I thank the Sun Journal for the three articles in the July 16 Perspective section relating to the continuing mass shootings of citizens in the nation. (“Is a nation where bullets fly at schools, parties, parades really free?“)

In our American Constitution’s Second Amendment: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

This amendment clearly supports gun ownership for the defense of the nation as “a free state.” It suggests citizens who have arms are in a national militia and are bound by their citizenship with arms to defend the nation from threats to the freedom of citizens, the “free State.”

As a voting citizen and veteran I support the necessary gun controls to stop the mass shootings that continue to threaten American citizen, our “free state.”

Tom Fallon, Rumford