I was a little intrigued by Mr. Hayward’s point of view on his Second Amendment rights, but my curiosity was soon overcome by fear! Is he serious?

First of all, we no longer exist in the days of minute militias, and the National Guard is far removed from that category.

The National Guard is a highly trained fighting force, not a bunch of ranchers and farmers picking up shotguns and marching into war to defend their homes.

Personally, I’m not sure that a high percentage of hunters would pass Army physicals. But at any rate, the idea that it is a citizen’s duty to own and operate firearms at home is, frankly, scary and very misguided.

People of this opinion may be candidates for membership in some militia, albeit not one with the security of the Union on their mind.

But my intent is not to degrade hunters, who I know on the whole are very responsible, but simply to inject some reason into this argument.

I don’t necessarily think the Second Amendment needs to be repealed, but there needs to be some distinct clarification of its purpose. National defense, I’m sorry to say, is not part of that. I don’t have a problem with people owning guns, but the type of guns that they can own is a large concern.

To hunt, regardless of what other people may say, does not require assault weapons, or really even semi-automatic weapons, unless you’re hunting rabid elephants.

To the true sportsman, I think a bolt-action rifle, pump shotgun and revolver will suffice. Some people will also say that it is their right to have a gun to defend their homes.

This is, I suppose, still a matter of some concern.

I don’t support citizens using vigilante tactics, but if you feel you have the right to blow away anyone who tries to break into your home, I think that you can injure them sufficiently with the less severe weapons I described before.

One justifiable situation, I guess, would be if a group of terrorists were attacking your home in an attempt to steal your stockpile of weapons! If you have that problem, I guess you’d better keep packin’ . . .

Anthony G. Hooper

Senior

Biology