Enforce Existing Gun Laws

To the Editor,

This letter is in response to Robin Callahan’s letter “Speak up about Guns” dated May 15, 2000.

Robin is contradicting herself by saying in her first paragraph that this is not a call for repeal of the second amendment, yet she writes guns should be registered in her third paragraph.

Owning firearms is a right guaranteed by the second amendment, while a driver’s license fishing and dog licenses are all privileges given to us by the states not the government. If we have to register or license our firearms, what was once a right guaranteed by our forefathers now also become a privilege, this will not stop the violence which the marches have been dedicated to. This only takes rights away from the law-abiding citizens.

For example with the Columbine incident, 18 existing laws were broken. The registration or licensing of firearms would not have changed the children’s actions or the outcome of the tragedy.

In defense of the N.R.A. they have been dedicated to the safe handling and the teaching of responsible gun ownership decades before this became a national issue. Their hunter safety courses must be passed before you can obtain a valid hunting license.

Robin mentions later in her letter not to let the N.R.A. do the talking for you. When in fact the N.R.A. was formed by its members to do just that. Lobby as their voice. The N.R.A. money comes from the people who are their members. The N.R.A. is the voice of the responsible gun owners who participate in firearms sports. The convicts and thieves who steal or buy stolen guns are not part of the N.R.A. and its repertoire, and are not a piece of their voice. The N.R.A.’s goal is to see that our rights stay intact and not chipped away at or the old saying will ring true “if guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns.”

In conclusion we encourage all Americans to support the N.R.A. (as over 200,000 have in the past two weeks) and we ask Americans to contact their senators and congressman and urge them to enforce the existing laws, not letting criminals plea bargain their crimes. Let the criminals lose their rights that they have proven they are not worthy of. Not chipping away at the right of law abiding firearms owners.

Sincerely

Robert Wade

34 Meadowbrook Road                        May 21, 2000