Judith Reynolds’ editorial cartoon smearing Durango Gun Club (Herald, March 24) is unnecessary, mean-spirited and a shame. To portray local gun club members as ignorant, greedy, redneck thugs does nothing to further civil communication our country desperately needs. The club and the city ironed out the issue of required NRA membership in short order. Is Reynolds trying to set the process back?
The fact is members of our local club have provided generations of volunteer service to teach gun safety, backcountry emergency training and other programs benefiting residents, visitors and law enforcement. My experience, from the time I got my hunter’s safety card (circa 1968) to the annual sighting of rifles for hunting season, is the vast majority of Durango Gun Club members are generous with their time and effort. They have prevented more firearm accidents, deaths and shooting vandalism than any other organization in the county by teaching firearm safety and respect as well as maintaining safe firing ranges.
Like most other organizations our area, Durango Gun Club members and the folks who use their services come from all walks of life and political views. Some are NRA members, others are not. None of us see eye-to-eye on everything; but in general, Durango Gun Club members tend to be really nice people who don’t deserve to be portrayed as in Reynolds’ cartoon.
Jack Turner
Durango
