Letter writer Burnell Petry, in his rather opaque letter of Jan. 11, has charged me with being "subversive" because of my advocacy for a change to the Second Amendment so that we can have adequate gun control.

Petry should have checked the definition of "subversive" before he made that charge. Webster defines "subversive" as advocating the overthrow of a government. In June 1955 I took a commissioning oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. After 26 years of honorable service I retired from the United States Air Force.

Petry also laments the loss of our First Amendment freedoms. If that were true, he would not have the privilege to write his letter. However, he is guaranteed that by the freedom of speech clause.

The same amendment provides me with the right to propose changes to our Constitution by the clause "petition the government for a redress of grievances."

My support of a change to the Second Amendment puts me in the outstanding company of all those who have proposed previous changes and additions to our Constitution. This group includes all those who supported every amendment from the 11th to 22nd, although I would not have been a supporter of the 18th , which caused Prohibition. However, it does put me in agreement with all women and minorities whose rights to vote and have full citizenship are guaranteed by amendments subsequent to the 10th Amendment.

Lee R. Pitzer

O'Fallon