To the editor,

The Journal’s recent edition displayed the happy faces of young and old, male and female hunters who have helped maintain a sustainable deer population, having fun and providing food. Please understand that millions of Americans have high-powered rifles, most of them repeating arms (either manually or mechanically chambering a round – a cartridge and bullet). They are proud of their firearm, shoot for sport and/or food, lock up their firearms, and present no actual threat to others. They provide the basis for what the Second Amendment calls “a well-regulated militia.”

Rifles with removable magazines (which store extra rounds) and full hand grips (allowing more comfort and better aim) are used by many hunters (one is pictured in the Journal). Of the thousands of military-like weapons in use during hunting season nationwide, next to none are misused, and even accidental deaths are amazingly low. Americans, including your neighbor, can be trusted. They do not need a psychological test before purchase, a background check when they buy ammunition, a government license to trade their firearm, and should not be targeted and put on watch lists for owning one.

But these measures and more have been suggested and are on the books in our free America. Pro-gun sentiment bumper sticker, a sign on the front lawn, your picture with gun and deer in the local newspaper, a session with a psychologist, retirement from the military or police force, a signed letter like this one – these have and can mark a person as “dangerous” as decided by animal rights extremists, vindictive spouses, those who have not been taught to fear both firearms and their neighbors who own them. All it takes is someone to report a neighbor as a threat and under “red flag” laws the possible becomes factual – no due process.

A firearm owner will have to pay dearly to get back firearm(s) and Second Amendment rights, Under the recent Democratic administration (the part primarily, though not solely, responsible for “fear guns and gun owners’ sentiment”) the Department of Justice launched the National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center. The smiling faces of successful hunters likely are now archived, post 911 watchlists multiply, and records centralization makes confiscation simpler – perhaps only an executive order away.

This is not the kind of America that makes sense, is just, is even common sense. Guns are good, so are your neighbors. One wonders how long we’ll see pictured their innocent, happy faces with guns and deer

Bruce F. King

Prescott