a stage during a vigil at Pine Trails Park for the victims of the Wednesday shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018. Nikolas Cruz, accused of using a semi-automatic rifle in a shooting at a Florida high school, confessed to carrying out the killing and carried extra ammunition in his backpack, according to a sheriff's department report released Thursday. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
By Debbie Lord for The Atlanta Journal Constitution
Feb 16, 2018

The left is asking when people will realize the root of the problem of mass shootings is access to guns. A roundup of editorials Friday takes a look at the issue.

Opinions from the left:

The issue is not mental health. It's guns.

Eugene Robinson, Washington Post: You can’t shoot up a school – or concert, or night club – if you don’t have access to powerful guns and a lot of ammunition.

Stay outraged. Don't accept this mass shooting and move on.

From the Chicago Tribune: Events like the Florida high school shooting will cease when enough of us decide it’s time to do something about it.

Florida's gun law sickness

From The Daily Beast: Want to get a gun in Florida? It’s pretty darn easy. Oh, and you don’t have to register it. Or have a license.

About the Author

Debbie Lord for The Atlanta Journal Constitution
More Stories

Keep Reading

Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez testifies before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing to examine reviewing recent events at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and implications for children's health on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

Credit: AP

OPINION

Trust is listed as a core value in workplaces, but it can often be weaponized

Trust and loyalty are valued by employers, but these values can be used as weapons of control, as shown in the cases of the CDC's Susan Monarez and the FBI's James Comey.

As Trump builds barricades, Americans must defend ‘politics of opportunity’

The Trump administration has attacked diversity, equity and inclusion and targeted health care programs, harming Americans' pocketbooks, but they deserve opportunity.

Readers write

Readers say it's easy to vote in Georgia and that caucuses within the Democratic party based on identity are important.

The Latest

Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez testifies before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing to examine reviewing recent events at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and implications for children's health on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

Credit: AP

OPINION

Trust is listed as a core value in workplaces, but it can often be weaponized

As Trump builds barricades, Americans must defend ‘politics of opportunity’

Readers write

Featured

(Photo Illustration: Philip Robibero | Sources: Hyosub Shin for the AJC, Unsplash)

Credit: Philip Robibero / AJC

THE FUTURE OF MARTA

MARTA was meant to go more places. Here’s why it doesn’t.

MARTA is searching for new leadership while it works toward completion of the largest capital investments made to the system in more than a decade.

Ex-PSC candidate took notebook of Georgia Power trade secrets, police say

A warrant alleges former Public Service Commission candidate Patty Durand placed a booklet of Georgia Power trade secret information into her purse and left a hearing room.

Buckhead HOA can’t keep neglecting historic Black cemetery, judge says

An Atlanta judge has forced a luxury Buckhead townhome HOA to refurbish and maintain one of the most historically significant African American cemeteries in the metro.