CLAY COUNTY – The spa shootings last week in Atlanta that left eight people dead rattled the country and renewed the gun control debate.

The shooting again stains America’s history. And when it happens, some call for guns to be taken away and others say killers will find other ways to kill without guns. Some say a better focus on mental health is needed and some say additional gun control laws are necessary.

We asked Clay Today readers what they believe America must do.

“The tragedy in Atlanta raises a lot of pressing issues that need to be addressed, namely the recent rash of attacks on Asian Americans,” reader Cindy Arco said in her response. “I am not aware of any of these that have occurred in the Northeast Florida area – I it stays that way and we can make sure our Asian American community members feel safe.”

Atlanta police, however, insist the shooter, Robert Aaron Long, said he acted because he has a sexual addiction and wasn’t acting out against Asians.

Some readers spoke about mental health issues play a role in tragedies such as this. One reader said they think the reform America needs to prevent shootings begins at home. They said it’s a mental issue and that families and friends need to be more aware of what those they know are up to and how they’re feeling.

They also said people need to be better about reporting what doesn’t seem right. Reader Becca Midyette said America needs to focus more on mental health across all ages.

“Make mental health care part of the well visit for children and also make it a normal practice that adults do it during their yearly exam,” Midyette said. “If we start making it something when they are younger, they won’t be as stand-offish towards it as adults.”

The topic of gun control arose around these discussions of mental health, too. Sandra Davidson said stricter gun laws “only punish law-abiding citizens” because she believes that criminals will break those laws and acquire guns illegally anyway. She said “a criminal will find a weapon at any time no matter what weapon that happens to be near.”

“Stop jumping on the ‘They’re taking our guns away’ bandwagon,” reader Karen Fey said. “That’s not the plan. Making guns a little more difficult to obtain, based on mental health, passing some kind of test, having a waiting period, etc. shouldn't worry any legal and responsible gun owner.”

“Stop making this a political issue and make it a ‘help the country to be a little less prone to idiots’ issue. If you think things I’ve mentioned above are too much control, you really need to take a good hard look at yourself.”

Michael Hull said there’s no way to implement new gun control laws without “infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens.”

One reader, Bev Biroschik, had a simple solution that she hopes to see happen one day: “Bring back respect for human life.”

What are your thoughts on this issue and the things America can do to prevent another tragedy like this from happening? Let Clay Today know by responding to last week’s Facebook Question of the Week and be sure to follow the official Clay Today Newspaper Facebook page so you don’t miss this week’s Facebook Question of the Week.