Gun control advocates imply the Second Amendment only concerns self defense, target practice and hunting. But that is not the intent of the amendment. Our Founding Fathers risked life and limb to make the people sovereign. When guns are confiscated, citizens become subservient to the government. According to Ben Franklin, "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

The intent for gun ownership was to resist and deter tyranny.

In earlier times, citizens could be called into a state's militia with their arms, the more powerful their arms the better. Gun control advocates seek to limit the type and capability of a person's weapons. Lessening a person's ability to defend oneself will not increase the person's safety. Criminals will not register or surrender their weapons; what could be better for them than a prey with little or no defense?

A right difficult to exercise is a right denied. The amendment seems quite clear but the Supreme Court needs to proactively provide clarification once and for all; a case-by-case interpretation prolongs disagreements and bickering.

Blaming guns for massacres is ridiculous. I've walked through gun shops and not one gun attacked me. People kill people, and most of the horrible massacres I know of were committed by mentally deranged persons. Why disarm law-abiding citizens? We need to identify the mentally incompetent and institutionalize them, or at least closely supervise them. Additionally, if most people were armed, killers and robbers would be deterred from committing a crime or be quickly subdued.

We have created a society full of violence and hate, and gun possession disputes increase animosity. Politicians often encourage divisiveness in our society, pitting the rich against the poor, the old against the young, men against women, etc. Our godless society is lacking in morality; many families are dysfunctional, and our youth not only are exposed to horrific electronic games and entertainment but are also often undisciplined. Much parental discipline has been banned and substitute behavioral control measures are not very effective or under-used.

Let's create a government that seeks to unify people and protect citizens' rights and a society where peacefulness, kindness and tolerance flourish.

Let's bring God back into our lives, strengthen family life and let law-abiding citizens exercise their right to bear arms without restriction.

Milton Leiker

Hays