Dear Mr. Trump,

I would like to ask you some questions, Sir, about the serious gun problem we have in this country.

Did you know that the United States has only 4% of the world’s population, but 40% of the world’s guns? On a per capita basis, Americans already own 16 times more guns than people in the rest of the world. And you want even more guns? Are guns what make our country great? How convenient for the gun manufacturers that are paying off you and your Republican buddies! There’s an ocean of innocent blood on those dollars, Mr. President. Wouldn’t you rather wash your hands of the NRA blood money? No? I thought so.

Did you know that the rate of shooting deaths in the United States is 15 times higher than the rate in other developed countries? Is that what makes America great in your opinion, Sir? By all means, if they’ll pay for your campaign, along with the Russians, let the gun manufacturers go scot-free. No responsibility for them, or you, or the NRA. The AR-15s manufactured by Smith & Wesson and others work as intended, murdering people with efficiency, 150 rounds shot off by the Florida shooter within seven minutes, destroying life in a second. Do you really want to be the president who ensures that the rate of shooting deaths in the United States approaches 20 times that of other developed countries?  Oh, it doesn’t bother you at all? Didn’t think so. Instead, all you want is more guns. More guns, more sales of guns, more revenue for the manufacturers, more NRA campaign contributions to gutless Republicans.

We’ll start to make America great only when we establish reasonable controls on guns.

By the way, the next time you have a “listening session” for those whose lives have been destroyed, whose children have been murdered, don’t use a note card. Just write what you’re supposed to say on the inside of your hands.

Very truly yours,

Bruce J. Berger