Austin American-Statesman letters to the editor, May 28, 2023

Cornyn's self-congratulation on Uvalde is

as embarrassing as 'Mission Accomplished'

How ironic that Wednesday's (May 24) American-Statesman headline tells of the futile efforts of families of the Uvalde victims to pass meaningful gun control legislation, while pages later, John Cornyn practically breaks his elbow patting himself on the back for the minimal efforts Republicans took to promote mental health and juvenile background checks.

Tellingly, he is quick to placate gun-obsessed conservatives by noting that these efforts are “not an expansion” of those checks.

His editorial is as embarrassing and self-serving as George W. Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” debacle.

Tom Watterson, Austin

From the editorial to letters to the editor,

Opinion pages deserved special attention

I hope many American-Statesman readers paid attention to last Sunday's opinion pages. The staff editorial pointing out the expensive stupidity of Gov. Abbott's Operation Lone Star deserves special attention. The headline "Barbs and barbed wire won't solve issues at the border" summed it up well. A guest column by President Biden called for Congress to take action on gun violence.  Another column urged efforts to help educate children in low-income, high-minority areas. Marissa Castanon-Hernandez, an Austin teacher, used a sixth grader named Alexia as an example of a student striving unsuccessfully to attend a better school.

The Letters to the Editor touched on six key issues: 1. that both parties should work together to "fix" the broken immigration system, 2. that the legislative effort to ban gender-affirmative care for minors is politically driven, 3. that Abbott says he wants laws enforced but promises to pardon a jury-convicted policeman who fatally shot a demonstrator, 4. that filed legislation to require the posting of the Ten Commandments in schools is "hypocrisy," 5. that a new law penalizing electric car purchasers hurts global warming reduction efforts, and 6. that doctors are leaving a children's hospital because Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy sent letters asking about gender-affirming care which now can threaten doctors' licenses and even imprisonment for them. The letter expressed "horror" that these Republicans "think they can play doctor and tell trained physicians how to do their jobs."

Good writing and good reading, all.

Jim Davis, Austin   

A gun summit is needed for both sides

to hash out common-sense solutions

I was shocked when I heard the news about Sandy Hook in 2012.  Ditto about Parkland in 2018, and so many other school shootings since then.  But last year's massacre at Uvalde hit me the hardest.  How could one shooter kill 19 children and 2 teachers in 77 minutes when more than 350 law enforcement officers were on the scene?

Each time a mass shooting happens, like the ones in Buffalo last year or Las Vegas in 2017, I've declared, "We are all residents of (name that city) now."  Gun violence has become so prevalent, I'm finding it harder and harder to feel safe going to the grocery store, shopping at the mall, or just taking a walk in my neighborhood.  This isn't the America I grew up in and certainly isn't the America I want my grandchildren to inherit.

Prayers and thoughts clearly aren't enough.  I strongly urge President Biden to convene a gun summit at Camp David. It's time members of the NRA, 2nd Amendment proponents, law enforcement officials and grieving loved ones sit down together and hash out common-sense solutions that will help prevent future mass shootings.

Denny Freidenrich, Laguna Beach, Calif.       

It's time for state legislators to grow up

and go to work for the people of Texas

As a native Texan I am embarrassed by our state legislature and the paths they are going down this session. So many misguided attempts to control the smallest percentage of our population. Think book bans, LBGTQ+, drag queens, religion in the classroom and vouchers for private schools.

These matters appear to be driven by the religious right. Unfortunately, they are the ones that need to be legislated. With thousands of people abused by the church and other "religious" institutions we should be adhering strictly to the separation of church and state and stop this nonsense. It is time for the legislature to grow up, stop throwing sand, exit the sand box, put on your adult clothes, and go to work for the people of Texas. In doing so you must drop your baggage and all of the baggage from the lobbyists at the door and do your jobs.

Andy Jones, Austin

The Ninth Amendment should protect us

from invasive attacks on our personal rights

Amendment IX:  The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Why doesn’t the Ninth Amendment in the Bill of Rights protect us from the lawmakers who try to dictate our health care (abortion rights, transgender care, medical marijuana, etc.), stop DEI, ban books and generally control our personal lives?  I don’t see it used to fight off these invasive initiatives into our very personal rights.  It seems that the intent was to prohibit the overreach that seems to dominate the Legislature and Congress. It is short and sweet and seems pretty clear to me.

David Justice, Austin

Legislation levies a tax by any other name

for not requiring Texans to do something

They are still going to get your money - thanks to the Legislature in Texas (led by the GOP) - but they have a very inventive name for this new tax. They are now taxing you for not requiring you to do something.

Texas is currently the only Republican-led state that requires annual vehicle safety inspections. Legislation passed by the Texas House and Senate would eliminate the need for drivers to take their vehicles in for the annual inspection.

House Bill 3297, authored by State Rep. Cody Harris (R–Palestine), doesn’t fully eliminate the cost, however. The legislation would also institute a new $7.50 “Inspection Program Replacement Fee” on all cars in addition to the annual registration cost.

Another tax that they refuse to call a tax.

Melynda B. Caudle, Austin

Like other nations and states, Abbott

would be wise to cozy up to EVs

Gov. Abbott is doing all within his power to discourage the sale of electric vehicles. I would suggest that he look outside of the Lone Star state.

Avass Group, an Australian company, is building an EV bus manufacturing factory in Saudi Arabia that will serve the entire kingdom. This is the country which produces more oil than any other. China is exporting small EV passenger vehicles for under $10,000 to India. TELSA just announced that it sold more Model Ys during the first quarter than any other car in the United States. The governor may find it more beneficial for Texas to cozy up to the EV industry rather than fight it. Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Oklahoma have taken steps to bring good EV-paying jobs to their states.

Earle Mitchell, Springfield, Va.

How to submit a letter to the editor

Send letters of no more than 150 words by noon Thursday by using our online form at https://bit.ly/3Crmkcf or send an email to letters@statesman.com.

We welcome your letters on all topics. Include your name and city of residence; we do not publish anonymous letters.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin American-Statesman letters to the editor, May 28, 2023