The above headline for a letter to the editors of the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era is strikingly clear in its message. The entire letter from Samuel B. Nelson of Mt. Joy follows.

TO THE INTELL EDITORS:

“In the words of Ronald Reagan, “Well, there you go again.” Indeed!

“Here we go again hearing the same tired drivel from the social progressive left about how we somehow will stop deranged killers and violent career criminals by banning a particularly shaped piece of metal.

“If guns cause crime, then pencils misspell words, cars commit accidents and spoons make us fat.

“Here’s a news flash: It’s the criminals, stupid.

“If we can we at least agree that crimes are committed by criminals and not by inanimate objects, then we are on the way to a solution.

“Unfortunately, the social progressive left gun banners want to keep the focus on the inanimate object. Why? Because in their world, no one is responsible for their actions.

“The left teaches our children that it is OK to fail as long as you feel good about yourself. They think a child should be allowed to sue his/her parents and get an abortion without telling them, yet we won’t allow the next child to pray while in school. They tell people that it is the government’s responsibility to take care of all their needs. They tell people that drug addiction is a disease and not a poor personal decision and lack of self-control.

“The left denigrates Christians and rails against the NRA and the Second Amendment, yet stands staunchly behind the First Amendment saying that violent rap music, movies and video games marketed to young people is somehow OK.

“The bottom line that the left does not want to hear is that it is actually culpable in this latest tragedy. It is the left’s misguided vision of American that has led to the moral decay and lack of responsibility in our society, and that decay has created a caldron that produces gangs, career criminals and deranged killers.

“I got it! Let’s ban gangs, drugs, prostitution, alcohol and all sorts of firearms. Ooops, we tried that. Bans don’t work, do they? In fact, they actually cause more of the crime and violence they are intended to solve. That is a fact that has been proven time and time again. It is time to hold people harshly accountable for their actions.

“Lastly, your lead editorial on Wednesday (July 25) stated that there is no logical reason for anyone to own a 100-round magazine. I do not own a 100-round magazine yet. But if I were an inner city resident surrounded by gang violence, you can bet I would own one.

“Also, based on their writings, our Founding Fathers would almost unanimously disagree with your assessment. Their reason for the Second Amendment had nothing to do with hunting, target shooting and only slightly to do with personal protection. Their primary purpose for the Second Amendment was to ensure that the people had the ability to overthrow a tyrannical government. The Founders wanted the citizenry to have access to any and all weapons.”

Samuel B. Nelson, Mount Joy