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Will this be published?
.		    Published on 3/23/2001
From: "Don Dycus" <ddycus@kc.rr.com>
To: "Kansas City Star" <letters@kcstar.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2001 1:52 PM
Subject: Holden needs to get tough on hidden guns

There are few constants in life, but, along with death and taxes, we can rely on the Star's editors to always demagogue the issue of "hidden guns." Your persistent fearmongering about the "wild, wild West" mayhem that will supposedly result when law-abiding Missourians are legally allowed the means to defend themselves is demonstrably contrary to the experience of every state that currently permits its citizens to carry concealed firearms.

Even a cursory examination of readily available statistics from those 36 states indicates their crime rates are significantly below the national average and are vastly lower than areas with strict gun control laws, such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. This implies that either you are irrational on the subject, or you believe Missourians aren't as responsible and competent as Indianans, Texans, Floridians, Oklahomans, etc. My guess is the former.

As for the Second Amendment, the Star appears to support only the right of duck hunters and skeet-shooters to "bear arms" for sporting purposes. What about the preyed-upon? Outside the home, gun control laws make the world safe for the predators, who, by definition, disregard such laws.

As for Holden flip-flopping on guns, give the guy some credit for political savvy. While no one should think he's changed his pre-election, anti-gun stripes, he is astute enough to recognize the necessity of appearing to be reasonable on the subject. Gun control is not the sure-fire, winning position liberals have long believed it to be. Just ask Al Gore, or Missouri Senate Democrats.

Don Dycus
Kansas City, MO

 
Concealed carry

There are few constants in life, but, along with death and taxes, we can rely on The Star's editors to always demagogue the issue of "hidden guns" (3/17, Editorial).

Your persistent fearmongering about the "wild, wild West" mayhem that will supposedly result when law-abiding Missourians are legally allowed the means to defend themselves is contrary to the experience of every state that currently permits its citizens to carry concealed firearms.

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Even a cursory examination of readily available statistics from those 36 states indicates their crime rates are significantly below the national average and are vastly lower than areas with strict gun control laws, such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

[Golly, they edited Don's letter ... for "space" Don and Brad assume.]

"Ve vill acknowledge no criticism of the angst of dies newspaper"

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As for Holden flip-flopping on guns, give the guy some credit for political savvy. While no one should think he's changed his pre-election, anti-gun stripes, he is astute enough to recognize the necessity of appearing to be reasonable on the subject. Gun control is not the sure-fire, winning position liberals have long believed it to be. Just ask Al Gore or Missouri Senate Democrats.

Don Dycus
Kansas City

 
 

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