We should protect, defend Second Amendment

I can't agree with the former Marine (Joe Denemark) whose April 5 letter said, “If this ‘stand your ground' law goes into effect, I am sure a Dodge City mentality will prevail.” That's the same argument liberal politicians have used when concealed carry requirements were relaxed in 40 some states, when “stand your ground” became law in some of the same states, when Clinton's misnamed “assault rifle” ban expired, etc. None of these Chicken Little prophecies came true.

Nationally, violent crime statistics have been dropping for years, and the rate of decline is greatest in those states and municipalities that relaxed some of their draconian restrictions on firearms ownership.

The writer admits the NRA does a lot of good. Like him, I haven't always agreed with them, but they've been right more often than not. But for the NRA, the Second Amendment right of private citizens to keep and bear arms would have been buried decades ago. I've belonged for 48 years and plan on staying.

I see no relevant correlation between his comparison of wartime combat and killing innocent people. We all know that. Iowa's proposed law and the ones already enacted in other states don't allow you to shoot people for looking at you funny.

Like the writer, I'm a veteran. We both took the same oath to protect and defend the Constitution. That means all of it, not just the portions that President Obama or others deem politically correct.

Dean Varner

Cedar Rapids

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