When I read Steve Karriker’s rant in last Monday’s letters to the editor I was struck with several things. First of all, he clearly hasn’t read the Second Amendment, including the words “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,” the meaning of which is being determined by the Supreme Court, as we speak. I tried to call Mr. Karriker to find out if he has ever been a member of the militia but he doesn’t seem to have a phone, at least not a listed one.
Second, he says that “Private ownership of firearms is the only thing that keeps the government from trampling our other rights.” Apparently he doesn’t believe in the rule of Law, but rather in the rule of guns. Mr. Karriker might consider that we settled this issue almost 150 years ago, and the rule of law prevailed, albeit at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives.
He might also consider that there are a lot more of the moderates and liberals he detests, and if we do go to the force of arms he would be the loser. There are a lot of moderates, and even some liberals, who have a lot more experience delivering force than he apparently does.
Finally, he doesn’t seem to think very much of the First Amendment (or the others), the one which protects his right to rant and rave, and the Post’s freedom to print his ravings.
If Mr. Karriker is typical of the supporters of Messrs. Jim Sides, Carl Ford and Ken Deal, then he provides the best reason to reject all three. We need more moderation and good sense on the Board of Commissioners, not more extremism.
ó John P. Burke
Salisbury