Gun violence is a cancer in America and it will continue to spread if left unchecked | Opinion
Do something!
“More than 1,000 pay tribute to Maine’s mass shooting victims on day of prayer, reflection on tragedy,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 30)
Maine is looking for answers to the recent gun massacre. Well, they should look no further: There are about 400,000,000 guns in the U.S., and apparently no way to keep them out of the hands of the wrong people. It’s as simple as that! Any questions?
The state of 1.3 million people were “stunned” at what happened. Why? Gun violence is a cancer in America and it will continue to spread if left unchecked. No community is safe. It’s good that Maine’s Department of Public Safety is opening a center to offer help and support for victims. But would it be too much to ask that within the center there be a spot set aside for concerned citizens to gather and draft letters demanding that their senators and congressmen do something?
I recently saw a bumper sticker that said “Thoughts and prayers aren’t bullet-proof.” Amen!
Joseph F Grady
Placerville
The common factor
“More than 1,000 pay tribute to Maine’s mass shooting victims on day of prayer, reflection on tragedy,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 30)
Sadly, many mass shooters are emotionally unstable (though not all of them are). However, finding and curing those afflicted, hoping that will solve the problem, is completely unrealistic. If only one person out of 200 was dangerously unstable, we would have over one million people to find, diagnose and cure — an impossible task.
If, miraculously, we were able to find all potential killers, our laws do not allow confining a suspect before a crime is committed. Many potential killers are undetectable; how often have we heard neighbors or co-workers say, “He seemed like an ordinary guy.” Many killers are quite sane and purposeful. Furthermore, some very ordinary people go “over the edge” because of overwhelming stress or an intense provocation.
There is, however, one common factor in all these shootings, which can reasonably and effectively be controlled if we demand it: Guns.
Bill Richmond
Carmichael
Opinion
Demand an investigation
“The hardest place to be a Jew is on an American college campus. Just look at UC Davis | Opinion,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 26)
As a proud alumni of UC Davis, I was shocked and heartbroken to read Rabbi Reuven H. Taff’s op-ed. The words and images posted on X by UC Davis faculty member Jemma Decristo were appalling.
This type of sentiment — of hate and violence — has no place in our world. This cannot be tolerated, particularly by an institution charged with educating our youth and preparing them to take charge of our future. And especially if such comments are made by a faculty member teaching undergraduates.
A thorough and transparent investigation is not only necessary, but essential to the integrity of the university. Chancellor Gary May and Executive Vice Chancellor Mary Croughan should be held accountable to make sure that happens, and the resulting findings and any disciplinary actions made public.
Jon Bertolino
El Dorado Hills
Never again
“The hardest place to be a Jew is on an American college campus. Just look at UC Davis | Opinion,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 26)
When was the last time a pro-Israel or Zionist-sponsored event on any American campus was shut down, canceled or burdened with outlandish “security” requirements? It happens constantly, especially lately, with Muslim and Arab students (and almost anyone who speaks out for Palestinian rights, including a fast-growing segment of Jewish students who take seriously the moral teachings of Judaism to not do unto others what we would not have them do to us).
“Never again” must apply to everyone.
David Mandel
Sacramento
Not so scary
“Sites Reservoir project would increase CA’s climate chaos,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 31)
In the author’s opinion, the proposed Sites Reservoir should scare Californians. The truth is quite the opposite. Californians know from experience that we must store more water in wet years for use in dry ones. If the Sites Reservoir had been operational in 2023, it could have collected 700,000 acre-feet of water — the amount it takes to supply 1.4 million families for a year.
In addition to increased water storage, Sites will reduce reliance on groundwater, allowing our aquifers time to refill. And it will enable increased flows in our waterways during dry spells, benefiting aquatic ecosystems and endangered species.
The only scary thing about the Sites Reservoir is that it’s taking more than 30 years to build.
Mike Wade
Sacramento
Worth the cost
“PG&E’s plan to bury power lines is expensive. There is another way to cut fire risk | Opinion,” (fresnobee.com, Oct. 29)
PG&E’s plan to underground lines is the way to fortify our energy infrastructure against increasingly violent storms, snow, wind events and fire. Residents of the foothill and mountain communities have snow events that down power lines so regularly it boggles the mind they didn’t do this sooner. Nevada County alone has had storms that caused loss of power for weeks.
Wildfires are not the only concerns to mitigate. I wish the Sacramento Municipal Utility District would underground lines in the valley. Winds are fiercer than our current infrastructure of poles and wires can handle. I don’t trust the grid in Sacramento, and wish we could fortify like PG&E. If we are to have an all electric green future, investment in a reliable grid is a necessity.
Californians should demand energy safety for their well being, which is worth the cost of undergrounding lines.
Theresa Ann Lown
Sacramento
Rethink Christmas tree
“Christmas tree permit guide for popular Northern CA forests,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 25)
I realize there are people that rely on income from growing and selling Christmas trees. However, given that carbon dioxide is a major cause of global warming, and given that trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, does it make sense to cut down millions of trees that will be thrown out or recycled within a few months?
Thomas F. Lyons, Jr.
Sacramento
