Changes to gun laws are needed

By Thomas Brennan, Flagstaff, Ariz.

Monday, July 21, 2014 | 2:02 a.m.

We just witnessed another senseless mass shooting that took the lives of four children, two adults and injured a child.

The shooting in the suburbs of Houston, Texas, illustrates how our federal gun laws are insufficient when it comes to domestic abusers and how easily they can still get their hands on guns. Ron Lee Haskell, the accused shooter, is a domestic abuser who previously had been arrested for assaulting his wife.

Common-sense solutions to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and other dangerous people are sitting on desks in Congress. This includes legislation to close dangerous loopholes in domestic violence laws and to expand Brady background checks to online and gun-show sales.

It’s time to ensure that our federal laws apply to all domestic abusers, making it more difficult for these violence individuals to get guns and do more harm. Expanding background checks on commercial gun sales and closing loopholes in existing domestic violence laws will protect women and children.

While we see gun violence all too often in this country, we cannot afford to become numb. We must take action and demand change.