In Sen. Chuck Grassley’s opening statement at the Committee Hearing on the Causes of Gun Violence (Jan. 20), he said: “… millions of Americans fear that the president might take executive action and Congress may enact legislation that could lead to a tyrannical federal government.” In later opinions expressed in a radio interview, he said that the Second Amendment was written to guarantee the citizens the right to bear arms so that they might be able to fight that perceived tyranny. Really?

The Second Amendment reads: “A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”

The amendment was written to provide for the protection of the government elected by the people, not to provide the instruments for its destruction by an unelected collection of individuals with varied grievances, real or imagined. We have the ballot to change our leaders and loyal armed forces to help preserve our liberties. I prefer that any day to an aggrieved mob with Bushmasters.

Kenneth A. Hubel

North Liberty