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Good timing. I just received this via email today. Maybe it's time to start letting them know what we think of them...

June 15, 2002, 11:47PM
To our readers

As part of the Chronicle's commitment to make the newspaper more responsive to readers, the newspaper is beginning a reader representative program.

Veteran Chronicle reporter and editorial writer James T. Campbell will serve as the reader representative. In this position, he will hear out those who wish to compliment, comment or complain about the newspaper's coverage.

Campbell is a Houston native and graduate of the University of Houston. In his 14-year tenure at the Chronicle, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to the city, the newspaper and its readers.

Readers can reach Campbell during normal business hours at 713-220-6303. His e-mail address is readerrep@chron.com. Send mail to: Reader Representative, Houston Chronicle, P.O. Box 4260, Houston, Texas, 77210. He looks forward to hearing from you.

TELL THE CHRONICLE WHAT WE THINK OF THIS MORON AND HER WACKO GUN THEORY.

Here's what I just sent the Friendly Reader Rep, and my thanks to my ever-informed FReepers for some of my data!

Miss Woods is absolutely, totally, stunningly wrong. She's so very wrong that one has trouble deciding where to start.

First, our officers have died not because Texas lacks gun laws, but because the federal government does not uphold the gun laws it already has.

Second, Texas voters have no ability - legislative, physical or otherwise - to "take these gangs' firepower away." I invite Miss Woods to investigate the fact that when the crime rate rises, anywhere in the civilized world, the rise was preceded by a decline in private gun ownership.

Third, what the BATF reports about our gun-show frequency has nothing at all to do with home invasions. I invite Miss Woods to canvass gun-show attendees; if after asking 20 people, she finds five unemployed, I will eat my hat. (As a corollary, I would note that gun buyers at shows still must produce Form 4473 at the time of purchase; ergo, there is no such thing as a no-questions-asked transaction at a show.)

Fourth, background checks at gun shows have nothing at all to do with home invasions. I invite Miss Woods (again) to visit with some inmates who have been convicted of home invasions and ask where they got their guns; if any procured one at a gun show, I will eat my boyfriend's hat.

Fifth, I question the premise that the National Education Association and the League of Cities are "good company," given their socialist proclivities.

Sixth, mandatory background checks at gun shows demonstrably do NOT have any of the effects Miss Woods claims. I invite Miss Woods to read John Lott's excellent book, "More Guns, Less Crime."

Seventh, the fact that some poll somewhere reflects Miss Woods's agenda is irrelevant. Finally, I invite Miss Woods to peruse Darrell Huff's classic "How to Lie with Statistics", and I promise that even for her, it will be an easy read.