This letter was sent on February 9, 1994 in response to a guest editorial. The newspaper did not print this one.

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

Dear Sir,

I trust this letter finds you well. I write to address my concerns about a recent guest editorial.

I feel compelled to respond to the recent guest editorial by Ms. Louise Lucas, (Feb. 9, ‘94) How Many Children Must Die Before We Stop Gun Proliferation?

Please allow me to begin by offering my condolences to Ms. Lucas and her family. While I may disagree with Ms. Lucas’ politics I truly feel sorrow for her family’s loss.

Her nephew’s death was indeed senseless, as is much of the violence that greets us each day. The question before us is how to address and curtail this violence. The causes of this violence and lack of respect for human life go deep into our societal psyche. To think that enacting a law that will punish parents who allow their children, under age 12, to walk about town with a gun is just so much political fluff.

Do any of you know a parent who allows their child to take a gun with them wherever they go? I own guns and my children, both under age five, have been taught from day one that they do not touch Daddy’s guns, they do not even go near them. When they are old enough they will be taught how to safely handle, shoot, and have respect for a gun. How many parents take the time to do these things? Will such a law as SB199 make these parents comply?

The problem I have with such legislation is the fact that it is emotion based. The reality of life as we know it would convince anyone, not blinded by the loss of a loved one, that gun control simply does not work. As long as there is a lack of respect for the rights of others and the sanctity of life our society will continue it’s downward spiral toward our ultimate destruction as a nation. Laws should be based on factual information, experience in the field being addressed, and the Constitution of the United States of America. Not the emotional upheaval of the recent loss of a family member. One must remember that these laws effect all citizens, not just your immediate family.

Was the man who shot Ms. Lucas’ nephew under twelve years of age? Did he use an assault weapon? Was he out of prison on parole? None of this was addressed by Ms. Lucas. How will such a law as SB199 prevent such murders as Ms. Lucas’ family is dealing with? If Ms. Lucas and others like her feel the need to do something to ease the pain they feel then perhaps their efforts could be better focused. Instead of punishing the law abiding citizens with further restrictions of their second amendment rights why not restore morality to the laws of our land? Return our country to the respect for the sanctity of life that we once enjoyed. Stop telling children that they cannot pray in school, but then have a class on how to properly use a condom. Start teaching children there are rights and wrongs and not just a series of gray areas.

Ms. Lucas continually referred to crime control, but all she addressed was really more GUN control. What about the criminals!? You remember, the people who commit these heinous crimes. We hear many politicians today tell us that we cannot build more prisons, no money. We cannot risk violating the civil rights of the criminal types. To punish criminals by keeping them in jail for their full sentence is racist. We have heard all the excuses, but the only action we see is further efforts to take away our guns. We have seen the folly of the last thirty years of social experimentation. Let us now return to the common-sense, Constitution based laws that were meant to protect the law abiding against the criminals who would prey on us. That is, after all, the PRIMARY function of government.

Ms. Lucas states that guns are the root of the violence that rules our streets. I strongly disagree! I have owned guns my entire adult life. I have yet to have one of my guns shoot itself. I, or another, must first pick up the gun, point the gun at something, and then pull the trigger. But before all of that happens there is one thing that must first be done. I must set aside any respect for human life. Any respect for the morality and guidelines that have been instilled in me by those who reared me. The point being, if I become overwhelmed with the desire to kill another human being the availability of a gun will do nothing to stop me from carrying out that desire. There are many other means available.

I will close now by asking my fellow Virginians and countrymen to know this about me; as a private citizen, registered voter, father and husband, businessman, and concerned patriot I too will be relentless in my efforts to rid our streets of the plague of violent crime and criminals. However, my approach will be to see that the wrongdoers are punished for their transgressions, that our children are taught morality based rights and wrongs, and that the citizenry is presented with the facts about the failure of gun control and social experimentation. My approach will not be to further punish the law abiding gun owners of this country.

Yours for liberty,