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Letter: I don’t understand Republican hypocrisy

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Representatives stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in the House Chamber of the Utah State Capitol Building in Salt Lake City, Tuesday January 30, 2018.

I have struggled for years to understand Republican hypocrisy.

I believe I understand the logic that alcohol is dangerous, and I need the state to protect me from me. It’s the same with illicit drugs. And porn and prostitution and sex, as well as abortion. And shopping for a car on Sunday, not to mention being able to buy a new Tesla. Also riding a bicycle without hands. And throwing snowballs (in Provo). I therefore understand why my Republican-controlled Legislature has enacted a myriad of laws/rules to prohibit and otherwise restrict these behaviors, and thereby protect me from myself.

What I don’t understand is why the same logic doesn’t apply to guns, which are involved in hundreds of deaths in this state alone. For some crazy reason, Republicans believe that guns are not the problem. They consider gun deaths and injuries a “people problem,” so we should have virtually unrestricted access to firearms. It makes absolutely no sense to me.

Ken Roach, Salt Lake City