Cornelia Schneider: She can never forgive Ayotte for voting against gun background checks

To The Daily Sun,

I can never forgive Kelly Ayotte for voting against common-sense gun background checks after the Sandy Hook mass shooting. She was the only Senator from North Carolina to Maine to oppose background checks despite the support of nearly 90% of her constituents. Ayotte kowtowed to the extremist leadership of the National Rifle Association and to gun manufacturers rather than stand up for her constituents. Now she wants our vote for governor.

In the past, Kelly Ayotte said background checks would be a “burden” for gun store owners. Is it more of a burden for a gun store owner to perform an electronic background check than it is for a mother to lose a child? Or a child to lose a parent?

Ayotte is quick to blame mental health issues for mass shootings. The fact is the United States has similar rates of mental illness compared with cohort nations, yet we have 25 times the death rate from gun homicides. We, or our children, are 25 times more likely to die as a result of gun violence than people from other high income countries. If your child was 25 times more likely to die from a particular illness, drug or piece of equipment than a German, British or Japanese child, wouldn’t you want something done?

Ayotte had a chance to make thoughtful change but sided with the gun lobby. She will continue to put the interests of the gun lobby ahead of the safety of our children. She does not deserve your vote.

Cornelia Schneider

Moultonborough