To all concerned parties:

I recently visited the city of Tucson, having not been there for perhaps 40 years.

After passing through Phoenix (a bit of a shock to one who remembered it quite differently) I arrived to find that Tucson, while having grown considerably, is still a "working-class" town, inhabited by real people with real jobs, problems, and concerns.

I was visiting on business, but since I had a choice of when to visit, I CHOSE TO COINCIDE MY VISIT WITH A GUN SHOW AT THE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. After concluding my business, I visited the gunshow both Saturday and Sunday.

In addition to the accessories I purchased at the show itself, I spent FOUR NIGHTS IN LOCAL MOTELS, ATE 12 OR 13 MEALS IN LOCAL RESTAURANTS, BOUGHT SOME CLOTHING IN A LOCAL DEPARTMENT STORE, DID BUSINESS IN A LOCAL BANK, SPENT SOME MONEY IN THE BIG MUSIC STORE ON CONGRESS STREET, BOUGHT GASOLINE IN LOCAL STATIONS, ETC, ETC, ETC.

Now, I am informed that you are thinking of becoming "politically correct" (as opposed to "spinally erect") and proposing to ban such shows on all city property. BAD IDEA. Not only would you be illegally infringing on legitimate and lawful trade, violating the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States (which you swore to defend), and signaling to criminals that Tucson is a "safe zone," SUCH AN ACTION WOULD ASSURE THAT IN THE FUTURE, INSTEAD OF SPENDING FOUR NIGHTS IN TUCSON, I WOULD SPEND ONLY ONE.

Multiply this letter by MANY others, and you will begin to see that your proposition stinks on ice, is bad policy, unconstitutional, and unpopular to boot. Almost half of all American households are firearms-owners. Can you afford to alienate almost half of your electorate?

The time approaches when those who advocate such (let's be honest) FASCIST approaches will reap what they have sown -- we elected you to office, and we will cheerfully send you off into a well-deserved oblivion. THINK ABOUT IT. Please. . .