All amendments deserve equal enforcement

On July 4, The Gazette reprinted a Chicago Tribune editorial with which it evidently agrees. The piece was prompted by a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision declaring some of Chicago's draconian gun laws to be unconstitutional. The editorial said, “Like it or not, the court has elevated gun ownership to the same level of protection as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures and cruel and unusual punishment.”

What the Tribune and Gazette can't seem to grasp is that the Supreme Court didn't “elevate” the Second Amendment to a level of equality with the other provisions of the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights. It always had equal status. The Supreme Court decision was merely acknowledgment of the fact that the media and liberal politicians have long abused their First Amendment rights by trampling roughshod over our Second Amendment rights.

For the armed forces and three law enforcement agencies, I have taken oaths to defend and preserve our Constitution. I always knew that meant all of it, not just the parts deemed politically correct by Mayor Richard Daley, Rep. Nancy Pelosi or Vice President Joe Biden.

Without the Second Amendment to protect them, our rights to freedom of speech, religion, assembly, etc., could soon cease to exist.

Dean Varner

Cedar Rapids