TO THE EDITOR:
I was very disappointed to see our Bishop coming out in favor of gun control.
One would think that living in the first and only real free country, as well as the state that founded religious freedoms, he would realize the importance and necessity of the American people's right to bear arms.
Throughout the history of civilization, we have witnessed many tragedies far greater than any tragedy that firearms have inflicted upon the United States of America. The list includes the disarmament of the German populace under the Nazi regime, and ultimate death of over six million Jews for no reason at all, or the 20 million Christians that Stalin had imprisoned and killed after he too took away their right to defend themselves.
It's true that if guns didn't exist or the government didn't have them, they would not be necessary, but it's a greater truth that human beings have a God given right to defend themselves, as evidenced by the Catechism of the Catholic Church which states that everyone has the right to defend his life against the attacks of an unjust aggressor, employing whatever force is necessary.
Sure the peace loving drug users of Peter, Paul and Mary might question the necessity of violence but I believe we need to look further and deeper to the likes of Thomas Paine, who said "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil." The founding fathers and especially those who live in our own state, which could be called the foundation of freedom in this country, recognized this, and thus the right to own a firearm goes far above and beyond that of simple gun ownership. If anyone thinks the Second Amendment is about gun ownership, they have missed the point entirely.
Colin Gauvin
Cranston
