Letter: Reasoning, rational people needed on gun issues

Steve Miller, welcome to our communities.

I hope the transition is beneficial to both your personal and professional life.

I have read your pieces in the paper, and I feel you are very reasonable in both your opinions and the words you use to state them.

I hear and read about the Second Amendment and the "right of the people to keep and bear arms." I have not seen or heard much of the First Amendment pertinent to the "right of the people peaceably to assemble."

It seems to me that there is a conflict between the two amendments, and the conflict is being played out emotionally.

If Sandy Hook, Wisconsin Sikh temple, a theater and high school in Colorado, recently a high school in Taft, or, locally and many years ago, Lindhurst High School are mentioned, one type of emotional response is forthcoming.

Mention gun control, magazine size or assault weapon and emotions of another kind show, and from these responses anger grows, which promulgates yelling out about how wrong the "other guy" is. It appears that whoever yells the loudest somehow thinks they have won the argument.

How do we stop this confrontational language, and start solving the problems facing us? More of something is not always best, and removing all the rights of one group to benefit another is seldom good. There are reasonable solutions, but only if solutions are sought by reasoning, rational people.

The wire of the Constitution has all of us together in the coop, so perhaps we had best unruffle our feathers. I thank you for being one of those reasoning, rational people, and for putting reasonable, thoughtful pieces to pen and paper.

Bob Bush

Yuba City