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Richard - why wouldn't you agree with banning assault weapons? They certainly aren't the choice of game hunters. I grew up in a hunting family in Minnesota. In fact, my Dad & an Army buddy had a deer hunting farm with 150 acres in northern Minnesota 40 mi. south of International Falls, where my great uncle was game warden. My brother still maintains a hunting lodge near Duluth. An assault rifle would blow a deer to smithereens & will likely cause the deaths of some deer hunters where a hunting accident shot they could survive. We all know the 2nd amendment was not written for today's gun crazy America.

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I agree with you, Richard. I've always been puzzled by gun absolutists who simultaneously genuflect to the 2nd Amendment yet ignore the "well-regulated" part of the 2nd Amendment.

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Thanks, Melissa. If only the “local militia” in Uvalde had been more “regulated”.

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Jun 8, 2022Liked by Julie Gammack

Richard, I could not agree more. The four recommendations would go a long ways to ending some of the gun violence. I have a been a lifelong gun owner and continue. I suspect most gun owners agree with your suggestion.

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Cap’n— Thanks. We both did our share of shooting back in the day! Check out the next posting, “EXTRA, EXTRA for McCcougnahey’s comments at the White House.

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Jun 7, 2022Liked by Julie Gammack

Julie, You and Richrd are a treasure.

Richard belonged to an august book club during your tenure in Annapolis (retired CEOs, entrepreneurs, noted lawyers, retired military, a former astronaut and a former Assistant Sec Def for good measure. The book club continues.

At our meeting last night we naturally discussed gun control measures, given the recent mass shootings. Nobody wanted to repeal the Second Ammendment. Nobody could see significant restrictive measures working but we, representing a broad political spectrum, could agree on the following: universal background checks, waiting periods, assault weapons ban, magazine size limits and no bump stocks.

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Friend, Mike— Loved the Boyz. Give them my best and send them a link to the Potluck! P.S.—If your little granddaughter was any cuter, she’d get her own flag at the U.N.!

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Good, reasonable ideas from a good, reasonable gun owner -- who's also a thoughtful columnist. Thanks, Richard. I was shocked to read this line in a CNN story this morning: "More than a dozen people were killed and more than 70 injured in at least 13 mass shootings this (past) weekend in the United States." It's like we're at war with ourselves! Leaders -- among gun owners and gun opponents, too -- need to step up now. If we don't come with effective remedies soon, I think big public events will be history.

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Chuck—You are spot on with your observation about an internal war. In the “Extra, extra column we just posted, check out a contribution of Gerry Hartung, a good friend from Maryland. He’s done the math and the U.S. is taking gun casualties equivalent monthly to Ukrainians in the Russian invasion.

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Thanks, Chuck. I wouldn’t be surprised that everyone reading this has now caught themselves, when being in a public place—be it a theatre or store or social gathering—thinking for just a moment about what’s my exit strategy if I hear gunshots? That’s a hellava

place for this country be find itself.

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Jun 7, 2022Liked by Julie Gammack

Testament to rational men. We'll be in Storm Lake Saturday. Thanks!

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Great, as always! What is the strategy, then, of including the gun owners in the discussion?

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This is an enlightening article. Fyi. I live in Chicago.

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Thanks, Alicia. Lived for years in Wilmette on the North Shore. There was a city ordinance that you must register your hand gun with the Village. Now with Chicago’s very good mass transit system armed gang bangers have found easy access to affluent neighborhoods such as the Mag Mile or the Gold Coast to disrupt the feeling of “it’s not my problem.” Don’t know about the North Shore…yet.

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https://cedarrapidsgazette-ia.newsmemory.com/?publink=5c471cde8_13484e3. We submitted this letter to Quad City Times, Cedar Rapids Gazette, and Des Moines Register. It was published today in Cedar Rapids Gazette and last week in Quad City Times.

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Good one!

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