Dear Editor:
Senator John Thune, republican from South Dakota, has offered an amendment to the authorization for the Pentagon’s budget, a proposal to allow individuals to carry lawfully concealed firearms across the state lines, while at the same time, respecting the laws of the host state.
Whether this amendment meets with success or rejection in insignificant, for the senator’s attempt is merely the first of many inroads toward the ultimate saturation of the land with firearms, unfortunately, Senator Thune not only fails to see that urban areas must be regarded much differently from rural sectors but sharply contradicts himself as there would be absolute disrespect for New York’s tough laws against concealed guns.
If only Senator Thune and the National Rifle Association would take the time to observe Great Britain where strict gun laws are present and high powered rifles and automatic weapons were made illegal and firearms were involved in fewer than two percent of all assault cases in a year. Consequently, Great Britain is among the countries with the least murders per capita while the United States ranks among the top nations having the most murders per capita, in most part because of Lax Laws in some states.
So long as the National Rifle Association continues to lobby some legislators who put financial contributions ahead of principle, the United States will remain a veritable shooting gallery. Using the Second Amendment, gun advocates would have us believe that anyone interested in public safety is un-American.
Must the United States, which shines in accomplishment in virtually every field throughout the world, continue to be a center of bloodshed.
It should seem that the legendary romance of Romeo and Juliet has been surpassed by the passionate love affair between the National Rifle Association and Guns.
Howard Lawson