THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 23, 1995 TAG: 9507200020
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
I am deeply troubled by yet another attack by President Clinton on our constitutional rights. His recent comment that banning certain types of ammunition is an ``inconvenience'' we must endure to exercise our Second Amendment rights is outrageous. What other ``inconveniences'' must an American citizen endure before he has Mr. Clinton's leave to exercise a constitutional right?
Perhaps we should endure the ``inconvenience'' of Mr. Clinton checking that our speech and writings are politically correct enough so as not to offend anyone; or the ``inconvenience'' of Mr. Clinton ensuring that a group of citizens peacefully assembling has the politically correct composition by race and sex; or the ``inconvenience'' of Mr. Clinton taking our private property to promote some liberal cause.
My rights as guaranteed by the Constitution are absolutely sacrosanct. There is not compromise on this and I will tolerate no one, including the president of the United States attempting in any way to ``inconvenience'' or prevent me from exercising any of my rights. Mr. Clinton, along with many others in political office, seem to forget that they are elected to represent us, not rule us.
No one has been anointed as so morally and intellectually superior that he can come into my home and make an adult decision for me. This includes the decision as to what type of firearm (and its ammunition) I may keep and bear in order to protect my family, my freedom, myself and my property. The Second Amendment has nothing to do with target shooting or hunting (as Mr. Clinton so disingenuously states). It has everything to do with freedom.
DONALD C. SIMON
Virginia Beach, July 4, 1995 by CNB