This was just too good not to post. From a fellow VCDL member:
To: Mayor Gavin Newsom
City Hall, Room 200
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Dear Mr. Mayor,
I have attached a news story regarding an incident in San Francisco that
occurred yesterday, August 29th 2006, in which a madman with an SUV went
on a killing spree, and ultimately mowed down 14 innocent people on the
streets of that great city. I am writing you to ask you to join with me
in taking action, because when things like this can happen, our laws and
those responsible for making and enforcing
them have clearly failed us. The current laws are clearly
inadequate for the purpose of keeping us and our children safe.
I am writing you to suggest several legislative efforts that I believe
must be undertaken as soon as possible to prevent further
carnage:
First, I deeply believe that the automobile industry must be held
ultimately responsible (and at least civilly if not criminally
liable) for this horrible tragedy that took place yesterday in San
Francisco.
Automobiles are responsible for more deaths in this country than any
other single cause. This man was driving a large, inherently dangerous
SUV. While using the SUV as it was designed to be used, which is to
create motion by means of rotating its wheels on a paved surface, the
deaths of 14 innocent people resulted. No reasonable person could
conclude that an object designed to be so large and move so fast could
be intended for anything other than to kill.
Second, we must hold accountable not only the manufacturers, but also
anyone who would sell an automobile, particularly an SUV, to any person
who may have a criminal past or who might be mentally unstable and might
use such a large, dangerous object in the commission of a crime. The
indiscriminate selling of automobiles must end.
Third, we need to insist on mandatory criminal background checks and
waiting periods for anyone who wants to purchase any new or used
automobile, and restrict the possession of automobiles to law
enforcement only in all major cities and other high crime areas, such
as San Francisco. We must end sales of automobiles between private
individuals.
Fourth, we must also determine if there are any "car show loopholes,"
and work to close them immediately.
Fifth and finally, SUV's, which are a kind of automobile that are big
and scary looking and therefore have no legitimate purpose other than to
mow people down in the ghetto, should be federally regulated and banned
for sale to anyone who is not law enforcement or who does not have a
federal automobile dealer's license.
Although I am a resident of Virginia, I will stand with San Francisco's
governing officials and offer any support I can in your fight to ban all
automobiles from the City of San Francisco, so that your administration
can blaze the trail for the rest of our great society, and so that your
children do not have to grow up living in fear. We can only hope that
one day, we can all live in a world without automobiles. Until that day
comes, I sincerely hope you will accept my help in this fight, which is
ultimately a fight for world peace. Let's put an end to the madness!
My Thanks and Gratitude,
Jack H.
Springfield, VA
