To the editor:

As your neighbor, I strongly encourage Illinois not to allow the concealed carry of handguns. You see, we allow concealed carry here in Indiana and criminals know it is a bad idea to attack a Hoosier because they just might wind up looking into the barrel of a gun. This customarily makes criminals nervous and less willing to ply their destructive trade.

By refusing to pass a law that is similar to ours you let the bad guys know it is still safe to continue to do their evil deeds in your state. This naturally encourages our rapists, muggers, mass-killers, white-sheeted bigots, gay-bashers, and anti-Semites to leave us and go to Illinois. The mass exodus of our criminal element from here to there will help ensure the continued well-being of all the citizens of Indiana, even those who choose not to carry a handgun.

I particularly want to thank the liberals for their eager willingness to openly encourage all those who would oppress the weak to come on over to Illinois. We will certainly do our best here to also spread the news to the Hoosier criminal element that, while Indiana citizens are allowed to legally shoot them, Illinois citizens are defenseless lambs, ripe for shearing.

I realize this isn't of much comfort to Illinois folk who may be victimized by these vicious predators, but your citizens can find comfort in knowing that we really do appreciate their willingness to make themselves available as easy targets of opportunity. If it saves just one Hoosier life, it is worth it.

Rick Sxxxxxx
Crown Point, Ind.