New email from City Attorney.
The following is an email I recieved today from the Henderson City Attorney, and my reply:
I hope you indulge me some compassion. My son finished an internship for Congresswoman Giffords. Gabe Zimmerman was his mentor and he shared an office with Pam Simon. I had to travel to Tucson to be with my son, who although he thinks is strong, was heartbroken. I'm not an expert on this. I know I piss off people every day, without my knowledge. I just want to make sure our staff in City Hall is safe. I don't believe that someone with gun can protect us. Unless you are trained law enforcement or military, it is, in my humble belief, naive to think you will save the day in a crisis. I understand you will post this. In my past as a public defender and as a single parent, I felt compelled to buy a gun to protect my family from a psychopath who became fixated on me.
I think this requires thoughtful consideration. My city council is also worried about our staff.
Btw, the young man who was carrying almost killed the protectors, and not Loughner. Ne was brave enough to say he was glad he took a second, yes a second to think. He may have killed an innocent person.
Ms. Quillin
I have compassion for anyone who is a victim of violence of any kind. To think that somehow the average citizen who wishes to provide for their own protection and that of their family is somehow a danger to the general public or people at City Hall in particular, while at the same time believe that they have the right they would deny others, shows an elitist attitude.
Naïve is to think that only the Police and Military are to be armed (the founding fathers knew better) and that they somehow are better shots than anyone else familiar with firearms. Check out all the incidences of Police “spaying” bullets at a subject because they can’t hit the broad side of a barn. Perhaps you should also be made aware that the courts have ruled that the police have no duty to protect any individual citizen or group of citizens. Also using your theory, how many citizens are actually ex military? I could go through case after case of mass shootings because none of the innocents had the ability to protect themselves.
Quite frankly your personal opinion is of no relevance in this issue. You are an Officer of the Court and are bound to follow the Constitutions of the State of Nevada and the United states, as well as the laws of the state. The laws of the state and these Constitutions are clear. We, the citizens, have the right to keep and bear arms, providing for our own protection. Local governments have exactly NO authority to regulate firearms issues excepting for the discharge there of. If you have a differing opinion then you have the right to petition your government as a private citizen for redress of grievances. You don’t like the law? Change it. Don’t just ignore it. You as an Attorney should know this.
It was my understanding that the “licensed” citizen that you speak of did not even draw his gun, but tackled the attacker. To say that “he almost killed the protectors” and “He may have killed an innocent person” is fear mongering, plain and simple and you should be ashamed of yourself for saying it.
Please advise me when the City Council will be taking up this issue.
TBG
