Bird's response was a distortion

Dear editor:

Interesting letter by Jim Bird. I haven't seen that much distortion since the last "State of the Union."

Gotta give him this much, though, he at least had the moxie to put it in LTE forum, where he had to use his real name, rather than hide under a blog handle like a lizard under a rock. He's wrong, but has the right to say what he wants because astonishingly, we still have freedom of speech in this country, in spite of the continuing attempts by this administration to squelch anything that opposes its communistic agenda.

Bird has as much right to his opinion as I do, and I support that. And he also has the guts to say who he is. You have to admire that much, no matter which side of an issue you're on.

However, I do not support bad manners nor any attacks on our Constitutional rights, rights that came at the highest price that could ever be paid.

Two days before Bird's letter, some 83-year-old crank with the social manners of a goat entered a place of business and started yelling at me about my gun rights. And I don't mind that, OUTSIDE. Eight decades of life had obviously never taught him that you do not barge into the conversations of others, and common decency would have it that you never start a tirade like that in front of women. The guy had no class at all.

I personally think it's frustration and maybe a bit of November panic starting to emerge on the left. You know when you've screwed up, whether pride will allow you to admit it or not. They made their "statement," they've had their dance, poked their sarcasms, but it's coming back around and they've been reduced to blame and denial.

One of the blog trolls keeps spewing about "marching practice." Don't plan your calendar lady, "marching PRACTICE" was over about three years ago.

"I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend with my life your right to say it." Hmmmm, wasn't it the LEFT that used to chant that? Today they use the IRS as their own silencing gestapo and send goons into newsrooms.

But that's OK Bird. Go for it. I've always had a certain amount of respect for those who are up front with you. Even in Vietnam, the North Vietnamese Army would take you on out in the open, opposed to the Viet Cong, who hid in spider holes and behind families in villages. I give no credence to blog trolls, nor ANY degree of respect to those who would trample on what our founders gave to us.

In real world 2014, no mall, school, movie theater, restaurant, public park, playground or sports arena is safe anymore. If a man doesn't want to carry a gun, that's his business and his right. When he seeks to outlaw MY rights, then it becomes MY business. Until I've committed some dastardly crime, it's NOBODY'S business.

And it's just that simple. Don't forget to vote early and often.

-- Mike Bradbury