The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Our Readers Speak

February 20, 2013

Our Readers Speak — Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013

Police officers are to uphold passed laws

Being a retired police officer, I was reluctant to write this letter to inform Sheriff Tanner he is wrong. Police officers are sworn to enforce the laws and uphold the Constitution of the United States. When laws are passed, they only become unconstitutional when the Supreme Court says so, not Sheriff Tanner.

I am also a defender of the whole Constitution, including the Second Amendment. If wanting assault weapons banned makes me a moron, I plead guilty. If wanting high capacity magazines banned makes me a moron, again, I plead guilty. These firearms should be available only to the military and police personnel.

If anyone thinks they should be allowed to possess .50 caliber machine guns, .30 caliber machine guns or any fully automatic firearms, then maybe they should be placed in a national database as “mentally ill.”

If you cannot defend yourself in your home with a semi-automatic handgun and a magazine of 10 or 15 rounds or a rifle or a shotgun, then chances are you should not be in possession of any firearm. Fifteen rounds in your Glock not enough? Then buy two Glocks.

The United States has the most powerful military in the world; no amount of personal guns, ammunition or “A Well-Regulated Militia” will protect you from the United States military force. What will protect your rights and liberties from a tyrannical form of government is our system of checks and balances and all 27 amendments under our Constitution.

Banning certain weapons, certain ammunition and high capacity magazines, requiring background checks on everyone and requiring registration on all firearms, just like a vehicle, does not violate the Second Amendment. Read and tell me where the Second Amendment is being violated.

Recent articles in your opinion page by Kathleen L. Scott, Ann McFeatters and Delores Vaughn are correct and I do hope the majority of citizens feel this way, but are not speaking out. You three ladies said it all and I applaud you.

Larry Festa

Daniels

 

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Our Readers Speak