Ninety-seven thousand, seventy three people were shot in the U.S. in 2012, more than the populations of Bellingham and Ferndale combined. Guns are the No. 2 cause of death for kids under 19. In 2004 the NRA helped defeat the ban on semi-automatic guns. Semi-automatics are the most often used gun in mass shootings. The NRA boasts 4 million members; 314,008,479 Americans are not members. The NRA shows how an aggressive, well-funded group can shape policy, change laws and defeat moderates, aiding the NRA Business Alliance, a large network of gun dealers, who benefit handsomely from selling semi-automatics. We are not talking about freedom, folks, this is about big money.

There is hope. If each person against semi-automatics acts we outnumber the NRA. Here are six simple actions: 1. Ask your neighborhood sporting goods store not to sell semi-automatics, pump-action shotguns and high-capacity clips. 2. Ask our senators, congressman and state reps to ban semi-automatics, pump-action shotguns and high-capacity clips. 3. Tell your mayor, city council and county board that you support a ban on semi-automatics. 4. Tell your school board no guns in our schools. Resist the NRA plan to arm school personnel. 5. Donate to the Brady Campaign. Money talks. 6. Read the "Australian Model."

Decent people supporting safe gun laws have been referred to as "termites" who "chew away" at gun "rights." So be it. I say "Let's get chewing!"

Mira Kamada

Bellingham