Spencer, when you have an intruder in your house, you see things in a different light.

Perhaps the writer of the letter can look at all of the poor people of Zimbabwe lined in front of the U.S. Embassy today pleading for asylum. They could die tonight while you sleep in your air conditioned bedroom.

Sure, we all have a right to dissent. I believe that such a public protest shold be thought out and measured. To state we are at the same level or lower than the goverment of that country is nothing more than throwing the same tantrums my child has when I say there are no cartoons. She thinks I am mean when I do this. Is she correct because of her feelings? No. Neither is someone who makes such a child like statement that illustrates the lack of thought put into the subject.

Oh, yeah, I loved how he suggested that someone could be prosecuted for killing a burglar with a gun when they should have bought a taser instead. Do some people actually sit up nights and try to dream up new crimes with which they can charge their fellow Americans??? Cheers, MGM

Did you read the piece by the learned professor on the op-ed page tody where he wants us to trade our guns for a tazer so we won't hurt the bad guys. That's like taking a knife to a gun fight. The only thing worse is taking nothing at all, which is what the anti-gun people want.

If the anti-gun types don't want to own a gun, they don't have to-but they should't be so shocked when they are pleading for thier life with some scumbag who doesn't care about the law to begin with. Maybe he'll let you live and maybe he won't. The Police can't protect you, all they can do is take the report and a descripton-maybe they'll catch him, maybe not. On the other hand, those of us who HAVE a gun and know how to use it can meet our adversaries on pretty equal terms because we have the means to defend ourselves and fight back. Our neigbors have nothing to fear because the only time my gun will be used is in the gravest extream. To the Pizza parlor owner who used his 9mm to defend himself, I offer my compliments on his marksmanship and the public service he performed by eliminating a criminal who would have only cost society more than he was worth. Let's file that one under DSAF-Did Society a Favor

I didn't write that anyone had to leave, or even that I thought they should, I simply said that if the writer was ashamed of this country, he could go someplace else he thinks is better. Not all countries allow you to do that.

Though I am pretty much tired of people like Alec Baldwin saying that they will move to France if a Conservative gets elected, and then never leaving.

I see lots of things I would change in this country myself, and I speak and write and work for the things I think would make the country better. But I never claim that because the country isn't exactly what I think it should be that I am ashamed of it.

XXJoxx is right. And I am sure that in each of the examples he gave there were people who said, "If you don't like it, leave." Do you really believe that those who were involved in these causes were not viewed as "denigrating" and "maligning" their country? Did that make those dissenters unpatriotic? We look back now and say those were causes that were just and worthy of protest /dissent. I wonder how posters on this site would have responded to the grievances of these earlier dissenters had they been around. Having said all that, I don't agree with the letter writer's comments anymore than I agree with the equally silly if you don't like it here leave comments.

Second Ammedment equals right to own guns which also means a person does not need to buy one. A anti-gun person does not have to fear a law abiding citizen with a gun, but a criminal with one is a problem. Take back the Second Ammendment and the criminals are the only ones with them outside of the military and police. Taking guns from law abiding citizens will not reduce gun crimes in this country.

xxJoxx, Mr. Tabor was not referring to someone who disagrees, but someone who obviously doesn’t have the deep appreciation for the country in which he/she lives. There is a HUGE difference. When you and I disagree, as in this point, I won’t tell you to go packing to a locale of your choosing (although that might be in my mind). However, if you make a ridiculous statement (like Mr. Bolander did) that essentially denigrates and maligns the country in which he reaps his prosperity; it is looked at as “biting the hand that feeds you”. In that case, I would say as the good Mr. Tabor said – Pack your bags, you are free to leave if you don’t like it here.

There is one common and interesting characteristic that many of the folks who believe that we are the "laughingstock" of the world have, and it is that they are all HERE! This country is not stopping you from leaving and finding your Utopia elsewhere! We'll even take you back when you figure out that you've made a mistake! As for the gun argument, this is getting old. As my dad used to say, locks only keep honest people out. Well, gun laws only keep honest people "out". Sadly, I believe that there are too many simple minds on this issue. The argument against guns is like arguing that cars kill people, not drivers.

So if we don't agree with things here we have to LEAVE? How can you support that line of reasoning with a straight face? Why didn't the framers just go to Mexico? Why did women assert their right to vote and not cut and run? Why did minorities need equality when they could have just gone to Liberia? What a country you would have without any opposition.

Yeah, good idea. They seem to do just fine w/ machetes. I'll put the first $20 in the hat for a collection for your plane ticket. Cowboy? Defending yourself from an armed robber is acting like a cowboy? This editorial is indecent and further affirms my belief that if anything gets us laughed at, it the fact that the VP seems to pick the most outlandish letters to publish for visitors to read. They think we all think like this.

...for posting drivel such as this. Mr. Bolander obviously hasn't a clue why we have a Bill of Rights, why the Second Amendment is important for control of the government and how the application of the Second Amendment saved several lives that night.

You mean the laughingstock that most of the people of the world would immigrate to if they could?

Or the one in which people don't vote because they are lazy instead of the ones where voting wrong gets your village burned?

If you are so ashamed of this country, why not emigrate to one of those advanced ones like Zimbabwe where you won't have to worry about your neighbor having a gun in his hut?