I want to personally thank Rep. Pritchard for doing the right thing by voting against the outrageous handgun bill that was defeated in the Illinois Assembly. Second Amendment rights are the most misunderstood rights Americans have. Unfortunately, many fear what they do not understand.

Contrary to the lies spouted by many groups such as [Illinois] Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, cutting off a “supply” of guns only hurts those wishing to buy them legally.
Does anyone really think a criminal cares if he obtains a gun legally or illegally? A criminal already wishes to break the law, and breaking another gun law is no skin off his or her back. If he or she wants a gun, they will find means to obtain one. Taking away a means for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves only emboldens criminals because they will know the populous is weakened and vulnerable.

Also, I wish to address the concerns of Mary Aurich when she states, “There is no need for someone to own 23 firearms.” Oh, no? Last time I checked, this is still America, “Land of the Free.” The Second Amendment gives me the right to own 100 firearms if I wish. Frankly, I don’t think it is any of her business if people own multiple guns, and I feel her ignorance toward Second Amendment rights rather pretentious and hollow.

Once again, thank you Rep. Pritchard for standing up for Second Amendment rights and American civil liberties in the wake of a horrific tragedy here on my beloved NIU. Your judgment and clear-headed thought process is refreshing in the shadow of emotional knee-jerk reactionaries. It is often through tragedy that we lose our freedoms. I’m glad at least one American politician knows this lesson.

Paul LaLonde
Graduate student

Editor’s note: Paul LaLonde is a former Northern Star columnist.

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