“Narrow path between” Constitution and the extreme

Re: “Nothing wrong to dream of a world without guns,” June 18 letter to the editora s a retired staff sergeant, I wish to correct some of the statements made by one of the letter writers in Sunday’s paper.

he rights guaranteed by the Constitution, and the regulations proposed by our legislators, do not apply to firearms. Firearms are inanimate objects. Those rights and regulations apply to human beings. That is to say, we, the citizens of the United States. Our legislators recognize that fact.

The legislature walks a narrow path between the Constitution and the social extremists who are so vocal in expressing their fears. The same fearful extremists then seek to intimidate their fellow citizens by displaying their “big guns” while at public gatherings. In effect, they demand that weapons be indiscriminately put into the hands of people who are not mentally or emotionally qualified to possess them responsibly.

The comments about military training seem a bit off base when you consider training is demanded by the militia mentioned in the 2nd Amendment. The government does not send young people to some sort of summer camp to learn to kill people. Service members are taught discipline and respect for the law of land warfare. They are taught the many skills needed to perform their jobs and survive during a war. They are not rewarded for killing people; that is a disgusting falsehood.

The comment that a veteran under 21 cannot own a firearm in Colorado is true. I believe the law should be amended so that any honorably discharged veteran may purchase a firearm as if they are 21. — Greg Fedorchuk, Lakewood