John Edgar
Stafford
Published: April 23, 2008

I take offense at the blatantly anti-gun attitude demonstrated by the item, “The bad…Va. Issues 60% More Permits for Guns” that recently appeared on your editorial page. It should have read, “The good…More Virginians are taking responsibility for the defense of themselves and their loved ones.

Despite its growth, Stafford County is still a largely rural area — the last time I had the occasion to call the Stafford County Sheriff for assistance, it was over 20 minutes before a deputy arrived. So there is more than a grain of truth in the saying that “when seconds count the police are only minutes away.”
Despite the “blood in the streets” outcry from the anti-gun crowd, if you had bothered to examine the record you would have found that concealed weapon permit holders do not commit crimes with their firearms. Permit holders are among the most law-abiding citizens in Virginia. They must pass a criminal background check and receive firearms training.

To the contrary, across the United States the crime rate has gone down in areas where citizens are permitted to carry concealed firearms. It makes the gangbanger think twice when he’s selecting his next victim — except of course if he picks a “gun-free zone” like Virginia Tech.

God, not the state of Virginia, gave me the right to defend myself, my family and my home. Having a firearm is the only way that a frail, 80-year-old grandmother is going to be on equal ground facing a 250-pound 19-year-old thug intent on doing her harm.

John Edgar
Stafford