I fear we will have this debate unendingly. Line will be drawn over this single issue and folks who would otherwise be friends will not speak to each other because of the stand taken. We can't speak about guns and gun ownership with out one side feeling that the other is trvializing what is viewed by them to be a horrible device.

I am not in the NRA. But I shoot and I was trained to handle guns with care. Some people view all guns as weapons while I view some guns as weapons. If the universal weapon view is held then all knives are weapons and all bats are weapons. A Yo Yo is a weapon in its original form as are the discus and javelin. Are they still?

I know that many people view my right to own a shotgun and the odd pistol as an idea whose time has been and gone. They are fine with their opinions. My thought is this, I've never used my guns foolishly or dangerously. My kids know all about them, how to be safe with them and they ignore them. I'm sorry some damaged children whose lives were set on this path years ago have come to this pass. But I will not let anyone criminalise my legal and rightful use of private property because of the crimnal actions by a very few people in the general population.

Enforce the laws we have. Accept the standard provision in the law that allows for the rightful use of rifles, shotguns and pistols by collectors, sportspersons, and any member of the popularion who wishes to own a gun.

Don Meixner