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This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Secondary line of defense

Anti-gun extremists, from Shawn Vestal to Sen. Chuck Schumer, need to acknowledge several incontrovertible facts.

First, Americans view the Second Amendment as sacrosanct and inviolable, just like the First Amendment. Millions of Americans use AR-15-style rifles safely and responsibly.

It’s said that America’s gun owners constitute “the largest standing army in the world.” It’s my view that these “citizen/soldiers” provide a secondary line of defense for our nation. And, the AR-15 is the ideal rifle for this modern militia.

In a column for the Washington Post, Marc Thiesson wrote, “Disarming law-abiding Americans won’t make us safer. And neither will politicizing a tragedy like the one we just experienced in Las Vegas.”

Curt Stone

Dayton

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