A letter I just sent to John Kerry:
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2004 12:32:53 -0700
From: Jef Poskanzer <jef@acme.com>
Subject: gun rights
To: info@johnkerry.com
Dear Senator Kerry,
I am voting for you in November no matter what. George W. Bush MUST BE DEFEATED. So, this letter is not about me - it is about several million other potential votes for Kerry.
In addition to supporting Democratic ideals, I am also a life member of the NRA. There is no contradiction here. I believe in the Bill of Rights - all ten of them.
There is good reason to believe that Al Gore's opposition to legitimate gun ownership rights cost him the Presidency in 2000. It wasn't the only factor, of course - but it was a large one.
It seems to me that if this year's election is at all close - and it sure looks like it will be - you must consider moving to the center on gun rights. Howard Dean had this issue right: leave it up to the states. You don't have to do anything at the federal level. All you have to do is NOT SUPPORT RENEWAL of the federal "assault weapons" ban, which expires this September. The rifles banned by this law never represented a significant crime problem. The law is a failure, deserves to expire, and according to the vote counters WILL expire. And yet President Bush has said that if somehow the law does get renewed by the legislature, he will sign it. This means he is vulnerable on the issue. Why not take advantage of this? Disavow support of the gun ban, position yourself closer to the NRA than the President, and dare the NRA to support your election.
You must get elected. The nation cannot tolerate another four years of Bush. Please consider this suggestion.
Jef Poskanzer jef@acme.com http://www.acme.com/jef/