A local community college is preparing to host a mental health summit next week. John Broderick’s older son, described as a happy kid who excelled in high school, serves as a reminder of how swiftly mental health battles can emerge.

A longtime hunter and gun owner confronts the unsettling possibility that firearms, especially assault rifles, might be contributing to gun violence. Drawing on personal experience, the author challenges readers to reconsider the role of these weapons in society.