[hombre243]

Originally Posted at www.qconline.com March 17, 2013, 11:00 pm
Last Updated: March 18, 2013, 12:03 am
Letter: Restrictions on recreational gun use just the beginning

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Tell me why?

Why should any citizen own a weapon with excessive power and capacity designed to kill many quickly?

This begs the question: Why own a muscle car with excessive horsepower designed for extreme speed or a monster truck with excessive size designed to crush anything in its path?

May I suggest recreation and competition. Either vehicle in the hands of a qualified and responsible person is not only entertaining, but sometimes the proving ground for new transportation technology. However, in the hands of an emotionally troubled person, more people could be killed faster than by pulling a trigger.

Why object to removing only so-called assault weapons? After all, won't the powers that be feel contented with that and move on to other heroics?
On another subject, but by way of example, gambling came to Quad-Cties with the promise that boats would launch into the river during business hours. That promise was broken and boats remained docked to land-based expansions. Recently a boat was abandoned and replaced by a casino on land — in bars and airports is next. These conditions are a far cry from promises to citizens objecting to gambling in the first place.

So what's the connection? It's encroachment (encroach vb. 1. To intrude gradually, stealthily, or insidiously upon the rights and property of another. 2. To advance beyond the proper, original, or customary limits. -- Webster). It worked for gambling developers and it will work for misguided saviors until the military and police have all the big marbles.

Ask citizens living in countries under communism or ruthless dictators how well that works.

Tom Cline,
Coal Valley