Joe Waldron, legislative director of the Washington State Rifle and Pistol Association, replied, “What types of firearms a child can handle depends on the maturity of the child.” Is he mad? Is his brain functioning at all?

To state the obvious, no child – or civilian adult for that matter – should be allowed to use an Uzi. Period. The response to this recent horror is, or should be, obvious:

1) Charge the girl’s parents with child reckless endangerment. They have no excuse.

2) Provide the child with ongoing psychotherapy to help her cope with her nightmares and the psychological damage this event has caused her.

3) Demand the owner of the shooting range relinquish his license, close the shooting range and charge him with criminal negligence. He needs to be held accountable.

4) Demand that congressional members show some spine and stop taking bribes from the NRA lobby.

5) Demand that these elected officials reinstate the ban on military assault weapons. These weapons are intended for military use only, not for civilian target practice or so-called self-defense.

6) Write your congressional representatives, and vote for those who support stricter gun control.

And pray very, very hard that, finally, Americans will take responsibility and come to their senses.

Mary Benson

Durango