I am writing in response to Pete Johnson's article "Still Legal," which was printed on Monday March 20th in the Collegian.

I also saw the episode of "48 Hours" that confronted the problem with assault rifles in this country.

Unfortunately this program did not show the public how anti-gun organizations are twisting the facts of the semiautomatic situation in their favor.

Along with military style assault rifles, these organizations are trying to add all sporting semi-automatic rifles and shotguns to their lists.

Due to the lack of facts and an excellent propaganda program these organiztions are gaining support from the uniformed citizens of this country.

It seems Mr. Johnson has jumped on the anti-gun bandwagon by making ludicrous statements that "semi-automtics serve no useful sporting purpose" and the unbelievable statement that "semi-automatics serve only the purpose of killing more people in a shorter period of time."

If Mr. Johnson would have researched his topic, he would have found that thousands of people use semi-automatic rifles and shotguns for the purpose of hunting and competitive shooting.

There is no way that a semi-automatic shotgun plugged to the maximum three round capacity or a rifle with a five-shot magazine can "SPRAY" 30 rounds in four seconds.

It is true that there is a problem in this country with incompetent people obtaining military style semi-automatic firearms, but there is no reason for law abiding sportsmen or collectors to suffer because of the actions of a few.

The Constitution guarantees the rights of an individual to own firearms if he/she chooses -- this right must not be taken away.

The banning of semi-automatic firearms will serve no purpose except taking these items away from the responsible gun owners of society.

More complete screening for firearms purchases and harsher punishment for people convicted of illegal firearm sales or using them to commit a crime should be imposed.

If semi-automatic firearms are banned it will prove to be a feather in the cap of anti-gun lobbyists and a stepping stone toward the removal of all firearms from our society.'

I wrote this letter because I am a gun owner and a member of the National Rifle Association and believe my rights and the rights of fellow sportsman also should have fair representation.

Mr. Johnson made a statement that supports the rights of people who own firearms (either conventional or semiautomatics), if forbidden weapons of war (such as hand gernades) are easily available to people from illegal sources, then so will semi-automatic firearms.

If this is the case the end result will be that law abiding people will lose their ownership rights of these firearms and the criminal faction of our society will flourish with them!