Many using Aurora tragedy for agenda
The guest column by Kevin Krajewski has me perturbed! I will not let his opinion stand without a reply.
I am a life member of the National Rifle Association, I’m 84 years old, a Korean War vet and a firearms safety instructor, and I believe in the Constitution of the United States. The Second Amendment of that Constitution is the heart of our rights in this republic.
Krajewski, like many others, is using the Aurora tragedy to further his agenda, which is the removal of all firearms from the hands of private citizens. Never mind that sworn police officers cannot protect us because by definition, they arrive after the fact. They are not clairvoyant. Case in point is the Aurora shootings. The police arrested him after the insane killing and injuries were finished.
I won’t go into why this deranged individual obtained firearms. I don’t know. According to the news, all weapons were acquired legally.
Unfortunately, just like the police, the sellers were not clairvoyant, either. This was nothing but a case of premeditated murder. I also understand that the theater in question had banned firearms. As a result, not one person had the capability of resisting deadly force with deadly force and stopping this person. The suspect was free to do what he came to do. We all know that what he did is beyond description.
However, because of this deviant’s action, we, the NRA members, are all grouped into one category, to quote Krajewski,’a “growlingly reckless gun culture.”
I say that is an insult to the hundreds of thousands of respectful NRA members.
We know that the NRA is active in all phases of gun safety. We also know that states that have weapon permits laws have reduced crime. That is a fact. We know that criminals will have guns despite all some 20,000 gun laws presently in effect. That also is a fact.
What seems to be a fact, as noted in Krajewski column, is that he not only is misinformed but that he doesn’t trust the honest and lawful citizen. His “sensible” and “reasonable” gun laws don’t work and will never work against criminals or would-be criminals. That’s why they are criminals.
Again his words “weak and vacillating politicians at the state and federal level” show he has an inherent distrust of the government. Yet he would desire that these elected officials with a trust record of 26 percent legislate guns out of the hands of honest citizens. Evidently, his distrust is limited only to politicians who don’t agree with his agenda of more gun laws.
He has the right to his opinion as I, too, have the right to mine. However, as an NRA member, I must speak up.
Wayne A. Doenges
New Haven
Leininger represents freedom of speech
This letter is in response to Leonard Goldstein’s recent letter entitled, “Leininger biased.”
I have for many years enjoyed reading Kevin Leininger’s articles in our local newspaper, the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. I find him to be an honest, respectful and considerate conservative columnist whom I agree with the majority of the time.
Over the last 40-plus years, I’ve enjoyed reading different opinions in “Letters to the Editor.” Goldstein has had no problem submitting his left-wing liberal political points of view on numerous occasions. I respect his right of freedom of speech but very rarely agree with his point of view.
My question is what rock has Goldstein been hiding under for the past 50 years. To accuse Leininger of being “biased” because of his conservative views is hypocrisy.
Mr. Goldstein, what about the major news media — CBS, NBC, MSNBC, ABC and CNN? They all are left-wing liberal outlets. Do you threaten them for their political viewpoints?
How about the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette and its left-wing liberal editorials, Mr. Goldstein — are you going to condemn them for their political viewpoints as well?
In conclusion, Leininger and Goldstein both have the right to their opinion; it’s called “freedom of speech.” Of course, Goldstein comes from the left, and if you don’t agree with their point of view, they threaten you. I’m conservative and proud of it!
Ronald J. Burkart
