LETTERS: BUSH WILL GO TO BED WITH NRA TO GET THE MONEY

To the editor:

I recently received two political information letters from the National Rifle Association. The second one had a John Ashcroft bumper sticker inside and referred to Al Gore and his buddies as "traitors."

The first letter was more interesting. It had a photo of Charlton Heston. The current political race is as important as the election of Abraham Lincoln, Heston says in the letter. He bases this premise on who gets to pick Supreme Court justices. It seemed like a strange example to use.

If the NRA had been active during the Civil War, it would have been down South fighting for states' rights against the incursion of the federal government. Heston wouldn't have appreciated Lincoln's emancipating the slaves and then arming them in Yankee uniforms.

President George Bush renounced his NRA membership a few years ago. His son, running for president, will take NRA money but doesn't want to be photographed with Heston. I guess they both hold their noses and get into bed together.

PHIL PATTERSON

Scott City, Mo.