Dear Editor,
Another day, another mass murder by another Muslim, another call for gun control by the left. The latest argument is that we have to keep guns out of the hands of law-abiding American citizens in order to keep terrorists from obtaining weapons. Just like their usual argument that we have to keep guns out of the hands of law-abiding American citizens in order to keep criminals from obtaining weapons. They tell us that the weapons used in the San Bernardino mass murder were legally obtained. Since when are  pipe bombs and IEDs items that can be legally obtained? Why is it that I can’t buy certain over-the-counter medications or “unusually” large amounts of certain everyday household items because they may be used to make meth, but the items used to make pipe bombs and IEDS are apparently widely available? Exactly how easy is it to obtain military tactical gear? Are 30-round magazines actually legal anywhere in the U.S.? And what use is a terrorist watch list if a background check doesn’t indicate that the person attempting to purchase a firearm may be a potential terrorist? What good is it to have a “no-fly” list if known or suspected terrorists are allowed to board any flight they choose? When it is a fact that many of the cowards carrying out these mass murders have either recently immigrated from or visited countries that support terrorism, why are these people not placed on a terrorist watch list? In fact, why are they even allowed to enter or re-enter the U.S.? I mean, when a sex offender is released into the community, he or she is required to register with law enforcement in that community; the offender’s name is placed on an offender’s list that is easily accessible to any member of the public; and the minute a sex crime is committed, law enforcement will be knocking on that offender’s door. Yet we are so afraid to offend muslims that we give them free access to weapons, to public spaces, whatever they want, and when they commit mass murder, we apologize to and for them!  The problem in this country is not that we need more gun control. The problem is that our leaders - and most members of the general population - are gullible enough to consider islam a religion, when in fact it is a political doctrine - like nazism, fascism, communism, socialism, etc. -  with a religious component. Our president insists that we are not at war with islam, a sentiment echoed by democrats and republicans alike. But whether or not they want to admit it, islam is at war with us...with any political faction or any religious faith that is not in lockstep with Islam...and they will stop at nothing to destroy this country and everything it stands for. Instead of attacking the rights of American citizens that are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, our leaders should be attacking the enemy that we have stupidly welcomed into our country.
Sharon McGinness
Larned