Protecting 2nd Amendment protects all rights

Jeremy Brigham wrote that no one should have a military-style rifle in civilian settings ('Shootings show need for gun reforms,” Nov. 26). That's already illegal.

Military rifles are capable of fully automatic fire. Their civilian counterparts have to be triggered individually to shoot each round.

He questions the need to include Second Amendment-type language in our state constitution. As of a year ago, only five other states lacked such provisions. They were California, New York, New Jersey, Minnesota and Maryland - all openly hostile to firearm rights. Examples of judges in these states ignoring their citizens' rights occur often. Does Iowa want to remain in their company?

And no one is trying to, as Brigham wrote, ' … prioritize the right to have guns over the freedoms of speech and religion.” For the U.S. military and three law enforcement agencies, I took oaths to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. This meant all of it - not just the parts favored by Brigham, Diane Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, etc.

Without the right of private citizens to keep and bear arms, their rights to freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion, etc. could soon cease to exist.

Dean Varner

Cedar Rapids