Columnists miss the mark on gun laws

The March 30 guest commentary by Rep. Robin Kelly and Kris Brown, president of the gun control group Brady, hits a new low. They blame the shootings in Minneapolis on “Second Amendment extremists,” ignoring that the individuals involved were allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers doing their jobs.

They complain ICE agents are being recruited at gun shows and seem to imply that only white supremacists go to gun shows. Many of the different people going to gun shows are police and former military. Seems like the right place for ICE to recruit people.

They say it’s a “lie that a firearm is the key to personal safety.” Several different studies, including one from CDC and commissioned by the Obama administration, showed that anywhere from 50,000 to 2 million crimes were prevented because the victim was armed. And, 90% of the time, the victim just showed the gun for the criminal to give up.

The writers state that Rittenhouse and the McCloskeys were pointing guns at peaceful protectors. Riots were ongoing and Rittenhouse started shooting after an angry mob chased him, because he extinguished a fire they started and was found not guilty on all charges. The McCloskeys were aiming their guns at trespassers (they lived in a private gated community) and were in fear for their lives when a large angry mob invaded their neighborhood. Philando Castile was a tragedy, but when you tell a police officer you have a gun and start reaching for something, that’s a mistake. The officer involved was found not guilty.

Their statement that the gun lobby doesn’t consider the Second Amendment a universal right is absurd. It’s the gun control groups who want only the rich and powerful to be protected by guns.

A gun is the best defense to prevent being attached. Get training.

Bruce Bohren

Kenosha