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Guns, Like Smoke Detectors, Only Needed In Emergency

In reference to your story, Proud, Safe Gun Owners Not Proud or Safe When Names Released, and particularly this paragraph... "Here in Illinois, millions get to work every day without the help of a firearm, including women, night shift workers and people on public transportation. They attend church, college classes and state parks in cars and on foot without feeling the need to carry lethal weapons. Yet gun extremists see danger in all these activities and even in unarmed citizens knowing they're armed. They're so proud and safe as gun owners, they don't want anyone to know."

Millions get to work every day without the help of a firearm? yes, you are correct, but how many are victims of crime? Why not report that stat along with the millions? Yes, the averages are on your side, however, all it takes is ONE time to victimized, just ONE! It's not about how many times you are safe, it's about the ONE time you are not.

How many times do you have a smoke detector in your house or a fire extinguisher vs. how many times you have to use it? So by your logic you should just throw those out and have no worry about a fire. After that, stop putting on your seat belt, you don't need that either, because millions of people get to work everyday without having the need for one.

Publishing the list is a bad thing to do. They did it here in Iowa, death threats, hate mail, vandalism to people's property, why? Because someone has a right to protect themselves. We are not the criminals. I haven't even had a moving violation in 20 years so why persecute us because you are afraid of guns?

I'm not in favor of criminals getting permits, but thats not what this is about, please understand my side as far as that goes. Some of the system might be broke, but publishing the names does nothing to help fix it. All it does is put honest people in jeopardy.

Lets focus on crime, and jobs and worry less about those that are already following the law. Please. :)

Doug Rowan
It's better to have it when you need it than need it and dont have it.