Letters: Don't 'relax'

Since the Battles of Lexington and Concord fought over gun control, Americans have been protective and touchy regarding their right to keep and bear arms. Since that historic battle, hundreds of thousands of Americans have given their lives to preserve that and other constitutionally-guaranteed rights and freedoms. Wayne LaPierre (NRA executive vice president) often says that our rights and freedoms are just words on a piece of parchment paper unless we continually defend them.

Yes, even here in the U.S., tyranny can be "just around the corner" if we "relax" and become complacent ("Gun owners relax," March 6). (Recently, citizens of New York State lost some gun rights and are now subject to gun registration for certain previously-legal firearms because of an unanticipated, quick and sneaky move by state officials that many of us in Utah would consider tyrannical.) Things can change quickly and dramatically in politics (just ask New Yorkers). Please forgive gun owners for not relaxing. Forgive us of "paranoia." I would rather be accused of paranoia than be blindsided, like New York gun owners were, or worse, be like Mexican, Australian or British citizens who were relaxing when their gun rights were taken. No, we should not relax.

Richard Turner

Heber City