This landed in my email last night after 10pm. It is an apology for one of the impromptu speakers at the Pontiac meeting last week. (More on this here.)
Eloquent, sincere and well-written. I replied and asked if he minded if I reprinted it and he agreed.
It took courage to write this.
Mr Boch,
I wanted to take the chance to thank you for welcoming me to your Guns Saves Life meeting in Pontiac. I saw some familiar faces from the community and appreciated the handshakes and friendly discussions before getting starting.
I am not a prison staffer and do not wish my comments to negatively affect the men and woman who work behind the wall.
I am a private business owner and real estate investor.
At 26 I’m dis heartened by the current state of Illinois politics and economics.
Paying over $100,000 dollars in taxes this year alone and now having my 2nd amendment under attack it seems leaving this state would be my best bet. However I haven’t gotten to this point in my short life by running away from my problems. I am in a constant pursuit of becoming a better young man. Many times falling and picking myself back up.
Fueled by my dissatisfaction with the our overreaching government and also to be fair your seemingly condescending remarks to me at the beginning of the evening, I’ll be the first to admit my public comments were hastily, poorly spoken, and I should thicken my skin.
I wanted to walk out after my comments. I was the first to wish I could have taken them back and honestly, I was embarrassed. Afterwards I was approached by some fine gentlemen who took the opportunity to teach me and correct my speech. I looked them in the eyes and took it on the chin. Also reading your blog wasn’t easy, but I took the comments shared against me on the chin as well.
I want to take a brief moment to clarify that I’m not speaking out for sedition or anarchy in any way. When I said we should be gathering at the Capitol I was insinuating we hold a lawful and peaceful protest or Gun Rally. I know in my passion and at face value this is not what I said. I would advocate we make sure to go about it in a professional manor. We have seen the people of Virginia protest peacefully, picking up garbage as they left.
Though a fine expression of principle I understand politics has a way of complicating the application of such principles and I have read your blog disagreeing with such protest.
I will say this.. We have an overwhelming passive and apathetic populace. We are mostly sitting ideally complaining about tyranny. Guns saves life has been a thorn in the side of Illinois politics, however something isn’t working.
I do believe we can do more.
Mr Boch. There seems to be a generational strife between us. I would like to do my part to again apologize for my comments. I can’t take back what I said or how I said it but it truly was not a great representation of the man I am or hope to become.
There were wiser men in the room that night and I appreciate their words of encouragement and advice.
I cannot say I will be back, ultimately I would respect if you preferred I don’t return. If I was excepted back I would come for information and not as an adversary to you.
Ultimately I believe we are stronger together and are fighting for the same common cause.
I intent to learn from this and become more informed, knowledgeable and of course speak in a more professional and productive manner.
I hope this email is well received and I wish you and Guns Saves Life nothing but the best.
Thank you for your time!
God Bless!
Kyle
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