Disagree with Burt's 'common sense'

I would like to comment on a few points in Burt Constable's March 4 column.

Firstly, the main reason the Second Amendment was written was so that we the people would be able to defend ourselves against all those who would take away our freedoms, like the government that the founders left behind in England. I won't even try to debate the asinine remark he made about making guns available to "frightened old ladies, gang bangers, etc."

Apparently, the term "common sense gun law" has a different meaning to people like him as opposed to the average citizen I have had conversations with. I also disagree with him that there are more people shot that didn't have guns than did (especially if they were away from where they could legally have them). As far as that remark about what happened at Fort Hood, soldiers normally do not walk around bases armed unless in times of a declared war, so that's why that jihadist did as much damage as he did.

And as far as having a shotgun versus a handgun, well, if you have ever had the experience of firing any weapons at all you would know that a shotgun would more easily punch a hole through a wall and hit something easier than a well-aimed shot from a pistol. He does make one point that myself and others who have the same mind set that I do have: If you're going to own a gun, get some training from someone experienced in that area.

Byford Basham

Carol Stream