This letter was written on January 10, 1994, but was not printed in the newspaper.

Richmond Times-Dispatch
P.O. Box 85333
Richmond, VA 23293
Attn: Editor of Editorial Page

Dear Sir,

I feel compelled to respond to the letter from Mr. George W. Wilbur (Jan. 10, ‘94, The Brady Bill Brings Safety a Little Closer) taking me to task for my letter of December 22, 1993.

The first thing that came to my mind as I read Mr. Wilbur’s letter was a slogan which was used during the last Presidential campaign. I have changed it to suit the needs of my argument, IT’S THE CRIMINALS STUPID! I do not mean this to represent a personal attack on Mr. Wilbur, it simply gets to the root of the problem as I see it.

If we are to follow Mr. Wilbur’s logic (?) to its obvious conclusion then what other inanimate objects must we, as a society, restrict so as to save lives? Automobiles are responsible for more deaths each year than are handguns. Note I said automobiles, not drivers, again I am following the logic of others. This being the case I await the call for a five day waiting period to purchase a car. After all, if just one life is saved it would be worth the inconvenience wouldn’t it?

I hate to be the one to break the bad news, but if a man is enraged enough to want to kill his spouse, or anyone else for that matter, there are many other means of carrying out that desire. I suppose then there would be a waiting period to purchase baseball bats, kitchen knives (John Bobbitt might have benefited from that), all types of blunt instruments, etc. After all, if just one life is saved wouldn’t the inconvenience be worth it?

Mr. Wilbur, like others who follow his thinking, continues to overlook the real problem, THE CRIMINALS! Take a look at the statistics that show that most crimes where a gun is used are committed by REPEAT OFFENDERS who have been released from prison before serving their full sentence. Why must we, the law abiding, continue to be punished and inconvenienced in any way, shape, or form because our criminal justice system cannot deal with the criminals among us!?

The very people who proposed and supported the Brady Bill have stated on numerous occasions that this bill will do little to stop violent crime. They simply see it as a first step toward ultimately confiscating the firearms of the citizens of the United States of America. I would like for Mr. Wilbur, or any of his friends, to explain to me how registering guns and/or gun owners (the most recent idea proposed by the folks in Washington) will stop or reduce violent crime? Note they just said registration. What can we logically assume follows registration!? The only people who would obey such a law would, again, be the law abiding citizens, NOT THE CRIMINALS!

It is obvious that logic does not enter into the debate for some folks. That is too bad, for ultimately we all suffer when laws are created based on emotions and not rational, logical thought. I do not expect this letter to sway Mr. Wilbur’s opinion of me or my argument. I can only hope however that it can create in others a sincere desire to get to the real root of the problem in our society today and that is not the law-abiding gun owner!

Sincerely,