Letters to the editor: Guns are to blame; Carson's book; Heard-Depp trial

The real reason is guns

Re: Marty Ryzak’s June 3 letter, “Mental health, not guns, to blame”:

Marty Ryzak uses common mantra of the right and certainly has a grain of truth, but not the real reason. Yes, the real reason is guns, period. There is a Republican Governor that says, “it’s porn, social media and video games.” I say it’s guns. The items mentioned by that governor are all over Europe, but they don’t have the gun-driven massacres. In fact, no other country in the world has these massacres, but we do. Maybe this is the American Exceptionalism that Ted Cruz is so proud of?

We are, by far, the owners of these horrific events. To say it’s not guns is like telling a terminally ill cancer patient that it’s not cancer but the patient’s mindset.

The U.S. has had gun laws. In fact, the Wild West had stricter gun laws than we have now, just look it up and be shocked. The NRA was even started as a teaching organization not a powerful lobbying business. Oh, yes, mental health. If this is so important than why did Governor Abbott cut 200 million from the mental health budget in Texas? By the way, Texas ranks 50th out of 50 states in mental healthcare. So, yes, it’s the guns, and dare I say, certain politicians whose party affiliation we all know. Just keep that in mind when you vote and help save the children.

Jim Shahan, Oak Park

Read Carson book on reparations

Re: The Associated Press’ June 2 story, “Report details state’s racist past”:

I just finished reading Dr. Ben Carson’s latest book, “Created Equal: The Painful Past, Confusing Present, and Hopeful Future of Race in America,” co-written with his wife Candy Carson. It is a well-researched and detailed book which I recommend reading.

In light of the recent proposal report of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans cited in The Star, I wrote to the board and asked them to consider reading his book before any reparations are made.

According to Dr. Carson, reparations are not needed, and he gives detailed reasons as to why. I leave you to get and read the book and be informed.

Claire Gallacher, Simi Valley

Heard shouldn’t have been sued

Re: Suzette Hackney’s June 5 column, “Depp vs. Heard was bad for us all”:

This column certainly hit home. Like the columnist, I did not watch one single second of this trial because I had no interest in these two spoiled, wealthy, egotistical celebrities muckraking and tearing each other to shreds in a public court room. Their testimony detailed some truly repulsive things about their volatile behavior and dysfunctional relationship. But for me, the most repulsive thing about this trial was the fact it was based on an opinion editorial written by Ms. Heard, who never mentioned anyone’s name in her piece.

If a defendant can be sued, taken to court, convicted and fined millions of dollars for an opinion, what has happened to the First Amendment?

Penelope A. Burley, Santa Rosa Valley

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Letters: Guns are to blame; Carson's book; Heard-Depp trial