Letter writer Sid Williams' basis for believing individuals have no right to own firearms, but only the people, is unsound.

Our First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people [plural] peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." By his reasoning, I just committed a crime.

Current anti-gun legislature amounts to nothing more than a fancy confiscation scheme, except those our government deem "safe." Our Fifth Amendment states in part, "nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use (or destruction) without just compensation."

We became a unique nation by our Bill of Rights, as no other nation did this. The British violated every single one of them. Countries exist today in which the people have no basic rights. Would any of us like our country go the same way?

The British troops marched on Concorde and Lexington to conduct a house-to-house search for firearms without any warrant. They were not there to look pretty.

We keep going, only the crooks and schnooks in office will have the means to rule us. Only our dates and technologies have changed since our beginnings, not the people.

There is evil in this world and I don't depend on our government for everything.

Mike Stiern

Mascoutah