I attended the community meeting last Tuesday night about sensible gun regulation and was pleased with the civility of the participants.

Sportsmen’s Club members appeared to have been in the majority. After a bit of a testy start, it became clear that the club members are as distressed about the gun assault on the children and teachers at Sandy Hook as most of the nation. It was also clear that the members are rational, caring people who would like to see reasonable measures taken to prevent more such tragedies.

Most of the other attendees were mothers whose empathy for the victims at Sandy Hook was palpable. Interestingly, many of them said they grew up in hunting families or currently had guns in their homes. All said that they were not against guns.

Wow! This potentially hostile gathering found some common ground, and the discussion moved on to real things we could do in regard to violent video games, mentally ill shooters, tighter background checks, gun education and enforcement of existing laws.

The “what can we do” part of the meeting tossed around a lot of ideas. It dawned on me later that members of the Sportsmen’s Club and other similar groups have it in their power to speak to the single biggest obstacle to sensible, reasonable actions — the National Rifle Association. The NRA has mounted strong opposition to measures many members of the Sportsmen’s Club at the meeting endorsed. The NRA won’t be responsive to groups like the concerned moms of Vashon Island. However, the NRA should listen to responsible groups like the Vashon Sportsmen’s Club that want to see reasonable actions taken.

If the club as a whole is unable to endorse a plea to the NRA, there is nothing to stop members from circulating a petition. It is time for responsible gun owners to tell the NRA that they are not against reasonable, responsible actions that protect both our children and the rights of gun owners.

— Mary Lynn Buss