Dream born to end the fight
Born in an age ruled by slavery, shackled to chains in the land of the free, chased by dogs and hanged in the streets, yet freedom's eternal spirit wouldn't keep.
Dark shadows running through the night on an underground journey hastened by fright. Fleeing a white dragon's vengeful wrath, praying to escape by the railroad's path.
Conquering armies heralded their freedom train, but a war-torn dragon continued to reign. Huddled together, hiding at night, fearing those men in sheets of white.
Brave hearts united and freedom's song they sang. Races embraced and liberty rang. Black power rose to challenge the white dragon's might and a dream was born to end the fight.
James Claffey
Orofino
Guns don't commit crimes
The mass shootings at Sandy Hook, San Bernardino, Orlando and Dallas were all committed with semi-automatic rifles. By definition, assault rifles must be capable of fully automatic fire. These are rifles such as the M16 used by our armed forces. Semi-automatic rifles, handguns and shotguns have been used for sport, recreation, and yes, even self-defense by millions of law-abiding Americans for more than 100 years. Nonetheless, the far left will continue to perpetuate the misnomer of "assault" rifles being the No. 1 choice of criminals and crazies, once again using the leftist tactic of the deliberate, calculated lie. Of course the mass media (largely controlled by the far left) is more than happy to perpetuate, I repeat, this deliberate, calculated lie. Factually, even correctly labeled semi-auto rifles are used in only a small percentage of crimes, according to FBI uniform crime reports. "Gun free" zones are nothing more than alluring bait for terrorists and crazies. The courageous principal at Sandy Hook charged the shooter in an attempt to save her students from harm. She was shot dead in her tracks. I've no doubt she would have willingly violated the Sandy Hook "Gun Free Zone" law to be in possession of a firearm that horrible day to exercise her God-given and Second Amendment rights for self-defense. She could have saved herself and those innocent children from that monster. I'm still awaiting the first conviction of any rifle, handgun or shotgun for any crime.
Rick Richardson
Elk River
Questions intelligence
It is done.
The kamikaze party has nominated yet another ethically challenged incompetent.
John Kerry's incompetence was roughly equivalent to Her Highness's bumbling, but on lack of ethics she leaves him in the dust. Mrs. Clinton was once called the " smartest woman in the world." If she's so smart, why does she get in so much trouble?
Her only positive is name recognition. And as most people vote for familiar names, she may become the next president.
Alas!
Bridger Barnett
Clarkston
Supports gun owners
I guess I'm addicted to reading the Letters to the Editor in the Lewiston Tribune. I really enjoy the writers and some, like Bob Williams, are good at making their points and expressing themselves very well. But Bob, do you really believe that lawbreakers are going to turn in their guns even if they are financially reimbursed for them? When we pass laws that require turning in your guns, only criminals will have guns.
There is good reason for the Second Amendment to our Constitution. It was important then and even more important today with our borders quietly being breached by those who would destroy our country, our people and our freedom. Private gun ownership is a threat to no one except the criminal. Criminals fear the gun ownership of the families on your block. The fact that a criminal has no assurance that the average family may be armed is a strong deterrent to the criminal. May God bless the honorable gun owner. Personally, I feel good about our Second Amendment and the safety it provides to families like mine.
Norman E. Bartlow
Pomeroy
