Letter to the Editor: Stands and Common Sense

Congressman John Tierney, in an Op Ed to the Lowell Sun (which was included in last week’s Transcript) wrote about taking a stand on assault weapons and the use of commonsense.  Commonsense, supported by guiding factual information, is usually the better approach to solving a problem like violence.  I would applaud Mr. Tierney for addressing such an issue of our time, but when someone profiles a specific group as part of the problem, while taking no responsibility himself, any sincerity to his point is lost. 

All elected officials have sworn to uphold the constitution of the United State of America.  Any deviation of that oath is a breach of contract.  The U.S. Constitution is an agreement in which its integrity is not to be compromised.  It can be amended, added to, perhaps subtracted from, but once agreed all people must follow its intent.  To not follow the fundamental law of the land is to insure the degradation of a nation.  I do not want my legacy to my children, and yours for that matter, to be that of someone who  did not stand up for them (when they could not for themselves, or know enough to do so) by acquiescing to the liberal management of our established law. 

The violence which is becoming Increasingly prevalent in our society is more about our legal systems failures and the lack of appreciation, by a greater number of people,  for core family values (i.e. respect for one another).  Until those who break the law are stopped, until core family values are what guides our legal construct, no gun law is going to protect the innocent American when we drop our children off at school, or when we go to a movie, or when we have the courage to make a stand on an issue at a given point in time.  The second amendment gives us the right to protect ourselves when no one else can.  This is something Mr. Tierney or any Democrat or Republican can’t do.  The difference is that a Republican knows they can’t, and respects one’s right of self-preservation, whereas a Democrat thinks they can, but has not a clue they can’t.  Common sense will tell you that to eliminate guns and therefore the violence that comes with it, is to eliminate the need.  I don’t profess this to be easy, but take away a gun, with the need still prevalent will only lead to another gun on the streets or in the hands of someone mentally unstable.  A guiding fact is in the streets of Chicago where there are 40 homicides so far this year and 500 in 2012. Chicago has the strictest gun laws for assault weapons and magazines in the United States.  This is where our President governed and he’s looking to do the same at the federal level.  Commonsense tells us that gun control does not work.  It may be well intentioned, but is misguided.

If Congressman Tierney wants to reduce violence (gun or otherwise) the many choices before, him he can eliminate wasteful spending on projects that do not address critical needs.  Doing so would free money for programs like mental healthcare.  Another way to curb violence is to create an environment where jobs and opportunity become abundant, not hoard hard earned money from Americans through high taxation.  All you are doing is taking people’s money and giving it to someone else without their permission.  We have philanthropy for that. 

America is nearly 17 trillion dollars in debt.  That is you, me, our kids, the family next door.  All of us.  That is $52,830 per person, making my family of four $211,319 in debt. Financial insecurity puts a lot of pressure on people.  These days many families are in desperate financial condition.  Desperate times can result in irrational decisions.

Mr. Tierney.  There are many more ways than I’ve touched upon to solve the growing violence in our country, without compromising the integrity of the U.S.  Constitution.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Yull

Chairman/North Reading Republican Town Committee