Ridgefield Letter: Response to Gov. Lamont Press Release Dated September 30

A Response to Governor Lamont’s Sept. 30 Press Release - Opinion 

Everyone agrees with a sad heart that Sandy Hook was a terrible tragedy. But it was not caused by guns; it was caused by a mentally ill young man whose mother tried to get help for him but was stymied by Connecticut law and the courts. Have we addressed that?

Guns, knives, machetes, hatchets, etc. are tools. They can be used for positive actions or to commit crimes….it is dependent on the person holding the tool. As we have seen on the news, even a car can be used as a deadly tool. Saying “banning assault weapons” will solve criminal behavior makes no sense, as any tool, including homemade bombs, can kill. And how does one distinguish “assault” weapons from “defense” weapons?

To say the majority of Connecticut residents support a ban on guns shows a lack of understanding of the entire concept of our form of government. We have a Bill of Rights that prevents majorities from taking away the rights of the minority. Majority rule is 2 wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for lunch. Our Constitution removes the lamb from the menu.

To illustrate, Chicago, Baltimore, and New York City have some of the strictest anti-gun laws in the country, and also the most shootings. How is that possible? Is it because when crimes are committed, the criminals are back on the street in short order? Is it because our mental health laws ensure that very sick and dangerous people are roaming the streets? Is it because cutbacks in police budgets mean street gangs run rampant? Is it because crimes are committed with illegally obtained weapons?

These are the factors that need to be addressed, not banning the rights of lawful citizens.

Linda Lavelle, 

Ridgefield, CT

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