Sen. Orrin Hatch was on the Doug Wright show this morning. I caught a few minutes of the discussion, and I feel compelled to draw attention to the attitude of our six-term senator, who is supposed to represent all Utahns.
Hatch was discussing the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. He made the comment that those "on the left" want to take away our guns. I found this comment offensive and inappropriate for two reasons.
First, this a polarizing observation. Obviously, we are either on the left or the right. I know that this is a common classification in contemporary American economic and political philosophy, but I would hope that a person who represents all of us would avoid divisive comments like this.
Second, he apparently believes that all persons "on the left" want to eliminate the 2nd Amendment and take away each American's right to own guns. This is nonsense. I have never met a person "on the left" who wants to take away each American's right to own guns.
Those who might be classified as "on the left" only want a little common sense to reign in gun ownership philosophy. It is clear that Hatch is pandering, appealing to the majority of his constituents who would most likely be classified as being "on the right." He apparently has forgotten that he represents all of us, or perhaps he just doesn't care.
Richard Dunie
Holladay