My response to her:
Thank you, Ms. Young, for a balanced editorial on guns and anti-gun
rhetoric. If more of the mainstream press were to devote the level of
thought and logic to the issue that you did, perhaps our national dialogue
could be less strident. While I personally disagree with a few of your
statements, particularly those supporting current legislation before
Congress, I must point out that the hardline stance taken by gun owners
such as myself is borne from the frustration with the process of
incrementalism utilized by gun control advocates. Whenever we have
acceded to demands for some sort of "reasonable" gun control, the other
side has come back with more. Each concession by gun owners has been
followed by yet even more restrictive measures. Five years ago the idea
of banning handguns outright would have been the province of only the
most radical in our political system; today, it is an idea that is being
embraced by such mainstream media outlets such as the New York
Times. I wonder how these same editors would view restrictions of that
magnitude on the First Amendment? It is safe to say that we all know the
answer to that question.
Once again, thank you for your considerate approach to the subject.
Yours truly,
*****