Our hearts are broken by the horrific and senseless killings of innocents in Connecticut. Where but to God do we turn for healing and consolation during such events?

While we certainly need to continue our dialogue around gun control, we should be so much more engaged in discussion and debate about a more likely root cause related to this and other tragedies in our country and around the world -- that is, our unending tolerance and support of a violent culture in entertainment, which is increasingly influencing how we behave in society.

It is naive at best to deny that there is no such connection. Look at the evolution of video games, television, movies and such "sports" as ultimate fighting. How ironic that we are eager to defend Free Speech and hold up as icons such "artists" as Quentin Tarantino, whose films promote revenge and violence, as solutions to our angst. Where is our outrage here?


JIM FOSTER, Edina

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I wrote a letter to the editor on Wednesday following the Oregon shooting, asking: "How many more people need to be killed before we do something on gun control?"

Well ... I have my answer. In the past six months, we've seen shootings in Colorado, Wisconsin, Oregon, and even here.

So I said it once, and I'm going to say it again: How many more need to be killed before we have strict gun control?

JACK PARKER, EDEN PRAIRIE