I had my annual physical the other day and was asked this question: “Do you feel safe in your own home?”

I was triggered. Questions asked, don’t obligate an answer. Just ask, check off the box, and move on.

When neighbors who are gun owners target practice at night, I lay awake listening to the rat-a-tat sound of bullets shooting in rapid succession, I don’t feel safe. When folks blatantly ignore local ordinances, I don’t feel safe.

We are a population of good souls who want to do the right thing, but it doesn’t feel like we know what the right thing is. Something is wrong when all we can offer are thoughts and prayers.

We need a new plan and new laws with leaders who aren’t afraid to take the right stand. The number one killer of our children is gunshot wounds. When we turn a blind eye, it is on us.

Weapons of war should not be allowed in our neighborhoods. The Second Amendment cannot be interpreted to mean that our right to bear arms meant weapons of war. It doesn’t make sense.

No, I don’t feel safe in my home, or the local bowling alley, or a bar and restaurant where folks play cornhole on a Wednesday night. You can patronize me and tell me that our communities will heal. But they won’t.

Our lives have been changed forever, and I will never feel safe in my home, or my neighborhood, the grocery store, or anywhere where else where gun laws exist for a few to kill many, forcing the rest of us to live with it.

MarieTherese Martin, Hartford