Dear Mayor Beutler,I am writing to express my concern regarding your affiliation with Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG). On the surface, MAIG seems to be innocuous and of good intent. I believe this is what has drawn in so many mayors. However, one only needs to scratch the surface to see the insidious intent of this organization.By simply noting the names or the two co-chairman, it is obvious that their intent is to limit gun rights. Mayors Bloomberg and Menino have made repeated attempts to severely limit people's rights under the Second Amendment. A perfect example of their ridiculous organization is the misleading information they present about Mexico's crime issues. Not only are their facts skewed, but they actually think that Mexico's problems should be a reason to deny our citizens of their rights under the constitution. Mayor Bloomberg has been doing his best in New York City to discourage responsible citizens from having any form of self defense in their home. The fee for a handgun permit is $340, which means only the wealthy law abiding citizens can own a handgun. Meanwhile the criminals buy their guns on the street and bypass the fee to the city government. Is this really an effort to keep illegal guns out of the hands of those with ill intent? No...this is simply an effort to keep guns out of any and all hands.With all that these two mayors do to restrict law abiding citizens, how can you with good conscience be part of a group organized under the guise of a public service when its true intent is to limit the Second Amendment?
Thank you for your note of earlier this month regarding the Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) initiative. I apologize for my delay in responding.I respectfully disagree with your characterization of this initiative. I simply do not believe its intent is to limit Second Amendment rights. I have attached a copy of the "Coalition Principles" to which all signatory Mayors were asked to agree. I do, in fact, agree with these principles.I certainly respect your opinion with respect to the Coalition co-chairs, Mayor Bloomberg and Mayor Menino. I , however, am persuaded by ideas, not people. And , again, subscribe to these "Coalition Principles," as opposed to any particular actions these co-chairs may have taken in their local communities.Thank you again for your e-mail.Sincerely,Chris BeutlerMayor of Lincoln
I certainly respect your opinion with respect to the Coalition co-chairs, Mayor Bloomberg and Mayor Menino. I , however, am persuaded by ideas, not people. And , again, subscribe to these "Coalition Principles," as opposed to any particular actions these co-chairs may have taken in their local communities.
Ask him what these "principles" are, exactly.I looked them up.http://mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/principles.shtmlThere is no way to implement any of these with out national registration and more laws criminalizing failure to register. Without registration, which I will never stand for, this is abunch of feel-good BS.
Mayor Beutler,Thank you for your written response to my email. I too have to respectfully disagree with your response. While your intentions may be good, my assessment of MAIG and its founders is spot on. I will refrain from saying you are guilty by association, but at the very least it casts a dark shadow on your reputation. These so called principles you have taken an oath to uphold are nothing more than a push towards state or federal gun registration. This is what the MAIG's founders believe in and are intent on doing through this organization.If you see gun registration as a legitimate goal, you do not have a grasp of our countries history or the recent decision by the US Supreme Court stating that the Second Amendment is an individual right. Another consideration is the fact that, while the populace of Lincoln is much more liberal than its rural counterparts, the majority of homes have legally owned firearms. As such, there is strong support for uninfringed Second Amendment rights. Regardless, gun registration is not only an affront to the constitution of this country and our state, but it is also a proven failure. Canada's gun registration that was implemented has run over budget and been proven to have no effect on crime.I will assume you are entrenched in these flawed beliefs laid out by MAIG which leaves me no choice but to vote for your opponent in the upcoming election.
