Editor, The Smithfield Times:

Last week at the closing of her letter to the editor (“She supports Emily Brewer”), Helen Eggleston wrote that Michael Drewry’s support of Gov. Northam’s gun ban agenda would leave us “defenseless.” Helen always does an excellent job with her research, but I don’t agree with her conclusion here.

I feel that with the Second Amendment debate, both sides use scare tactics. Yes, the Democrats do have an agenda! I probably agree with Helen on most of her points. New gun law  legislation is now in place in Virginia. Background checks are now required for all gun sales. It is mandatory to report stolen or lost weapons within 48 hours. The one-handgun-a-month policy has been reinstated.

To help prevent children’s access to firearms, this endangerment charge has been upgraded from a Class 3 Misdemeanor to a Class 1. The “Red Flag” law is now in effect in Virginia. If you are shown to be a danger to yourself and others, your weapons can be confiscated, but this action takes an affidavit and a court hearing to do so. It is called an Extreme Risk Protective Order.

There may be other laws. If so, I am sure Helen, or someone will let me know! I think these laws are mostly “window dressing” and will have little or no effect. But if it saves one life, then that is fine with me.

I ask the readers, what do YOU think? The U.S. Constitution declares the Second Amendment “is not to be infringed upon.” There will be a battle in the courts over semiautomatic weapons, and some legislators may want to take our weapons, but we all have our right: The Second Amendment provides the right to defend ourselves! That’s not going to go away. I will be there with Helen and others if they try!

 

Hunter Lackey

Dendron