This is in response to John Weller's letter of Nov. 9 (Swastika, bag disturbing images).

Mr. Weller, you write that you couldn't decide which was most disturbing to you, the photo of a swastika painted on an Obama sign or the fact that your paper came in a bag with an NRS advertisement. I'm disturbed that you can't distinguish between the two.

You write that both stem from the same hate mentality of certain hate elements in Springfield. That is about the most asinine statement I've ever read. A reasonable, sane person cannot possibly believe that everyone who belongs to or supports the NRA is filled with hate and condones painting swastikas on anything.

My father was an NRA member because he was a registered skeet shooter, a sport he took up late in life after arthritis prevented him from playing golf. He wasn't hate-filled, and neither were the friends with whom he shot. It's an expensive sport and most were doctors and business executives who went about their professions. They didn't run around with spray cans.

Walt Friedhofen Springfield