After Nashville shooting, we’re back to the Wild West. Where is our moral compass? | Opinion
We must change
In the past 100 years, society has returned to the Wild West, as we saw in Nashville this week. Where did our common sense go? Have we gotten so caught up in materialistic pomposity that our desire for the biggest, fastest and the deadliest has consumed the most logical parts of our brains?
Displays of families brandishing firearms on their holiday cards have minimized the eminent harm that can raise havoc on innocent bystanders and the most blameless of children and their families.
In the meantime, social services and mental health programs struggle to keep staff, and there are inadequate resources to help those in need, whether the ill be at high risk to themselves or others.
Have we lost our moral compass with regard to caring for the most fragile and vulnerable?
Active shooter training has taken the place of nuclear war exercises in schools. We are losing a civilian war created by our own citizens, while robbing our children of their innocence.
Something has got to change. We cannot have our cake and eat it too. It’s about time our legislators put on their big boy pants and spurs and pass gun legislation for the safety of all Americans.
- Elena Super, Paola
Their priorities
After yet another elementary school massacre, I wonder if some members of Congress proudly put AR-15 rifle pins on their lapels before going to work at the Capitol, doing all they can to avoid gun reform legislation.
- LeAnn Karbaumer, Platte City
Whose worth?
Some states have recently established maximum magazine capacities for firearms in the hope that if mass shooters are forced to stop firing to reload, they would kill fewer people. These states are being sued under the claim that the Second Amendment protects high-capacity magazines.
States such as Kansas limit the size of shotgun magazine capacity to protect birds. No one is taking them to court.
Apparently, school kids just aren’t as valuable as birds.
- Thomas Stroud, Overland Park
Clean it up
I agree with The Star’s March 19 editorial about Kansas City’s potential. I really think we need to be even more ambitious. (16A, “As NFL Draft Day approaches, let’s aim even higher, Kansas City”)
If you look down to see all the potholes on our streets, then surely you have seen the huge amount of trash everywhere as well. There have been four dead deer mixed in with the trash along U.S. 50 — and they’ve been there for two months at least.
Everyone who comes to Kansas City remarks about the litter they see along every street. Someone told me it would be cleaned up by NFL Draft Day. Fat chance.
- Joanne Sutherland, Lone Jack
Wrestling news
The print edition of The Kansas City Star did not contain news about the recent NCAA wrestling championships in Tulsa. The University of Missouri finished fifth, with one national champion wrestler.
The Mizzou wrestling program is one of the best in the country. The championships were national news in many mid-Atlantic and Eastern states.
I am sure many local high school wrestlers would be interested in news about this national championship to help them and their parents decide where they would like to wrestle in the future.
- Dick Saale, Kansas City
Mizzou success
Kudos to MU’s recent successes in football. Credit should go to athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois for signing and extending contracts for these winning coaches.
The wrestling team deserves accolades as well. Winning back-to-back Big 12 championships is no easy feat. Yes, Mizzou again wrestles in the Big 12 — the SEC doesn’t believe in the sport.
Coach Brian Smith led wrestlers to the nationals in all 10 weight classes, with five earning All-America status. Keegan O’Toole repeated as national champ, avenging two losses this season to David Carr of Iowa State. Congratulations all around.
- Phil Harsh, Berryton, Kansas
