Editor:

Let’s suppose for a minute that Michael Bloomberg means what he says and says what he means. He’s been quoted as saying, “It’s the job of law enforcement to have guns and to decide when to shoot. You just do not want the average citizen carrying a gun in a crowded place.”

Bloomberg is one of the richest men in America. He’s also a polarizing figure who has many enemies. That’s one of the reasons why Bloomberg employs an army of security personnel with guns to protect him wherever he goes, 24 hours a day. Most of those armed bodyguards are undoubtedly retired police officers and former members of the military. But, they are not sworn and active law enforcement officers while protecting Bloomberg and receiving a paycheck from him. They are nothing more than just “average citizens,” civilians who are licensed by the government to carry a concealed firearm in public — including crowded places. They are just like the many thousands of other “average citizens” in America who also possess a government-issued license to carry a concealed firearm in public — including crowded places.

So, if Bloomberg really means what he says, his first order of business is to disarm his phalanx of civilian bodyguards and let law enforcement decide when to shoot. If he finds himself in imminent danger of harm, he can always call the police for help and await their arrival. After all, what could possibly go wrong in a minute or so?

L. Ernie Foucault,

Sergeant (retired)

Kresgeville