New legislation does not restrict gun rights | Letter to the Editor

I find myself unable to resist the necessity to rebut the talking points of the anti-Obama right parroted by J. Buss ("With current president, our country is less safe," Jan. 6).

January 13, 2016 3:03 pm

I find myself unable to resist the necessity to rebut the talking points of the anti-Obama right parroted by J. Buss (“With current president, our country is less safe,” Jan. 6).

Some years ago, George Orwell, the noted criticof ideological nonsense commented that,“political language is designed to make lies soundtruthful…and to give an appearance of solidity topure wind.” Contrary to NRA-sponsoredpropaganda, not only has Mr. Obama not madeany attempt to, in the words of Mr. Buss, “restrictgun rights of law abiding United States citizens,”he did sign into law a major extension of gunrights in 2009, just five months after takingoffice. That law, mostly opposed by Republicansand passed by a majority of Democrats, allowedcitizens to carry weapons in national parks, whichrestriction was ironically signed into law by theiconic right-wing hero Ronald Reagan. I have yetto hear of any restriction on gun rights sponsoredby Mr. Obama.

Secondly, the president did not “refute” ISIS as claimed by Buss. He did, however, rebuke ISIS,an entirely different thing. In his statement before the Paris climate talks, the president rebuked,i.e. “expressed sharp disapproval” of their actions and declared that the civilized nations of theworld were meeting in Paris in defiance of the terrorist attacks to deal with an important globalchallenge. Perhaps some would prefer that he stay at home, cowering in fear of “radical Islamistterrorism.” However, he and other world leaders chose to show resolve, carrying out theirleadership roles by thumbing their noses at the Islamic State attempts to cow the world withnihilistic violence. As another courageous world leader, Germany’s Angela Merkel has said, “Fearhas never been a good adviser, neither in our personal lives nor in our society.”

I am saddened by those who denigrate the ability of our security personnel to carry out the incredibly difficult job of protecting our nation. Those 10,000 Syrian refugees are going to betrickled in over a period of two years after exhaustive efforts to vet their bonafides. Will theprocess ever be perfect? Probably not, but then what process is? While Canada takes in 25,000Syrian refugees, will we whimper in fear of 10,000 mostly women and children fleeing for theirlives? As one who spent my working life teaching children the virtue and wonder of America, Icertainly hope not.