Editing 75-19-B3 (section)

= Gun Laws, Drug Laws =

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=== Transcript ===
Sometimes I wish I could do more than just give a viewpoint. This is one of those times.

I received a letter I'd like to share with you. The writer was commenting on my stand against so the many proposals for gun laws. As you know and have heard me say I don't believe anything will be accomplished by making it harder for honest citizens to own guns. I do believe we could do much more with stiffer penalties for those who are convicted of using guns in the commission of a crime.

But that isn't why I want to share this letter with you.

Following the comment about gun laws the letter reads; “I am a 19 yr. old female. I know a lot of—as you call them—thugs, drug pushers etc. I have participated in a lot of their activities since the age of 11—when I was strung out on Heroin.

Right now I, like so many others can buy any gun illegally for a small price. The gun laws will not change this. These guns are obtained through B.&amp;E.’s,” That means breaking and entering, “robberies and other illegal means. The honest folks are the only ones who wont be able to obtain them. I feel I am an expert on criminals having been exposed to them for so long and believe me if they are high and have a loaded gun—they’ll use it without any rationality.

The decent folks need to protect themselves at all times. I guess I wouldn’t be writing this except one of my best friends just murdered her husband in a fight—she loved him”—here the letter was a little difficult to make out but she seemed to indicate drugs were involved so that her friend was irrational at the time.

She closed saying, “Drugs have made my generation lose their perspective. At 13 they are just as dangerous as the worst.“ She again commented on my view on guns (and then talk about a generation gap)—revealed she hadn’t respected adults since “the ripe old age of 6.”

And went on with these final haunting words, Stricter drug laws are needed—maybe one day if mey were changed I'd be able to change too.”

She signed it “Anonymous and yes I am ashamed to sign my name.”

I wish she had signed it for it haunts me like a child's cry in the night. And I’m afraid it will go on haunting me for a long, long time.

This is Ronald Reagan.

Thanks for listening.

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=== Details ===
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<TR><TD WIDTH="150">Batch Number</TD><TD WIDTH="150">{{PAGENAME}}</TD></TR>
<TD>Production Date</TD><TD>10/01/[[Radio1975|1975]]</TD></TR>
<TD>Book/Page</TD><TD>[[Radio_Commentary_Books#Reagan.27s_Path_to_Victory|RPtV]]-50</TD></TR>
<TD>Audio</TD><TD>Yes</TD></TR>
<TD>Youtube?</TD><TD>No</TD></TR>
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===Added Notes===

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