Dear Editor:

Our nation’s second mass-murderer in the past two weeks bought his Ruger AR-556 semiautomatic pistol legally, just six days before he killed ten innocent people, including a police officer, in Boulder. (Like Georgia, Colorado does not have a waiting period between firearm purchase and weapon delivery. )

Because this lethal cousin of the AR-15 is designed for rapid fire, it boasts a 30-round clip, flash suppressor, and hot-gas control for extensive firing. Who wouldn’t want such an assault weapon for his collection? In fact, it is so efficient in running up body counts that the killer didn’t even need to use his 9mm handgun, which he was also packing that day.

Since this deranged gunman has a Muslim-sounding name, maybe now white nationalists and other Second Amendment extremists will join the rest of us in supporting common-sense, gun-safety legislation.

Thoughts and prayers, again. And again.

Bill Hammond

Barters Island