Letters on gun rights
Second Amendment rights not absolute
San Bernardino. Colorado Springs. Charleston. Sandy Hook. How many more must die before we wake up?
Where did the idea that Second Amendment rights are absolute come from? Freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom to associate are not absolute. I cannot yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater just for the fun of it. I cannot publicly print something that I know to be false about someone else. I cannot associate with anyone who is advocating overthrow of the government.
Why then should my right to bear arms not be limited when public health and safety are at risk? Background checks and limits on the size of guns and ammunition magazines do not impinge on a person’s right to own guns for personal protection or hunting. Sometimes it seems that guns have become “gods” in themselves.
I hope we will soon wake up and let common sense and the moral principles on which society is founded prevail when it comes to reasonable efforts to curb the gun violence that is tearing our communities apart.
Fran Schumer, Wichita
Depriving gun rights
President Obama’s Iran deal frees about $150 billion, allowing Iran to build nuclear weapons that can kill thousands (perhaps millions). Obama frees terrorists from Guantanamo Bay who end up killing Americans, among others, and plotting acts against America. And he wants to deprive American citizens of the right to arm themselves?
Go figure.
Richard A. Hopper, Derby
What if no security?
Would President Obama have the same outlook on gun control if taxpayers stopped paying for his fully armed security? He probably feels pretty safe with the buildings and area being scanned and secured before he arrives. At the least he would look at the issue from a different outlook if they took the arms from his security guards.
Ronald Lauppe, Wichita
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This story was originally published January 11, 2016 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Letters on gun rights."