The two letters show opposite assumptions about reality and the role of governments. The NY letter assumes guns are bad, and ordinary citizens should not have guns, because ordinary citizens do bad things with guns. The letter from the 28 states assumes government is subordinate to the people, government must defend the nation, and an armed population aids the government in defending the nation against all enemies. These two assumptions about reality are in direct conflict. [More]
We are, in fact, two countries divided by the fundamental difference of principle on the question: Does the government serve the people, or do the people serve the government?
