I am writing to ask you not to join Mayor Bloomberg's Anti-Gun Mayors Coalition - or, if you have already joined, to resign your membership.

As a voter who maintains an independent mindset, I am bewildered and frustrated when elected officials of any political party or ideology don't want to be "confused by the facts".

For example, I don't understand how some elected officials fail to see the need to balance their constituents quality of life issues with desires for growth and revenue - and the need for environmental responsibility and ethical integrity at all levels of government. They seem unwilling or unable to look objectively at the facts and modify their position to a more "common sense" approach.

The facts, if you take the time to research them, and develop a "common sense" approach based on them, are that guns do not cause violent crime, any more than cigarette lighters and matches cause arson.

In fact, the areas that have the least restrictive laws on gun ownership by law-abiding citizens, also have lower violent crime rates. Criminals are less likely to attack when they know that the victim may be armed and capable of fighting back on even terms!

When the most restrictive gun laws are passed by misguided governments, such as in Washington DC, Australia and Great Britain, violent crime as well as property crimes have increased dramatically, with disastrous results.

American citizens are already being deprived every day of their 2nd Amendment rights to keep and bear arms. Law abiding citizens who are armed are actually an asset to the community and a deterrent to violent criminals. We need to focus on enforcing the gun laws we have against criminals, and allow law-abiding citizens to exercise their rights to own, possess and carry legal weapons in accordance with the law, and to defend themselves if necessary.

I am a concealed carry permit holder, and a United States Army Infantry veteran, 1975-78. I have extensive training with firearms, and my experience is that the vast majority of firearms owners are responsible and law-abiding citizens.

I know it is a cliche', but I am confused as to how anyone can fail to understand that when guns are criminalized, only criminals will have guns! Is that what we really want?

Thank you for taking the time to read my email, and for your willingness to keep an open mind on this subject. After all, how could anyone be against a better quality of life for our citizens, a clean and healthy environment, or the right of individual, law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families in self-defense?

Best regards,

Jay Enterkin
jayenterkin@gmail.com