Freedom prayer for Independence Day Lord God almighty, in whose name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have the grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA Patty Gordon Carson City The never-ending election cycle Election night my wife and I were excited. Not so much about the results but rather the end of all the attack ads on TV. We looked forward to three or four months of peace and quiet without political ads. We were wrong. Wednesday morning the attack ads started anew. We quickly learned that Sen. Cortez Masto is the devil’s niece and Mr. Laxalt is the devil’s nephew. I wonder what the attack ads would look like if Jesus were to run for office? We are totally disgusted that we have to listen to the attack ads from now until November. It reaffirms my view that all politicians should be limited to two terms: one in the House or the Senate; and one in prison. Ronald H. Landmann Carson City Laws won’t make a difference In response to Martin Fischer’s letter, his contention that over 40% of the Carson City electorate voted Democratic is still a minority. Carson City has been a red city for as long as I can remember. If you are looking for balance and open-mindedness, look for an online political publication. As for gun laws, contrary to popular belief, an AR-15 is not an assault rifle. Jim Hartman was right. Only law-abiding citizens obey laws. The gun laws we currently have are all we need. Those mentally deranged individuals who plan and execute mass shootings sometimes purchase their arsenals legally, and frequently they obtain their firearms illegally. Thus, more restrictive laws would not protect society from those criminals. There are many documented instances were law abiding, gun carrying citizens have thwarted mass shootings because they lawfully carried firearms, and stopped the threat. In Carson City we enjoy a well-trained and responsive sheriff’s office. I am also very happy we have school resource officers in our schools who are trained in active-shooter situations. The recent Supreme Court decision concerning gun laws should make us all feel safer. Only those Democrats who want to disarm citizens in violation of the Second Amendment are wringing their hands in disagreement. They somehow believe that by taking your guns the cities would be safer. However, they do nothing, nor can they, to keep guns out of the hands of the criminal element who don’t get them from gun stores. They are making the rest of us victims. Diane Phillips Carson City Against tyranny Insurrection: A violent uprising against an authority or government. Tyranny: Cruel and oppressive government or rule. In my last civics class the Second Amendment was adopted to protect liberty from a tyrannical government through the insurrection of its citizenry when all else has failed. In 1776 we freed ourselves from a tyrannical king; and royalty in general, through the use of an armed citizenry, which became the American colonial army. The Second Amendment was then created to ensure the retention of our liberty against possible tyranny out of our new colonial government. Founders knew people crave power and tyranny was a way to get it. Robert M. Hellen, Sr. Carson City
