The first point under The Gazette’s Oct. 2 mission statement said, “As a board, we advocate for First Amendment freedoms …” Nothing wrong with that. I don’t know of any newspaper that would feel differently.

However, I wish you didn’t have such a cavalier attitude about the rest of the Bill of Rights, especially the Second Amendment right of private citizens to keep and bear arms to protect their lives and property against criminals, domestic political tyranny or foreign invasion.

For the U.S. Navy and three law enforcement agencies, I took oaths to defend and uphold the U.S. Constitution. To me, that meant all of it, not just the whims dujour of media or politicians.

These people frequently abuse their First Amendment rights to undermine the Second Amendment rights of others. They should never forget that without the Second Amendment to protect them, our rights could soon cease to exist.

Dean Varner

Cedar Rapids