Wednesday, November 28, 2001

Why the political left demonizes guns in U.S.

I'm happy to see that "good liberal" guest columnist Louis Greenstein sees the benefits of gun ownership and the foolishness and danger of victim-disarmament laws, also known as "gun control" ("Parting company, only on guns," Nov. 23).

Perhaps Mr. Greenstein should investigate why the political left demonizes guns. Most "good liberals" enjoy demonizing guns, but enjoy painting themselves as supporters of the poor and weak even more. Mr. Greenstein characterizes a "good liberal" as "favoring equality and moral consistency."

Perhaps, as a gun owner and gun-rights advocate, he is the consistent one. Responsible gun-ownership can be a great equalizer. It can literally "take back the night" by empowering the elderly, women and families to defend themselves against rapists and burglars.

Million Mom March activist Rosie O'Donnell demands prohibition of gun ownership, then hires a bodyguard for her child. What a hypocrite. She's rich and can afford such protection. But what about the poor? Sometimes a handgun, even an inexpensive "Saturday Night Special," a term with nasty racist roots, is all a poor inner-city family can afford for personal defense. Does O'Donnell not trust the "peasants" who live outside her gated community? I guess she has the protection she needs, so if the common folk can't afford it, they can eat cake.

Mr. Greenstein suggests legislation that will make guns safer. But even common-sense measures for unproven trigger-lock technologies hurt the poor by driving up gun prices. It's also insulting.

Legislating trigger locks on guns is like legislating V-chips in televisions. It assumes that customers are not smart enough to buy a product with the safety features that work best for them.

A truly "good liberal" is a libertarian: a consistent and principled advocate of individual freedom, and all 10 Amendments in the Bill of Rights.

Brian Todd Schwartz

Boulder, Colo.

A call to arms

I am the liberal aunt of whom Louis Greenstein wrote in his guest column on gun ownership.

I must say that I am pleased and flattered that he has listened and believed in so many of my views. Not everyone bats .500. Of course, I still disagree with the gun stuff, but I can't make him perfect. Neither are my own kids.

I would leave him with this call to arms: When Osama and Saddam and Yasser arrive at your door, you have my blessings to shoot. Then you will have made the world safe for democracy.

Barbara Blum

King of Prussia