First let me say "Hi" to everyone, since I am new to the board. I am also new to the Allentown/Bethlehem area. Unfortunately, I wasn't aware of the counter protest in Bethlehem until after it occurred.
I saw here that there were e-mails written to the Morning Call supporting Paul Carpenter and his article. I though everyone might be interested in the results.
GUN COLUMN DIDN'T BRING TERMINATION
by PAUL CARPENTER, The Morning Call
In more than 35 years in the news business, there has never been anything like this.
On Friday, I wrote a column on gun control, which I oppose on constitutional grounds.
Today, I must make it clear that I have not been fired, and no one has threatened to fire me, because of that column.
I am compelled to do that because of the most amazing deluge of letters I have ever seen.
Most hailed the column, often expressing surprise that a mainstream newspaper would publish such a viewpoint in today's climate of political correctness.
But many attacked the newspaper because of a false rumor, circulated via the Internet, that I was being fired for expressing such views. And by many, I mean hundreds, from every corner of the nation.
I understand how the rumor may have begun, and I may have helped it along.
When asked by some people if I had come under pressure from newspaper management over that column, I declined to comment. It is my standard procedure not to discuss internal dealings, but I can say I have not been fired or threatened with termination.
If that ever happens, it will not be because of this one column on the touchy issue of gun control.
I deeply appreciate the support of all those letter writers. Some wrote to me directly, while many sent me copies of angry letters they wrote to the editor.
I saw only a couple of letters that opposed my views in Friday's column.
The deluge of support, then, was seemingly orchestrated by the special interests who also support the Second Amendment.
I sometimes criticize the inordinate power of special interests, but I have to tell you, I am certainly impressed by this letter-writing campaign. I have never seen anything like it.
It is gratifying that there are many people out there who cherish the Constitution and its Bill of Rights as passionately as I do.
I have never been happy about the proliferation of guns in this country. In fact, I first became interested in constitutional issues as a young man, because I had just returned from Japan, which was, relatively, both gun-free and violence-free.
I believed then that we needed gun control, too, so America's streets could be as serene as Japan's. I began studying that issue. The more I studied, the more I understood why the Founding Fathers wanted citizens to be armed -- primarily as a check on the power of government and as a way to keep citizens self-reliant.
The history of Japan and other countries in the last century certainly shows why such checks are worthwhile.
I came to three irrefutable, if uncomfortable, conclusions.
1. The Founding Fathers clearly intended for the Second Amendment to apply to all citizens not affiliated with government. That is how they defined `militia.`
2. Respect for original intent, in all laws, is an essential element in keeping government authorities from exercising power to which they are not entitled.
3. You cannot abrogate one part of the Bill of Rights without establishing precedents that make it easier to abrogate its other parts.
Such views are not always embraced by some people at this newspaper and elsewhere, but, as you can see today, I'm still here.
Contact Paul Carpenter
610-820-6176
paul.carpenter@mcall.com
So I guess thats a win for our side.
His background and change of heart/mind is refreshing.
Let me also say I glad to be back ( I'm orignially from Philadelphia)in a State that recognizes Concealed Carry and in an area with a paper like the Morning Call.
I saw here that there were e-mails written to the Morning Call supporting Paul Carpenter and his article. I though everyone might be interested in the results.
GUN COLUMN DIDN'T BRING TERMINATION
by PAUL CARPENTER, The Morning Call
In more than 35 years in the news business, there has never been anything like this.
On Friday, I wrote a column on gun control, which I oppose on constitutional grounds.
Today, I must make it clear that I have not been fired, and no one has threatened to fire me, because of that column.
I am compelled to do that because of the most amazing deluge of letters I have ever seen.
Most hailed the column, often expressing surprise that a mainstream newspaper would publish such a viewpoint in today's climate of political correctness.
But many attacked the newspaper because of a false rumor, circulated via the Internet, that I was being fired for expressing such views. And by many, I mean hundreds, from every corner of the nation.
I understand how the rumor may have begun, and I may have helped it along.
When asked by some people if I had come under pressure from newspaper management over that column, I declined to comment. It is my standard procedure not to discuss internal dealings, but I can say I have not been fired or threatened with termination.
If that ever happens, it will not be because of this one column on the touchy issue of gun control.
I deeply appreciate the support of all those letter writers. Some wrote to me directly, while many sent me copies of angry letters they wrote to the editor.
I saw only a couple of letters that opposed my views in Friday's column.
The deluge of support, then, was seemingly orchestrated by the special interests who also support the Second Amendment.
I sometimes criticize the inordinate power of special interests, but I have to tell you, I am certainly impressed by this letter-writing campaign. I have never seen anything like it.
It is gratifying that there are many people out there who cherish the Constitution and its Bill of Rights as passionately as I do.
I have never been happy about the proliferation of guns in this country. In fact, I first became interested in constitutional issues as a young man, because I had just returned from Japan, which was, relatively, both gun-free and violence-free.
I believed then that we needed gun control, too, so America's streets could be as serene as Japan's. I began studying that issue. The more I studied, the more I understood why the Founding Fathers wanted citizens to be armed -- primarily as a check on the power of government and as a way to keep citizens self-reliant.
The history of Japan and other countries in the last century certainly shows why such checks are worthwhile.
I came to three irrefutable, if uncomfortable, conclusions.
1. The Founding Fathers clearly intended for the Second Amendment to apply to all citizens not affiliated with government. That is how they defined `militia.`
2. Respect for original intent, in all laws, is an essential element in keeping government authorities from exercising power to which they are not entitled.
3. You cannot abrogate one part of the Bill of Rights without establishing precedents that make it easier to abrogate its other parts.
Such views are not always embraced by some people at this newspaper and elsewhere, but, as you can see today, I'm still here.
Contact Paul Carpenter
610-820-6176
paul.carpenter@mcall.com
So I guess thats a win for our side.
His background and change of heart/mind is refreshing.
Let me also say I glad to be back ( I'm orignially from Philadelphia)in a State that recognizes Concealed Carry and in an area with a paper like the Morning Call.
rg), and the SAF (www.SAF.org). (I joined these organizations specifically due to the assault on our rights that has been in evidence in recent years.)
), welcome to TFL.