Today we are devoting the letters page to reader response to theessay we published a week ago from Al Salvi, the 1996 Republicannominee for the U.S. Senate, about his reasons for changing hisposition on gun control. The three letters we have received so farsupporting Salvi appear here.
Last October, the Heartland Institute presented its HeartlandLiberty Prize to Al Salvi for his outstanding efforts to promoteindividual liberty. We were impressed by the young U.S. Senatecandidate's call for "less government and more freedom," and for hisinsistence that government's role be limited even on such toughissues as gun ownership.You can imagine our disappointment, then, when Salvi reversedhis position on gun ownership.Salvi blames his election defeat on his support of gun rights.Unlike Salvi, we cannot casually set aside "the intellectualarguments" about the pros and cons of gun control. We know, forexample, that cities and states with gun control laws do notexperience lower crime or murder rates than those without them. Weknow that the vast majority of criminals' handguns - some 93 percent- are obtained from illegal sources, therefore are not affected bywaiting periods or outright bans. More gun control laws wouldn'treduce violent crime.We also know that every year, adults use guns to protectthemselves about 2.5 million times.Salvi says his support of gun rights was inconsistent with hissupport for "family values." There is nothing "pro-family" aboutusing gun laws to disarm single women and families.It is sad testimony to the public's lack of understanding of gunissues, and to mass media's misrepresentation of gun facts, that anintelligent and idealistic candidate such as Salvi must abandonpositions he knows to be right in order to be electable.Joseph L. Bast, president,Heartland Institute, PalatineNo phonyWhen politicians change their minds, they usually come up with aphony "I talked with a victim of such and such and they changed mymind." Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and Dick Durbin, for example, saidthey "talked with victims of rape" and that changed their minds onabortion (and not just the rape exception - the whole issue!)It is refreshing to hear a statesman like Al Salvi lay out theintellectual basis for a change of heart. Not a phony "I read a newstudy," etc., which makes citizens roll their eyes.J. Mellender, GurneeHis faultAl Salvi has chosen to abandon an issue he once described as afundamental constitutional right. However, Salvi's defeat in 1996 isattributable to candidate Salvi's poor handling of a major issue, notto the issue itself.In October, Democrat Congressman Dick Durbin's U.S. Senatecampaign began running ads that featured Ronald Reagan presssecretary Jim Brady, wheelchair-bound casualty of the assassinationattempt on the president, criticizing Salvi's position on gun controland, primarily, the "Brady Bill." The Salvi campaign ignored thisissue entirely until it was too late.Every campaign manager knows it is a fatal mistake not toanswer a serious charge. It was not the issue itself that was thecause of his defeat, but the failure to present it properly. Salvimissed a golden opportunity to embarrass Durbin on the crime issue.Jack Roeser, CarpentersvilleSuch a decent manWhen Al Salvi ran for Senate last year, I couldn't understandwhy he was for assault weapons. He seemed like such a nice, decentman in every other way.I'm glad he realizes now that he was wrong on assault weapons.Rita Gagliano, SchaumburgMedia victimDennis Byrne's columns exposing the media's pathological doublestandard applied against Al Salvi were excellent.I would like to add that when Congressman Henry Hyde changed toa pro-gun control position, he endured a few days of criticism, butin the long run, it only helped him.Doing what is right is always politically beneficial in ahealthy democracy.Jennifer Siwicki, PalatineMatter of trustDo Salvi and his advisers really believe they can wipe theirslate clean with such a superficial statement or that the electorateis as gullible as the statement implies?Why doesn't the Sun-Times pose a Morningline question to itsreaders such as, "Do you believe Salvi is sincere?" Or, better yet,"Can Salvi be trusted not to reverse his position, again, onceelected?"Carol J. Nudelman, GlenviewCredibility shotIt is most unfortunate that Al Salvi has chosen to trample thosewho worked hard for him last year. Trading a pro-gun position for"family values" will cost him far more than 25 percent of hisfollowers. Supporting important issues shouldn't be decided by themere tossing of a coin, or holding one's finger in the wind.If Salvi truly wishes to focus on the "right message," he shouldrun as a Democrat, not as a Republican. Either way, his credibilityis a big, fat zero.Brian D. Pettlon, BolingbrookBy e-mailDream onI've got a bridge in Brooklyn I'll sell to anyone who thinksdefeated Republican candidate Al Salvi would have changed his stanceon handgun and assault weapon control if he had beaten Dick Durbin.Bill Corcoran, BeverlyWe're not dumbWhen Al Salvi ran for office, he was a full-grown man with ahouse full of kids to protect. He firmly believed he was the bestchoice to represent Illinois voters by being a loud-mouthed shill forthe NRA.However, since he lost by being completely out of touch withthinking parents, he has seen the light and is now more than willingto change his spots. Do he and his backers really think voters arethat gullible?P. Roberts, Oak LawnBy e-mailOut of touchWhen Al Salvi ran for office on a pro-gun platform, onesuspected he was out of touch with the people of Illinois. That henow expects we will forget about it only proves the point.Timothy O'Brien,Norwood ParkBy e-mailDesperate man?Salvi professes that he was "wrong about guns" yet does notprovide us with any reasons as to why he feels this way. He referstwice to people not needing intellectual arguments concerning hispositions on gun control. He actually believes that instead we wouldprefer to listen to his vague and self-serving comments?Why has he changed his position so radically? Could it be thathe is so desperate that he will say whatever he thinks it takes to beelected? Then, like far too many politicians, once he is safely inoffice he will revert to his true colors and be the darling of theNational Rifle Association, dancing to their tune.Helen Cuprisin,Evergreen ParkBy e-mailStay home, SalviEntering the Senate race after this "change of heart" will onlyserve to help re-elect Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun (D-Ill.)Stay home, Salvi.Michael D. Turay, Crete
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