The recent horrific mass murders of innocents at Newtown, Aurora and Tucson, murders made easy by what I believe to be our ridiculously loose gun control laws, must not happen again. It's time for citizens and elected officials to speak out against gun violence and illegal guns. There is now ongoing an important campaign asking for our support to stop gun violence. It's called "Mayors Against Illegal Guns." They are demanding passage of legislation to close deadly loopholes in the national background check system, limit the availability of military style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and make gun trafficking a federal crime.

Mayor Jenson of Ferndale has signed on. Mayors McGinn of Seattle and Strickland of Tacoma have signed on. But where are the rest of our county's mayors? Mayors Linville of Bellingham, Korthuis of Lynden and Robinson of Blaine. Will they remain silent or will they speak out now and join their fellow mayors and a multitude of concerned citizens who want put an end to gun violence.

Show your support and sign the petition to President Obama demanding "A Plan To End Gun Violence Now" at mayorsagainstillegalguns.org.

Mark Wicholas

Bellingham