To the editor:

The article titled, “Tiahrt proviso requires destruction of gun records,” in the Jan. 27 issue of the Journal-World, located at the bottom of the last page of the B section should have been a headline, in bold letters, on the front page.

The essence of this proviso states: “The government will destroy records on gun buyers after one day.” Rep. Todd Tiahrt inserted this paragraph into the federal spending bill that became law last week. Law enforcement agencies including the FBI state that the reduced retention period, from 90 days to one day, makes it harder if not impossible to use the paperwork to investigate or prosecute crimes related to gun sales in question.

I realize that we have become accustomed to this type of ultra-conservative garbage, but between Rep. Jim Ryun’s religious proclamations that have become the most talked-about joke in Washington, and Tiahrt’s NRA allegiance, we Kansans are quickly becoming the laughingstock of the nation. It’s no coincidence that the character Cousin Eddie in National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation” came from Wichita.

I have to believe we have some intelligent people, Republicans and Democrats, left in this state, and it is time to elect new federal House and Senate representatives.

E. Kent Hayes,

Lawrence