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Sixth-grader who wrote to Tennessee governor opposing 'permitless' gun law is killed by stray bullet

By all accounts, Artemis Rayford was a happy, vibrant 12-year-old. He loved playing football and wearing his Tennessee Titans jersey. As a sixth-grader at Memphis, Tennessee’s Sherwood Middle School, Rayford had participated, just before the last year’s winter break, in a program his school coordinated with the Memphis Police Department—intended to discourage violence and gang activity. He and his fellow students learned about a new law passed in Jul. 2021 by the Tennessee legislature and signed into law by the state’s Republican governor, Bill Lee. That law allows most people over the age of 21 in Tennessee to carry a gun, concealed or openly, without any permit.

Rayford thought the law made no sense, and described why in a letter he wrote to the governor. As reported by Lateshia Beachum, writing for the Washington Post, the letter said, among other things, “It is my opinion that this new law will be bad and people will be murdered.” It also stressed that anyone who bought a gun should know how to use it.

Rayford never found out whether Lee ever read or even received his letter. But he probably wasn’t thinking about that on Christmas morning when, as he was playing with his new Christmas toys, a stray bullet came from outside his family’s home, pierced his chest, and ended his life. According to his grandmother, interviewed for Memphis’ CBS affiliate, NewsChannel3, Rayford died in his mother’s arms, covered in blood.

Full Article: [dailykos.com]

nogod4me 8 Jan 31
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I was born in the USA. I was raised and educated in Canada and lived there for 37 years. When I returned from Canada in 2006, they did not even have guns in the prisons (except the Supermax).

I support guns for police and military but the fact is that regular folk do not need guns and the price is just too high. Under no circumstances would I allow a gun in my home.

Cons have an unnatural attachment to guns and they care about guns more than they care about other people. This a very sad story although not unpredictable.

Guns are made for the very purpose of killing this so it should not be a surprise when they do. What could be the greatest country in the world is instead the laughing stock if the world due to guns and related reasons.

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