Dear Editor: Blatant Misinformation

Dear Editor,

In response to the blatant misinformation in June 8th’s “Letter to the Editor,” I find it interesting the writer is quoting an article by Sally Martinelli that is published in the same issue of the Whitehall Ledger. How did Mr. Johnson know this article would be published? Perhaps the Editor could explain this apparent coordinated attack on our Second Amendment Rights?

Mr. Johnson is using left-leaning and biased Anti Gun organizations, as one of his sources. Right out of the Liberal/Socialist playbook, in an attempt to convince and confuse the uneducated masses to believe their false claims that it’s the “guns' fault.”

A quick Google search of Sally Martinelli and the Violence Policy Center, and you will find their organization has been repeatedly criticized for misrepresenting facts, skewing statistics, and inflating numbers to further their ideological position on gun violence.

Checking another one of Mr. Johnson’s “facts,” the leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 4, 5 to 9, 10 to 14, and 15 to 19, per the CDC and FBI, is still accidental death, followed by abnormalities at birth, cancers, etc. This statistic will not change, no matter how badly anti-gun folks try to manipulate their “facts.”

Mr. Johnson didn’t mention Montana’s statistics, where we have a 6.6 per 100 thousand homicide rate, which represents all manners of death, not just guns. Yes, it’s higher than MA, NJ, and NY, where they have unconstitutional gun laws in place, but those States happen to have higher numbers of unsolved missing person cases, most of which are likely unsolved homicides. Those states also have higher crime rates in every category.

I lived in Boston and traveled to NJ, NY, CT, MD, and DC many times, and I can tell you, that I did not feel safe in many areas of those States. Petty crime to violent crime is rampant. I had friends who were mugged, attacked, robbed, attempted rape, and had their cars stolen in the three years I lived there. Criminals are more emboldened in states where they know citizens can’t carry personal protection. That’s a fact you can be sure of.

Meanwhile, in IL, MD, and Biden’s home state of Delaware, homicide rates are 11.2, 11.4, and 9.9 per 100 thousand, respectively. I guess strict gun laws aren’t working so well in those States. Why aren’t those pesky criminals obeying the dozens of gun laws already on the books?

In Montana, we have one of the highest rates of gun ownership per capita in the Nation. So, why aren’t the homicide rates, where a gun was used, through the roof? In my opinion, it’s because many of the western states are still trying to fight back against the constant attacks of the liberal left, the attack on God and Christian religion, the attack on our moral values, and the Left's attempt to confuse our youth with political and sexual agendas. The attacks on our law enforcement community and the degradation of the Rule of Law. Sadly, America is in moral decline in many parts of the country; it will likely not get better, especially when DemocRats are in power. This decline has resulted in increased crime, and disregard for the law and human life!

Why are crimes being decriminalized, and criminals not being convicted, in states where gun laws are strict? Why are repeat offenders being let back on the streets to re-offend, with no bail requirements? There is a growing list of “what the heck is going on” in these liberal utopias where guns for personal protection are illegal. There is a direct correlation between low gun ownership and high crime rates in these “gun-free zones,” just ask residents in most of the DemocRat run cities across the Country.

The one statistic anti-guns folks don’t want you to know is the number of incidents where a law-abiding citizen with a gun prevented a crime. Why doesn’t the left-wing media report on those stories? Hundreds of lives were saved every month, because law-abiding citizen stood their ground, or protected others from violent attacks. The mass shooting in Texas should be another wake-up call to all parents, teachers, and Administrators, to arm themselves. In the Texas incident, as in Parkland, the local police were not willing to confront the shooter in a timely manner. Law enforcement in general, will not arrive in time to stop an active shooter. It’s up to each one of us to act, whether we are armed or not when a lunatic starts shooting kids.

Passing more gun laws only restricts law-abiding citizens from owning guns is not the answer. Holding criminals accountable for their crimes, with tougher sentencing guidelines, and the death penalty on the table in all 50 States, would help to get this country back on track. Deterrence is the key when dealing with the criminally minded. How did we get away from strict sentencing and enforcing the Rule of Law in this country in the first place? Liberalism, progressivism, “victimhood,” that’s how.

In closing, if Mr. Johnson is so concerned with gun ownership, why are you living in the state with the most guns per capita? Why not prove your point of view by moving to one of the gun-free safe havens in the U.S., like Massachusetts?

Greg Bennatt

Whitehall, Montana

Note from the Editor:

Dear Mr. Bennett,

Thank you for your letter. Mr. Johnson did not know the article would be published...his letter was in response to Mr. Shank’s letter the week before. I put the Sally Martinelli article in trying to keep a balance showing both sides of an issue, as any unbiased newspaper should. This article has been widely distributed through multiple outlets, especially since the Uvalde shootings. Any piece of information in today’s media can be found somewhere on the internet to be “skewed” - unfortunately, that is the way of the world today.

This topic is of note, and discussion should be had; which it seems in printing both items, it has accomplished. Seeing all sides of an issue helps one make an educated opinion.

Please do not assume to know my stance on any issue. I am a great supporter of all of our Constitutional Amendments, especially the First Amendment, which provides everyone their right to express their viewpoint. -E.P.