Focus on the criminals

In response to the two ostensibly well-intentioned but apparently misguided ladies who wrote from Barrington and Kildeer, "Gun money and politics" Oct. 19, "Gun raffle was more than just insensitive" Oct 20, respectively, who in their futile attempt to associate murderous violence with our precious Second Amendment, individual gun-ownership, and love for freedom and country: Dear ladies, your letters are absurd.

I can assure you that none of the several firearms and especially the "evil black rifle" raffled at the Lake County GOP fundraiser are, and will never be, "weapons" …. except perhaps in the relatively rare exigency of a vital need for self-defense in case of a violent criminal attack. Your disapprobation would be more constructively directed at those who would take away innocents' lives, both legally and illegally, rather than at those who would defend and preserve them.

I can further assure you that the good people who attended this event and won the guns are remarkably personally virtuous, civically involved and are all outstanding citizens who unequivocally support the U.S. Constitution, and habitually strive to preserve all that's beautiful and just in America. Please revisit the wise and timeless words of the preeminent American, the father of our country, George Washington: "the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference; they deserve a place with all that's good".

Glenn Garamoni

Ivanhoe