As a former regular weekend visitor to my parentâs home in Dell Web(sp?) when I lived in Elgin and current resident of Deerpath Supported Living I would like to thank the kind couple who offered me a ride after attempting walk and visit someone on The East side of Rt. 47 this morning! In my mortal ways and being a former successful semi-professional athlete I had ignored my disability AND my age. At the urging of the party who I was going to surprise East of Rt. 47 after calling them I turned around and started walking back to Deerpath. Had it not been for the generous, caring couple from Del Web(sp?) my Guardian Angels today from Sun City I would have missed lunch. I sincerely thank you for the ride and EVERYONE who has âpaid it forwardâ as it is currently said.
David Dirks
Huntley resident
I initially found myself at a loss after reading the letter published in the April 6 issue of My Huntley News. I will admit upfront that while I believe in the 2nd amendment and the right to bear arms, I also believe that as a society, we need to use common sense when it comes to guns â and perhaps that is where the problem begins, because as a society, we really donât approach this issue from a common viewpoint.
Personally, I am glad that I live in a community where guns are not allowed in common areas. While I know that itâs possible, as Mr. Gade suggests, that a âmentally unstable individual with a gun will enter one of our facilities and start shooting,â I think that this is unlikely. According to Mental Health America, âMental illness is not a predictor of violence towards others, but it is a predictor of suicide.â[1] In fact, statistics indicate that nearly 6 of every 10gun deaths in the United States are a result of suicide â thatâs 6 out of 10 – and access to a gun triples the risk of death by suicide.[2]
And while it is also possible that a gun-wielding person could be stopped by a legally armed Del Webb resident, that is also unlikely. A study conducted by The New York Police Department indicated that between 1998 and 2006, the average hit rate for officers in a gunfight was 18%.[3] If officers in one of the largest and best trained police forces in the nation have an average hit rate of 18%, what are the chances that an armed Del Webb resident would hit his/her mark in a fast-moving, high-tension situation?
If we look for common ground on this issue, I think we could agree that the majority of people want to live in a world where there arenât mass shootings. If we are going to solve the multi-faceted problem of gun violence, we will need to come together to identify solutions that respect the rights of gun owners, while also addressing real threats to society at large that result from easy access to firearms, untreated mental health issues, and myriad factors that contribute to violence in our society.
I have faith that our legislators and citizens can come together in respectful conversation to find common ground on this issue. It wonât be easy, but it must be done if we are to protect children at schools, citizens at shopping malls and clubs, and yes, even the residents of Sun City.
[1] www.mhanational. org/gun-deaths-violence-andmental-health
[2] everytownresearch.org/report/gun-vio lence-in-america/
[3] www.ajc.com/blog/ get-schooled/gunfights-trainedofficers-have-percent-hit-rateyet-want-arm-teachers/mDBlhDtV6Na4wJVpeu58cM/
Marcia Kunstler
Sun City resident
As of April 10, 2023, the Illinois gun laws have changed. They are more restrictive, and to that I say, thank you Governor Pritzker. While Mr. Gill Gade of Sun City wants the signs âNo Guns Allowedâ taken down around Prairie and Meadow View Lodges, I must disagree. I wholly support our Board of Directors decision to put them up. I do not harbor any âpersonal fearsâ as were mentioned. I do not live in fear and therefore do not need an assault weapon to protect myself. I do not adhere to the fear selling propaganda that comes from some congresspeople, state legislatures, phony news broadcasters, and their cult leaders. It was a good idea to make Sun Cityâs meeting places âGun Free Zones.â
I also want to address the issue raised that âwe never thought it (shootings) would happen in schools, churches, theaters and workplaces.â No, but during the time from 1994 until 2004 a federal law restricting assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines barred the manufacture, sale, and civilian use of new guns. While the law had flaws, a body of research indicated that it did work when it came to mass shootings. Our country is awash with guns of all types, but the military assault weapon, made to kill people in a military engagement should not be allowed in the hands of anyone who is not sworn to the duty of protecting citizens.
Gail Talbot
Hunltey resident
