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RE: Politicians won't stand up to gun lobby
By Thomas McDonald

 

April 24, 2007
Tuesday PM


I would like to address Dan K Thomasson's commentary " Politicians won't stand up to gun lobby". I believe Mr. Thomasson's rant against the N.R.A. is typical of the intellectual dishonesty of the media. I also believe it is an attack on The Bill Of Rights. Mr Thomasson would be outraged if I , or anyone else for that matter, would advocate taking away his First Amendment right to freedom of speech or freedom of the press. If one examines The Bill Of Rights The First Amendment speaks of " the right of the people peaceably to assemble". The Second Amendment says "A well regulated Militia,being necessary to the security of a free state {free from government tyranny} the right of the people {the same people in The First Amendment} to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed". In The Fourth Amendment it reads "The right of the people {the same people as in The First and Second Amendments} to be secure in their persons, houses, effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated". I believe Mr.Thomasson's rant is an attack on The Bill Of Rights not the N.R.A. but he is either not brave enough {or possibly not smart enough } to see that what he attacks is the same document that affords him the right to his freedom of speech and the press. You can not pick out parts of The Bill Of Rights that you wish to destroy without putting the document in its entirety in peril. Mr.Thomasson has to recognize that the First, Second, and Fourth Amendments refer to the right of the people. If you remove the right of the people in the Second Amendment, then you destroy the rights of the same people in the First and Fourth Amendments. Anytime Mr. Thomasson wishes to engage in a Constitutional debate, I would be more than willing to participate in such an intellectual exchange. But my perspective will be just that, intellectual and not emotional.

Thomas McDonald
Erwinna, PA


Received April 24, 2007 - Published April 24, 2007

 

Related Column:

Politicians won't stand up to gun lobby By DAN K. THOMASSON - Missing from the incredible outpouring of grief in the tragedy at Virginia Tech was the one ingredient that might provide a measure of assurance that it won't happen again - unrelenting public outrage over the gun culture that has brought us to this excruciatingly sad place - More...
Thursday - April 19, 2007

 

 

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