America is in love with guns. However mass shootings like the recent tragedy in Las Vegas continue to occur. The issue is politically charged and with the NRA opposed to any sensible gun reform, such shootings unfortunately will continue to occur.

About 30,000 people die in America each year from gun inflicted injuries. This is not fake news! Sadly, 2/3 of these deaths are self inflicted or suicides. In fact, having a gun at home increases the risk of death more than the protection offered by the gun.

I am not here to advocate taking guns away from law abiding citizens. We just need to have some reasonable restrictions on gun ownership. In this country it is easier to buy a gun than to get a driver’s license, which doesn’t make any sense. Why anyone needs multiple semiautomatic weapons to hunt is beyond me.

As a physician, who has worked for decades in busy ERs and seen way too many gunshot deaths (and by the way the majority of these deaths were not gang related but due to suicides or accidental injuries), I am simply sick and tired of being witness to any more such deaths.

How about a rational discussion between gun control advocates and opponents in congress, which could lead to some common sense gun laws?