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Additional Text for the 10/26/04 Alumni Sandstorm 
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>>From: Lora Homme Page ('60)

To: Dean Enderle ('57)
    What you say certainly has merit, Dean, but I think
that the reason that the authors of the Constitution 
felt that it was necessary to include the right to keep 
and bear arms in that document was not because of the 
dangers of the frontier although that was also a primary
consideration in owning a gun. Their experience that led
them to include that right in the law of the land took
place in the dictatorial countries that they were escaping
by immigrating here. All we have to do is look at history,
ancient and modern, and look around the world today to see
that democracy, where it manages to get a foothold, does
not always remain the objective of those in power.
    You're right when you say that we no longer live in a
lawless frontier. However, a highly esteemed Tri-Cities
public school coach who was married and had two children
was stabbed to death (not shot) in Benton City a short
while ago by two kids as an initiation rite required to
join a gang. There are drive-by shootings and break ins
and beating assaults occurring here on a weekly basis and
not just in the poorer parts of the community. But you're
right, it's not a frontier. 

To: Jim Russell ('58)
    I fervently hope that you're right, Jim, that it's
"impossible" to repeal the 2nd amendment. I also pray that
it's impossible to "amend" it. Sorry, but if that makes me
a "fear monger," I guess I'm guilty.

To: George "Pappy" Swan
    Is being heavier than a shotgun like being bigger than 
a breadbox? Pappy, you're right, you wouldn't be able to
"support" me in your reduced state since I'm a lot bigger
and heavier than either one. Of the two, I more closely
resemble a breadbox but I'm not as big as a '57 Chevy yet.
Do you remember the blue that some of them were painted? I
love that color.

Back to fear mongering for a moment.  If the real object,
here, is to save lives, I agree that we should outlaw all
cars no matter their age or color since they kill far more
people every year than guns do.

Lora Homme Page ('60) - Hi ho the dairy'o
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