Drive-by shooters are really terrorists

Drive-by shooters are really terrorists

We elect our federal and state legislators because we believe they are more knowledgeable than we are, and indeed, most of them hold academic degrees in areas the average voter doesn’t.

So with the combined knowledge, why are they lumping the actions of the mentally ill with those of the seriously stupid and are willing to pass laws that restrict the freedoms of law abiding citizens?

The cry for gun restrictions is a knee-jerk, hysterical reaction to what is happening in this country. But restricting guns will not stop people from obtaining the weapons and ammunition they want. We will always have the mentally ill among us, the “drive-byers” are nothing more than homegrown terrorists, aided and abetted by the fear of taking away their guaranteed freedoms.

We need to question legislators why “drive-by” or “walk up” killers cannot be declared terrorists, tracked down and incarcerated the same way non-American terrorists are.

I am not a member of the NRA; I am terrified of guns. I can’t imagine having a gun in my home, but my peaceful life isn’t threatened. If the action of punks who believe they’re above the law isn’t curtailed, some day my peaceful life will be threatened, and when that happens, I most definitely will want to buy whatever gun and ammunition I need to protect myself.

If someone wants to shoot me illegally, I want the right to shoot back. I would prefer the neighborhood terrorist be treated as such as I don’t have to resort to this type of action.

Patricia A. O’Neil

West Chicago