Letter to the Editor: Right to Own Firearms

By PATRICK N. SUNDSTROM Emery

Dear Editor,
I read a letter in your latest edition from a lady who was tired of people attacking gun control advocates. Her letter exposes how ignorant and misled people who support gun control groups are. All people should understand that the reason we have the Second Amendment has nothing to do with hunting or shooting sports. It has everything to do with protection our freedom and self defense. The reason we the people have the right to keep and bear arms is to protect our freedom in case the government becomes too oppressive or out of control. Then it is up to the people to change it if not by vote, by force.
It is my opinion that every law abiding citizen has not only the right, but an obligation to own a firearm. They should also be properly educated in its use and all safety rules. That brings me to personal protection. If someone breaks into your home and threatens the safety of your spouse or children, you have the right to defend your family and property. It is difficult to do that with a telephone.
The letter also mentioned the Brady Bill and the assault weapons ban, both of which were signed by William Jefferson Clinton. I don’t have the space available in this letter to go into what a sham the Brady Bill is. Suffice it to say it has done little if anything to prevent crime or save lives, but it has wasted loads of taxpayer dollars. I can however, explain the lies and deception of the assault weapons ban in a few sentences.
According to the FBI statistics before the assault weapons ban, the kinds of weapons targeted by the ban were used in less than .02 percent of all violent crimes. That is right .02 percent. The people who pushed this ban were not concerned in the least about saving lives or preventing crime. They wanted to get guns, any kind of guns, out of the hands of the common citizens. And if given the opportunity, these same people would outlaw and take all guns away from common citizens.
It is up to us, all citizens, to understand fully the rights afforded to us by the Constitution and the reasons behind them. If we fail in our obligation to do these things, then we will lose the rights we cherish. I would hope before anyone supports any kind of gun legislation, they would first read the writings of Alexander Hamilton on the Second Amendment. Then study the gun control people and you will certainly understand their true agenda: banning all guns.