There are certain guns that people should not have access to, and there are certain people who should not have access to any guns. In his response to the senseless tragedy at the Pittsburgh synagogue, President Trump talked about an “invading caravan” coming to threaten our health and safety.

Any mention of gun restrictions or regulations is dismissed as a violation of the Second Amendment, which is anachronistic in light of the technological changes made to firearms. “Thoughts and prayers” and calls for improved mental health services are the politician’s way of saying and doing nothing.

While the NRA is rating and funding political aspirants, the UFT (and the AFT) should do the same on educational matters and more.

Climate change, gun control, voting rights, taxes, economic inequality, prison reform, military spending and college costs are not specific to teaching and educating children, but there is a truth that must be acknowledged: How tax dollars are collected and spent has a direct effect on how we educate children.

We must elevate teachers’ ratings to exceed that of the NRA, whose sole purpose is to protect people’s right to own firearms. Whereas the NRA’s ratings are simply judgments on prospective representatives who promise to do nothing to restrict access to firearms, educators can render their own judgments with specific proposals on a variety of issues that would lead to progress and improvement just as teachers grade students.

Because educating children is far more important than the right to bear arms, teachers’ political influence must exceed that of the NRA.

Larry Hoffner, retired