Dear Ms Washington,
I would like to thank you for your "In These Times" article "Lets Pry Open Those Cold, Dead Hands".
The phrase you coined, "People of the Gun", is really catching on. The Internet firearms community is going nuts over this new name. We love it!! Thank you!! It just might be the cohesive force, the common bond we need to bring out many of the politically inactive, non-voting gun owners for the 08 elections if we can keep it going.
Also, your call to action for the anti-gun movement to get more involved via the Internet would be a huge help for gun rights activists. You see, the anti-gun movement has only gotten as far as it has because of lies and misinformation. The truth that guns are not the problem will be more easily exposed if the anti movement becomes more Internet-savvy.
Perhaps if the antis' 'facts' are viewed alongside the People of the Guns' facts and both judged solely on their merits, people will begin to wonder why the majority of gun-related murders are committed against young black men by young black men when the majority of guns are owned, as you say, by middle-aged white men. If we middle aged white men own all the guns, shouldn't we be the ones killing each other? Perhaps people will begin to wake up and realize that the problem is a cultural one and that the quick band aid of more gun control won't stop the bleeding. Perhaps people will wake up and realize that disarming law-abiding citizens doesn't deter, but rather enboldens criminals and isn't an effective means to keep us safe from the crime that is so prevalent in our society today. If an armed attacker shows up at your door, which would you rather have, the means to protect yourself, or a nice sign on the door that says "This House is a Gun Free Zone"?
Again, thank you for helping our cause.
Sincerely,
Xxxxxxx Xxx