Although I have no association with Alan Gottlieb of the Second Amendment Foundation ("First, remember the Constitution," Feb. 12) and I'm not even a gun owner, I find it necessary to respond to the accusations of J. Michael Malec in his letter ("Founders never implied treason," Feb. 28). This is because I understand the precious value of the choice Mr. Gottlieb defends.
The accusation of "treason" is a foul red herring. The Colonial patriots who fought for American freedom and later supported our Constitution also got this accusation from American Tories.
The Tory leaders promised Americans law, order and security, which they said would collapse without the British, and many were gulled. They would not have been, had they examined the likely motivation for such promises and what the British authorities had actually been doing. Notice the parallel with the modern liberal promise (security) in exchange for more restrictions that never make anyone safer. This hook, if swallowed, only ensures greater dependence on a government that is obsessed with its own security from us.
Americans today understand the patriots who fought for our independence were not treasonous, but then Britain wasn't an occupying invader. Early settlers depended on powerful empires for the goods, raw materials and security that were welcomed, but it came to a point that Britain became more abusive than beneficial. This is why it was called a "revolution," and those behind it were both patriots and revolutionaries.
Those who drafted our Constitution were excellent students of history. The lesson they learned was that no government remains good forever. In truth, most are best for "their people" soon after a revolution.
What do you who read this think of your government today?
PATRICK O'CONNEL
Albany