To the editor:

The late President of the United States John F. Kennedy wrote a book about courageous Americans who chose to take necessary action because it was the right thing to do rather than the politically expedient thing to do. There were few examples of courage in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday. Maybe Sens. Kirk, Collins, McCain and Toomey would qualify.

Forty-six senators decided to take the politically expedient road and vote against expanding background checks to folks who want to purchase guns on the Internet or at gun shows. Forty-one of those senators were Republicans, including Sens. Roberts and Moran of Kansas. Five Democrats from NRA-controlled states voted against the measure for fear of losing their jobs and ignoring the pain and fear visited upon the victims of Columbine, Aurora, Newtown, Tucson and Virginia Tech. Their weak justification is that the legislation would not have prevented the Newtown shooting.

What is their solution to controlling gun violence? Should we arm the teachers, school officials, theater employees, etc., and have a real Wild West shootout? How many more innocent bystanders and kids would be killed if we adhere to this solution? My point is that these senators don’t really have a plan or excuse for voting against this legislation. Their plan is to get re-elected and hope no mentally ill folk buy a semi-automatic and a 100-round ammo clip and shoot up an elementary school or movie theater.