After the shootings that took place in Colorado, Wisconsin and in Chattanooga, Chattanooga mayor Ron Littlefield comes out swinging and attacks many of our freedoms as citizens of this great nation. Due to space, I can only comment on the red flag issues that he brought out. I reference the article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012; page F1, under “Flawed Laws.”

In his first paragraph, he states that because of the Wisconsin shooting at a Sikh temple, he thought of Satyendra Huja, mayor of Charlottesville, Va., a city planner turned politician and a Sikh. Until this incident, I was so proud to live in a country where an individual clearly identified with a minority culture and religion could lead a city so closely tied to Thomas Jefferson and the history of our democracy.

He brings out the shooting of Chattanooga Police Sgt. Tim Chapin, which took place at a local pawn shop. The person that allegedly shot the officer was himself a convicted felon and a fugitive. The shooter was accused of trading pistols for a M-4 rifle at a local gun show illegally. The trader at the gun show has been arrested, as Littlefield comments.

Littlefield brings out information about physicians that he said was going on, a story of how there were protective measures that have been put in place to identify and deter people from trading on multiple prescriptions.

Littlefield brings out that he is a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a coalition of 700 mayors across the country. He brings out there are loopholes in state and federal law that allow for no background check on private gun sales.

Littlefield also says that we should go further and require enhanced regulation of other dangerous inventory. Littlefield says he strongly agrees that the Second Amendment protects our rights.

Littlefield asserts that National Rifle Association members and gun owners agree that we should require a criminal background check before every gun sale. Littlefield goes on to say that all private gun sales should have background checks before anyone can purchase a firearm.

Now that I have mentioned what brings up red flags for me, let’s look at these issues a little closer. Mr. Littlefield mentions that he was once proud to live here. I find it so small of U.S. citizens making such comments. I didn’t shoot anyone, did you? Maybe Littlefield would be happier living in another country where he can be proud once again. I would be glad to share his plane ticket price to Iraq or Afghanistan.

The death of officer Tim Chapin was a disaster, plain and simple. How do felons build up a rap sheet? This is where time could be spent wisely by Mr. Littlefield. What are these people doing out on the street?

It’s time we as a society quit putting up with those around us that do nothing but live like hoodlums and killers. The answer is not more gun control; all this does is disarm a society of free people. The biggest problem I read and hear about in our country is about illegal drugs and gangs. The war is being waged against the citizens of the U.S., not those that sell and manufacture the drugs that are distributed to those that will purchase their poisoning product. I know right now that there are places located in Chattanooga that I would not knowingly visit or drive through, in darkness or daylight because of the presence of gangs, prostitution and drugs.

This country of mine that I love so well has many underlying problems that have arrived here from other countries. I remember when Castro of Cuba was laughing it up many years ago during the Carter administration, about opening up their prisons and turning loose their killers, rapists and all of the other non-desirable people that were living Cuba. I do know that many who did migrate here were decent people, but we only hear about the misfits that came along also.

I still love my country. It is not the country that is bad; it is those that live among us with intent on bringing down America.

Mr. Littlefield, my only advice that I could offer you would be to stay away from your buddies in the coalition. Try and deal with the drug and gang issues in your own city. I have also thought of a novel idea: maybe you should see what the good people of Chattanooga want you to be working on, before working on state and federal laws.

NRA members do not support the registration or background checks of all private gun sales by individuals. I am not representing the NRA as a representative; I just happen to be a member of the organization and know what we stand for, and it is not gun control. What you bring to the table Mr. Littlefield is not in any way new. This is the same tactics that have been used for many years. The end results are total confiscation of guns in America.

I would like to take this time to give honor to Tim Chapin, a veteran police officer for more than 27 years. I do stand behind our citizens that do such a demanding and dangerous job. Thank you for a job well done.

Roger Sherrill lives in Ringgold. He can be reached at tandemjumper@catt.com.