Since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I have read many letters about gun control in general and the National Rifle Association in particular.
Most of these letters have been negative, including one by Jay Summerson ("Where's the novel on NRA's demise?" Dec. 31), who says he can't wait to read the yet-unwritten book on the NRA's demise.
It's my hope and belief that Summerson will have to wait a long, long time. The NRA was formed shortly after the Civil War by a small group of Union officers who were appalled by the lack of safety and marksmanship skills of Union soldiers.
The NRA has gone on to set up safety and marksmanship programs adopted by our military and every law enforcement organization in our country and has been a model for other countries. It lobbies on behalf of law-abiding gun owners such as myself and millions more like me.
Prior to writing this letter, I wrote a big fat check to the NRA to help support its efforts. I'm a political moderate who, like my many law-abiding gun owner friends, knows that the only reason we still have our target and hunting firearms is because of the efforts of the NRA. I'll continue to write those checks, along with other grateful NRA members.
GARRY C. SLYKE
Guilderland