I read some half-wit's guest column in the "letters to the editor" section of the Newark Advocate, and couldn't resist a retort....

Here's his crapola:

www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050809/OPINION02/508090327/1014/NEWS17

Typical liberal spew about the evil republicans protecting gun owners.

I wrote a letter and they gave me the guest columnist spot today to reply. Oddly, the only editing they did to my letter was to punctuate it so that there are now several run-on sentences. Ugh, I hate that, but at least they didn't change anything. Here tis:


Gun ownership a fundamental right guaranteed to Americans
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In his Aug. 9 column, Newark resident Rick Bolton cried foul that the GOP has, with the help and urging of the NRA, usurped the power of judges to decide law by granting firearms manufacturers immunity from frivolous lawsuits that blame the manufacturer for the misdeeds of people who use their products. I wonder several things in reading Mr. Bolton's assessment of the situation.

Does Mr. Bolton realize that Congress creates the laws by which the judges must interpret and apply to render verdicts? Let me check my U.S. Government 101. Yes, that's it. The legislative branch creates laws; the judicial branch interprets laws. The Congress is not taking power away from the judges, but merely creating law by which a judge has a clearer understanding of how he or she may render a verdict. This process has been happening in our government since, oh, 1776 or thereabouts.

Secondly, the law in question is long overdue and just. Gun makers should not be held liable for people who use their legal products to harm or injure, no more than Budweiser should be made to be liable for people who drink and drive, or Chevy for providing them the car, or Mr. Bolton for paying taxes to create the roads on which they drove. This dangerous blame game could and would seriously hamper industry, and I applaud the Republican leadership (and some Democrats) for making it happen. This bill does not shield gun makers in any way from making dangerous or defective merchandise. It protects from anti-gun lawyers who wish to sue the firearms industry out of existence when their attempts at banning guns fail, which has been a very open goal of groups such as the Violence Policy Center and their ilk.

Lastly, to clear up another one of Mr. Bolton's completely erroneous claims about the meaning of the Second Amendment, he said that "We are long past depending on militia armies to provide our security. The right the amendment was enacted to provide was not self-protection, as the NRA and their groupies claim."

Nothing could be farther from the truth. In the Federalist Papers, the state debates before ratifying the constitution, and in hundreds upon hundreds of personal papers, writings and public opinions of our founding fathers, it was crystal clear that the purpose of the Second Amendment was for the citizens, the "people" mentioned in the second, to retain military arms not only for the protection of the country, but for the defense of their lives and property from governmental tyranny, both foreign and domestic. Any musings to the contrary are fantasy, or come from a bold revisionist who has neither read the Federalist Papers or any history of this country.

Let me quote someone I respect: "Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence. ... From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurrences and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable. ... The very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference. ... They deserve a place of honor with all that is good" -- George Washington.

Craig Gibson lives in Granville.

That's mighty fine work, you get one extra large "attaboy".

It's particularly annoying that the reporter said that the Second Amendment is not about personal protection in an Ohio newspaper.  Ohio's very own State Constitution specifically mentions self defense as a reason to protect gun ownership.  I love how you ended with the Washington quote, nice touch.  

Very eloquent writing, swingset.

Well said, ,,,, As Slim Pickens said in Blazing Saddles," You speak prettier than a $20.00 whore"

bravo.....bravo....

good work....

Outstanding work!

- PM

Very well said.  Please keep an eye on any continued flurry in the editorials and keep us informed of any retorts and affirmations.

Good job!

What a body slam!!!! Yeah baby!!!

Craig,

I saw the same BS colum and wrote in as well.  But you the man.

Here, I though this thread was going to be a law report for excessive noise.

Excellent!!  Please keep us posted with the replies.  

What a smackdown

You could probablly write for that paper if you wanted to. Maybe an advice column? "Dear Craig"

The skies the limit

Wow.........good job

+ a very big One!
(Hey, I made an inadvertant funny......."The Big Red One")


Good job, Craig!

Quoted: Here, I though this thread was going to be a law report for excessive noise.

Yeah, that column is coming very soon I have a feeling!

Dang Swing, you sure are quite the wordsmith.  I'm sure that high brow writer fits right in in Newark.  By the way the guy is clearly socialist and couldn't care less what the unwashed non-Kool Aide drinkers think.

Great Job Swingset, you came across load and clear without too much name calling, which lays more validity to your side of the discussion.

So many people (read anti's) resort to name calling and stereotyping to get their point across and lose a lot of support in the process.

Scott

Craig,
That was an excellent reply to yet another "half wit" regarding gun control.

Attention seeking, misinformed Half Wits that "just don't get it" will always exist, and in their enthusiasm and zeal, lose sight of the mathematical reality that "half-wittedness" is multiplicative.
Not additive.
IE:
Two half wits dont add up to 1 whole wit.
Instead, two half-wits, multiplied, produce a "one fourth" wit. Two "quarter wits" produce a "one eighth wit". So on and so on, and so on.

Aint the media just great?

Quoted: Very eloquent writing, swingset.

Thats a big fat +1

Bravo Swing!

Quoted: Great Job Swingset, you came across load and clear without too much name calling, which lays more validity to your side of the discussion. So many people (read anti's) resort to name calling and stereotyping to get their point across and lose a lot of support in the process. Scott

I'm afraid that a few of our own ranks resort to the same tactics. It makes us all look like "crazy gun owners" bent on destroying scociety because others don't have the same point of view. The anti's make me pretty mad but I TRY not to go ballistic on them because thats what they expect. Craig you get OUR point across VERY well. We all thank you!

Great job! Eloquent and logical, what a strange combination for a crazed gun nut.

Can I get an Amen brother?

Quite an excellent retort if I do say so myself. I personally would have started off that way, but would have devolved into something less constructive by the end...

Mr. Bolton, Daaammn,you got knocked the *#@&  out!
Great job Mr. Swingset.

Quoted: Great job! Eloquent and logical, what a strange combination for a crazed gun nut.

+1

Good Job swingset.

color me impressed!

Craig,

What day did your column run? I must have missed it, but I'm a couple days behind on reading the newspaper.

Congrats, buddy, Nice letter!

Quoted: Craig, What day did your column run? I must have missed it, but I'm a couple days behind on reading the newspaper. Congrats, buddy, Nice letter!

Ran the 14th, I think.

Good on ya Swingset!


 But I warn you sir, an honest well reasoned approach doesn't necessarily yeild much these days...  I've observed a general trend in central Ohio that the bulk of the citizens like to be spoon fed their opinions by the media, there by releiving themselves of any indepent thought.  Throw in a dash of knee-jerk emotional response without the benefit of reason and the lemmings begin their march to the edge.

 There will always be people that will stand and question the status quo's position and Swingset, you don't stand alone .

  cheers,

   Mike

Hell yea!!!!!Very well spoken.....

Well said!

SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER, BRO!