To the Editor:

I’m not sure what was meant by the heading to a letter appearing in last week’s Enterprise — “‘Spontaneous’ protest marches are one thing, specific practical solutions another.”

The student marches, and the raising of voices by those students, that have occurred since the shootings of their peers in a Florida school make more sense at this time than the very obvious missing practical solutions to this problem. Prayers and thoughts are a very weak response to what has occurred too many times during the past several decades in our country.

If one mentions gun control, someone is sure to bring up Second Amendment rights. Apparently, James Madison, the drafter of that amendment, was a very clever gent indeed.

When he drafted that amendment, which is only one simple sentence, he cleverly encrypted it. It wasn’t until over 200 years later, that five Supreme Court jurists, who for the most part were dodgy old men, discovered the key to breaking the code, thereby determining that anyone could have nearly any weapon they desire to own.

While members of the National Rifle Association individually may not have participated in any of the horrendous criminal activities that we have witnessed, the parent organization has bankrolled enough politicians to prevent any worthwhile discussion that could possibly lead to specific practical solutions.

Is the NRA parent organization an arm of the GOP or is the GOP an arm of the NRA?

The students that were present at those schools where mass shootings occurred experienced what hopefully none of us will ever have to endure. Many of them lost close friends and suffered traumatically.

Let them march and let them raise their voices. It would seem that for the moment the students are on the right path — they are peacefully protesting and letting their voices be heard. If this is a first step in forcing adults to sit down and begin having worthwhile conversations leading to specific practical solutions, then Amen to those kids.

They will be accomplishing much more by their words and actions than by old men writing letters to newspapers.

Ed Nicholson

Knox