Front Sight Mail Bag: Depending on You to Keep the Average Joe Informed
April 28th, 2009
Dr. Piazza,
I helped a friend get elected to congress a couple of decades ago, and worked for him as senior staff for ten years after he went to congress.?? He is a marine, and ran on the Republican ticket, but was anything but conservative.? Because of his liberal views, he was defeated in the Republican primary the first time he had a serious opponent, which was in November of last year.
Sometime in the early 90’s, when the assault weapon ban came to the floor, we talked at length about whether or not it was an infringement of the right to bear arms.? His thinking was that guns are for hunting and/or collecting, so an assault weapon was not “needed” by the people.? I was unable to convince him that the 2nd amendment was not about hunting or collecting.?? I don’t believe that the writers even thought about hunting or collecting when they penned those words.
My friend? received many medals and a Purple Heart in Vietnam as a platoon sergeant – things that helped us to get him elected, but he never really “got it” as to the meaning of the 2nd amendment.?? I’m afraid that a great many of his colleagues never did get it , and never will get it.
I believe that most Americans think that our congress is comprised of very intelligent people, but after working with and around them for ten years, I realize that they are no different than a cross section of people you meet on the street…I’d say the average IQ is about 100.?? Some are pretty smart and some are pretty stupid.? It’s an uphill battle to educate them about anything.
I just wanted to share this with you, and to say that a lot of people are depending on folks like you who have a large audience to keep the average Joe informed about the need to “keep and bear arms”.?? So many countries have succeeded in banning firearms, which has never yet led to a safer society, and I – like you – am convinced that it never will.
Best Wishes,
Emmett
Entry Filed under: From the Mail Bag,Front Sight,second amendment,Self Defense.
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