To the editor:

It has been a year since the terrible shootings in Parkland, Fla. Shortly after that tragedy, a poll reported that 71 percent of Americans supported a vigorous attempt at gun restrictions (PBS). Recently, a similar poll showed that number to have dropped to 51 percent. We can tolerate almost anything given time to adjust. This raises the question of just how many of our children we can lose without upsetting our nation’s equilibrium. According to many news outlets, nearly 1,200 children have died by guns in the year since the Parkland shootings; a lot of those, of course, were suicides or accidents. Evidently this has not been enough to sustain a change in our attitude toward gun availability and safety. Would 1,500 deaths in the next year make a difference? Do we need to wait for 2,000 deaths a year?

In the meantime, how have we been thinking about gun violence — beyond a vague sense of “That’s a shame”? Have you actually done something about it? Have you talked about this with your children, grandchildren? Have you made a call, written a letter or email? Have you bought a trigger lock for your gun? Have you destroyed your bump stock? Have you canceled your membership in the NRA? Have you kept track of the latest statistics?

Someday, perhaps, our children will no longer have to live in fear.

Joe Douglas,

Lawrence