Reduce tyranny with guns

The letter "NRA protects gunmakers' profits" (July 9) defines the silliness of anti-gun zealots and how little they understand as to what the Second Amendment means to all our freedoms!

The reason our forefathers set guns at No. 2 in importance, right after freedom of speech in Bill of Rights, is they knew that a weaponless citizenry is easy prey for a totalitarian government to take hold and/or criminals to rule!

If only the government has guns or can approve gun possession for its citizenry, it will be and has been abused!

An example is Los Angeles where only 400 people outside of law enforcement have concealed carry permits. Out of the thousands who applied, 99 percent of the denied are good honest citizens, with good reasons. Yet 50 percent of gangbusters/criminals busted in Los Angeles carry guns, illegally, of course, but they know 99 percent of their honest victims are weaponless, waiting for slaughter.

In every area where guns are freely possessed by citizens, tyranny and crime are reduced dramatically. U.S. and world history provides that evidence!

BILL McCARTHY

Modesto