To the Editor:

In a recent letter to The Smoky Mountain News a retired military man stated, “Among all the other abhorrent and anti-American acts Comrade Beijing Biden and his cabal are perpetrating is endeavoring to take all firearms away from law-abiding Americans.” Later in his letter he refers to “… this unprecedented act.”

This is a reminder of how little legislation has been enacted to regulate guns in the last 25 years. Readers, look this information up for yourselves. Don’t take my word for it. Don’t believe the NRA’s propaganda either. Biden is not going to “take all firearms.”

The writer focuses only on the second part of the Second Amendment and omits the first part. The entire amendment states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”  Contrary to what the writer states the amendment does not provide absolute gun rights. If it did, why even include the first 13 words?

To those who want to protect gun rights as provided in the Constitution this ex-sailor will stand with you. Will you stand with those who want a “well-regulated militia?”

Dave Waldrop

Webster