I was not pleased when President Trump was elected in 2016. I wrote in for Ted Cruz, because I believed he was a true conservative and a man of character. I was ecstatic that Hillary Clinton lost.
I will vote for President Trump in 2020. During his time in office he has shown incredible insight into what needs to be fixed in order to restore America to a sustainable condition. We were in decline. Now we can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Further, President Trump’s personal comportment has improved during his presidency. He is still flamboyant and egotistical, but he seems to have set aside the moral failures that marked his past.
Consequently, I have been very supportive of the president. I agree with the overall direction he has taken. I urge the U.S. Congress and others to support his policies. I ask that we the people vote for senators and representatives who will support President Trump. However, I am not following blindly. Just as with everybody else, there are times when I disagree.
At the G7 conference in France, President Trump has suggested that Russia be invited to the next conference, to be held (I believe) in the United States. With all the greatest respect for the Russian people, I oppose Russia’s return to the G7; until their government stops fueling the ongoing civil war in Syria by their support of the Assad regime. They should not return until they guarantee that they will not intimidate or interfere in the internal affairs of Georgia and the Ukraine, the countries of Eastern Europe and the Baltic States; and until they allow the people of the Crimea to determine their own destiny.
Secondly, I oppose the creation of a Space Force as a separate branch of the U.S. military. The Air Force currently has a Space Command, which should be expanded instead. There is already too much competition between the services, which has wasted resources and interfered with the conduct of joint operations. The third principle of war is “unity of command,” and a new branch of the military will only disrupt that further. Our adversaries have begun to militarize outer space. Our task is to find the most efficient and effective way to defend ourselves against it.
I am as saddened by the recent tragedies in Texas and Ohio as anyone else. I reiterate that I will support any law that will help prevent “gun violence” … as long as it does not infringe the right of law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms.
I am opposed to background checks that would create an additional record, directly with the government, of which citizens have purchased, or attempted to purchase firearms. We already have background checks, which can be expanded to screen for persons who are dangerous to self or others. If you prohibit the “Prozac Nation” from buying guns just because they are taking “happy pills,” you will have to prohibit half the country from owning guns.
One more thing. In Colorado, when the Democrats gained control of the executive and legislative branches (2012) the very first thing they did upon taking office in 2013 was to pass restrictive gun laws. The requirement for background checks was expanded to include any time that a gun changed hands, regardless of whether it was purchased. In theory, if I lent a friend a rifle so she could go deer hunting, we would be breaking the law unless we paid a gun dealer to run a background check. The law also complicated giving guns as presents or the ability to inherit Grandpa’s shotgun. This my friends is an abuse of power and a denial of Americans’ constitutional rights. Those who want to do away with the Second Amendment need to amend the constitution. Oh, but they don’t have enough support for that! I am worried that President Trump might lose the votes of gun owners if he gives ground on restrictive gun laws, which could cost him the election. Those of us who support your vision for America, Mr. President, would hate to see that happen.
