To the Editor:

President Obama had it right when he responded to the defeat of the proposed law to require a background check on anybody anywhere to purchase weapons as “Washington’s shameful day.”

We, the people of Newtown who have seen and experienced ourselves the results of indiscriminate ownership and use of weapons capable of causing so many deaths of the most loved members of our town must not let this matter rest. We owe it to those we lost. What can we do?

It is clear to me that some members of congress will never budge on the matter of gun control. Their reasons vary from political to personal belief that in a truly free society the access to weapons should not be limited by the government and base their belief on the Second Amendment of our Constitution. They are not only wrong, they are totally wrong. This misconception of the words of the amendment are entirely due to the political, social, and military situation existing when the amendment was passed.

We are living in the 21st century, not the 18th or 19th and the difference could not be greater. We no longer have need of a militia. Its place has been taken by the National Guard. We no longer worry about Britain or Canada attacking us. They are democracies unless someone forgot. We no longer worry about raiding Indians sacking our homes and scalping people. Yes, there are lawless elements aplenty to worry about. That is why we have a police.

The time has come to bring the Second Amendment into our modern world. How can we do it? If you knock politely on the front door and it does not open try the back door. You may succeed! I am calling on our political leadership of all parties to join in an effort to bring about the needed changes to the Second Amendment by coming together to this purpose and discussing means to do so. I am certain there are more than enough good men and women who are willing to support such an effort. What has first to be done is to arrive at a consensus of the best means of accomplishing this goal.

The Constitution allows two approaches for amendments. Which shall we choose?

To choose to do nothing is to invite more mayhem and tragedies. I believe we can do better. We may have lost a battle, but final victory is what always counts. No noble cause is ever easy, but we must be the winners.

Oscar Berendsohn

34 Apple Blossom Lane, Newtown            April 18, 2013