Open Letter to WV Delegation

To:        The Honorable Joseph Manchin

The Honorable John D. Rockefeller IV

The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito

The Honorable David McKinley

The Honorable Nick Rahall II

Subject: Gun Control

It would be difficult to think of anything more troubling than the shooting of innocent children. We all are saddened and morn for those lost and their families and friends. Of course the top questions in our minds are: Why? And how do we prevent such events?

We may never fully understand the answer to the first question, but it seems clear that we need to address the culture in which our children are desensitized by violent movies and video games. We must also address the need to identify those with mental disturbances that appear to be present in each case of mass murder.  Clearly we need a system in the mental health industry where violent and mentally unstable people can get help for their issues before a tragedy occurs.

It seems many want to use the most recent tragedy to leverage more power and support for gun control.  First, let’s take a look at the facts and consider whether any of the gun control efforts now underway would have made any difference recent mass murders had they been enacted prior.

Here are the facts as we know them and the current laws that were broken:

The assailant steals guns from his mother.

Kills his own mother.

Transports these guns loaded.

Brings guns onto school property.

Breaks into the school.

Discharges the weapons within city limits.

Murders 26 people.

Commits suicide.

All of which are in violation of current laws and none of which would have been altered in anyway by the current movement to ban, limit or restrict guns and ammo for private law abiding citizens.

As a law abiding citizen and military veteran, I feel I am among the last in this nation who’s second amendment rights should be infringed upon.  Particularly when it seems clear that most of the efforts currently in progress will not prevent tragedies like those in the past. The truth is, there are hundreds of millions of firearms in this country and bad people will always find a way to get them and use them. Knowing that, should support the rest of us having the necessary firepower to counter any potential risk.  

These mass murders are occurring in places where guns are not allowed by law abiding citizens and the criminal element is not going to abide by any new laws any more than they do the ones on the books now. So, please explain to me how it makes any since at all to infringe on my right bear arms. Question: Why do I need a so called assault rifle. Answer: Because the bad guys have them.

Self-defense is a right and a responsibility. Government is constitutionally barred from infringing on that right. The people need to stand up on this one.

As our representative, you must act in a manner that projects our constitutional right to defend.