THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 17, 1995 TAG: 9502170022
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
The Second Amendment is not about hunting or target shooting as a recreation. It is very well summed up in a couple of Jefferson's quotes, ``When government fears the people there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny'' and ``The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.''
The well-regulated militia in the Second Amendment was not a National Guard unit, which is another government force, but the people.
In a system of checks and balances, the militia assumes the roll of a check against the government.
I realize that anti-gunners use the preface that to stop crime we must ban firearms, and the banning of all firearms is their ultimate goal.
Lack of firearms will in no way stop crime. It is the lack of morals - the sense of what is right and wrong - that is the problem here. This must be taught in the home. No amount of legislation or taking away of rights will ever change this.
JOSEPH PATTERMANN
Virginia Beach, Feb. 12, 1995 by CNB