American debate

Regarding “Founding Fathers” (Letters, Wednesday): It is true that 18th century Americans were suspicious of the newfangled representative democracy advocated by the Founding Fathers. But we have had more than 200 years to adjust to the notion that for good or evil, we the people run our government through representatives that we elect. To “defend oneself from a tyrannical government” means we must defend ourselves from ourselves. With a gun? I personally am opposed to suicide.

Where would you be safer from a gunshot: in a country where only law enforcement and the military had guns or in a country where everyone has a gun?

The notion that Americans must have guns to protect themselves from all the Americans with guns is a self-refuting argument.