Editor’s note: The letters and emails that I, Dennis Dalman, received were certainly not “imagined,” and they were, in fact, filled with precisely the vicious remarks I quoted or paraphrased in my column. The hate and the barely veiled threats were aimed at me and at anyone else who dares question this deep-seated and rampant gun adoration.
I am writing in response to Dennis Dalman’s rather one-sided opinion piece published Feb 8 entitled “More guns are not the answer.” I was prepared to read an article about actual facts about why he thinks “more guns are not the answer,” and it was only an intellectually dishonest series of selective submissions of his true or imagined hate mail from “gun worshipers and ultra-right survivalists” (all terms used in the article). Needless to say, I think a different article from a different writer would have been better selected for meaningful dialog and commentary on this issue. If this is just the “Dalman Opinion Page,” it should be labeled as such.
Now I can imagine he might get some heated correspondence from people who hold opposing viewpoints. I, for one, am rather level-headed and I often find Dalman’s opinions insufferable, condescending and with an undeserved sense of smug self-righteousness. What is most insulting is his allegiance to an obvious agenda thinly veiled as some sort of reasonable commentary. Are we so dim-witted we are supposed to think people who disagree with Dalman (none of which signed their names!) are violent right-wing extremists who listen to scary “hate-radio personalities?” I would like him to actually name and point out the “hate” part, but he would never name any names or list actual facts or figures so he can use illogical passions and scary terms like “assault weapons” and we are supposed to be pliable enough to not need to dig any deeper. I mean come on, to doubt Dalman might make you an “angry gun-lover” or “gun hugger.”
Having a healthy distrust of government or insisting they legislate in true transparency does not make you an extremist. Wanting the government to stay out of my business from healthcare to cigarettes, from guns to the size of my Big-Gulp does not make me “paranoid” and having a gigantic difference of opinion with Dalman will do nothing to lessen my standing in the Central Minnesota community. Dalman, I do not want to give away any more freedoms I have to and I do not appreciate your intolerant commentary and childish labels on my pastimes and interests that are important to my family and heritage.
ajzulkosky@hotmail.com
Commentary on your opinion piece. Feel free to publish in whole – do not edit.
Feb. 9, 2013 10:31 a.m.
