Letter from an angry reader

[Grayfox]

Even though its now 28 years old, this article is still just as relevant today as it was then.
Originally written as a response to an anti-gun article (Fifty Million Handguns) which appeared in the April 1981 issue of Esquire Magazine, it so impressed the editors that they used it as their cover story for the September 1981 issue.
A bit long, but well worth the read.

Article Here

[NFrameFred]

Excellent and even more pertinent today.

I have often said it, but like so many other things in the cacophony of shouted opinion these days not many people seem to understand past the depth of floor wax: one of the most insidious faults of people with liberal views is they tend to live in the world as they wish it was, not as it is.

You can pretty it up with all sorts of high-minded good-sounding well-meaning words and intentions . . . but make no mistake - we are talking about those who do not know and understand making law and policy for those of us who must live in the world as it really is, not as we wish it was. To think otherwise is myopic and foolish.

It is not mere political divisions and honest differences of opinion on the best way to spend money or solve problems - it is a basic disconnect with reality and a danger to our very safety, lives and liberty.

In the sense of what we are discussing here, personal safety, responsibility and the freedom to obtain and use arms for self defense, a liberal view that these things are dangerous to a free society and must be controlled strictly or done away with has to be viewed as a mental disease characterized by a slavish adherance to denial of the truth.

I'm through preaching to the choir here . . . and the infected will not listen. Let's hope the fence sitters do . . . .

[Andy Taylor]

Very well written.

[cincinnatijim]

Wow! This was really well written. I printed it out to show my wife and friends.

[armybass]

Now listen to me a minute. The guns themselves don't cause all this. What causes it is that people think they can have the American dream by sticking someone up for it. They think that there ought to be a huge equal society out there. Equal shares for everybody. Forced equal shares if necessary.

Brilliant!

[Wheelgunner840]

I recall reading this some time ago. Very well written, and as pertinent today as it was then.

<span class="ev_code_RED">I looked at this guy and at his companions and at his knife, and I thought: Don't you see how you're misreading me? I am not a victim. I used to be a victim, but now I'm not. Can't you see the difference?</span>

There are many important thoughts revealed in this article, but this one stood out. The fact is that the criminals have the liberal left doing their work for them. The lefties continue to try to disarm the law abiding, and the criminals just keep taking their chances. They get away with crime more often than they are stopped. The odds are in favor of the criminal thanks to our own appointed/elected officials.

WG840

[m1gunner]

Good letter.

The only difference I see between when it was written and today is this could be any city in the US today, not just LA.

[Joni_Lynn]

Very good, thanks for posting it.

[Indiana George]

Thanks Grayfox. I enjoyed the read and will pass it along .

[Jack Flash]

I recall reading this some time ago...

Me too. I did not read Esquire back then, but somehow read that article when it was written.

I had gone through a similar transformation from my years of living in the city of Detroit. I had gone there (from Ann Arbor!) with many misconceptions about why crime exists. I learned in Detroit that there are many people who are criminals because they want to be.

The point of this letter is that when you live in a high-crime area, you get a much different view of the problem and the solution than if you are safely insulated far away from thugs (like a law professor in a Chicago university, for instance.)

[george minze]

I had never heard or seen that article but is it on the mark. I'll say so. with all the e-mailing going on right now it would be a service for that article to make the rounds. Very well written. Sadly we are being trained to be victims. Our justice system is ether broke or overloaded. We look for the government to do every thing for us. Can't happen. Obama's Utopian view of what is right and what is wrong with this country is full of worn out European ideas that don't work there and sure as heck won't work here. It is time we (all of us) Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Independent take our responsibilities seriously or our country will just become another footnote in history.

[beach elvis]

Written almost 30 years ago, eh?
S'pose things have gotten better or worse since then?

Here in C-bus, 75 cops just got laid off. If I was one of the mutants, it'd be, "Hey awright! Teacher's in the smoking lounge!"

Until your a** is considered to be as valuable as the almighty dolluh, the times will indeed be, "interesting".

[danski]

I remember that article very well.

And just like today, the antis said "that's all
very well and good but we have to have common
sense gun restrictions." Their meaning--they still wanted to ban everything they possibly could.

[Smithfan]

The point of this letter is that when you live in a high-crime area, you get a much different view of the problem and the solution than if you are safely insulated far away from thugs (like a law professor in a Chicago university, for instance.)

Or even if you don't live in a high crime area, these days.

And the plain fact is, those in Congress and in the upper reaches of government will always live in the safety of gated communities, surrounded by body guards and driven wherever they need to go in chauffered limos. Unlike the rest of us.

Bill

[sammi357]

wow.

and Nframefred, powerful observation.

[jrm53]

This will be in style 50 years from now and just as important as it was in 1980 when it was written self defence will never go out of style.

[perrazi]

fabulous article. right on target. good enough reason to remove those types of people from the gene pool. infected is right.

[Jack Flash]

It would be interesting to know what the letter's author (Chip Elliott) is doing today, if his thoughts have changed, and if he still carries a 9mm.

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I recall reading that article at the time. What is it now-30 states have "shall issue" CCW laws?

[pawncop]

I also recall this article and sharing with friends back then.

It remains so very relevant and until we, as a nation decide to truly confront evil will remain so.

[BarbC]

I would like to see impossibly tight gun registration laws, but I secretly scoff. Anyone who's honest can get through any registration process we can come up with. Anyone, who's not honest won't bother. The way guns get into the criminal underworld is that they are stolen. That makes registration a useless exercise.

Also just as true now as it was then.

Excellent article.

[Doc Nonverbal]

Thank you very much for posting this. It was an excellent read!

[Gary]

Excellent. I have tried hard over the years to understand the thinking of an antigunner. They seem to have a pathological hatred of guns. I can think of no other reason why they can see people become victims of the most horrible kinds of violence and continue to oppose them defending themselves.

[jkc]

Great post! I remember reading this when it was first published, and being much impressed that was published at all, much less in Esquire, as well as impressed by the author's pragmatic approach to the travials of urban living. If only more people thought like this, and "refuse to be a victim."