The April 15 Tribune titled a picture of gun advocates as “Second Amendment supporters.” The press should refrain from using this term when referring to supporters of status quo gun laws because it implies that anyone advocating gun regulation is anti-Second Amendment. This false NRA argument that constitutional rights are being threatened is designed to inflame gun owners and just serves to deepen the divide in our country.
In truth, supporters of gun regulation are stronger advocates of the Second Amendment than those opposing regulation. As has often been pointed out, the Second Amendment includes the phrase “a well-regulated militia.” This phrase states that the government has the right to regulate gun ownership, which is what the current rallies support.
Contrary to the false NRA argument, the goal is not to take our guns away. The recent rallies merely supported closing the registration loopholes in existing laws and creating regulations concerning the types of weapons that are safe for use in our society.
So, since both sides of the argument concerning guns are Second Amendment supporters, let us forgo the inflammatory rhetoric and get down to the business of making our country a safer place.
Richard Steiner, Salt Lake City