Protect kids, not assault weapons | Opinions
Protect kids, not weapons
Sixteen million Americans own one or more assault weapons. The latest data show that assault weapons were used in 10 of the last 17 most deadly mass murders in America. Our children, once thought safe in their schools, have been primary targets.
Why is it necessary to own an assault rifle? There are already millions of side arms, rifles, and shotguns readily available to keep Second Amendment activists satisfied, happy, and well-armed. The long, ongoing misunderstanding, misuse and abuse of the Second Amendment has allowed 16 million Americans unlimited, unfettered, and unrestricted access to purchase assault weapons.
Assault weapons’ sole purpose is to enable its user to quickly kill dozens of people. Democrats, without the help of the GOP, have been trying unsuccessfully to curb the manufacture and sale of assault rifles. The GOP steadfastly refuses to address this issue. By their own actions, the GOP has chosen to appease assault rifle manufacturers and assault weapon owners while keeping our children in harm’s way.
Brooks Judd, Turlock
Deadly mistakes
Recent events have underscored the necessity for being well-armed. Protection against someone knocking on your door, turning around in your driveway, or approaching your car all call for having devastating weaponry close at hand. Also, essential for breaking up children’s parties, weddings or getting the right-of-way in traffic.
Jack Heinsius, Modesto
Lawmakers must do more
In the US, mass shooting are averaging one per day. Mass shootings in schools are occurring about one per week. Gun violence is ranked as the leading cause of death among American youth. The United States far exceeds gun deaths in all similar countries. These statistics are becoming alarmingly worse, year by year.
The do-nothing approach to curb gun violence is not working. No one is immune to gun violence in America. Politicians and activists who support the Second Amendment are not looking out for the best interests of the community they serve or reside in. These elected officials would rather pretend we do not have a problem. How many more deaths will be enough for supporters of the Second Amendment to say we have a gun problem?
It is time we collectively vote out leaders who want to ease gun restrictions. We must have leaders who sponsor legislation that enhances background checks, keeps military assault-style weapons out of the hands of civilians, and eliminate laws that let average people carry guns in public.
Joe Tornberg, Modesto
Muckrakers no more
Re “Ignoring antisemitism doesn’t mean it isn’t there” (Page 8A, April 12): I read Garth Stapley’s column condemning the cowardly scum dispensing lies about our Jewish community. After breakfast I drove to the Beth Shalom synagogue for Tai Chi practice. I had to agree vehemently with Stapley’s observations. His attack on the backwater “idiots” was justified and succinct.
My dissatisfaction stems from a failure of editorial staff who insist on using soft-serving comments directed at the horrific, murderous politicians, like a shameless Kevin McCarthy needing “more facts” before supporting civilized gun control legislation. We are dealing with an epidemic of violence that is egregiously enabled by gentlemanly passivity that continues to condone prayers and sympathy as the solution for the escalating number of victims. A multitude of which are innocent children murdered in their classrooms supported by the cowardly inaction of mafioso politicians and NRA goons. How sad that a malicious minority continues to hold our country hostage while we treat their deplorable antics like we treat youngsters learning to play Tee-ball. Where are the proud muckrakers of the past who spearheaded American journalism, and delivered vehement attacks on deadly savagery?
Tim Buchanan, Modesto
The world as I see it
This year is sure passing quickly but we have already determined that whatever feminism is, the best person for the job is a man. The culture of death has never had a finer year. Crime is allowed, drugs are good, and murder is blamed on the weapon instead of the hopelessness of the perpetrator. Abortion, euthanasia, and the exaltation of relationships that cannot give life are the desired activities. Science is now political science: our scientists can only report that which gladdens the hearts of multinational corporations and the necrotic ward healers we elect as our political leaders.
The internet is the information superhighway but it has yielded the most smug, self-centered group of Marxists ever. And boy are they dumb. Many social media partakers are illiterate and glorious products of our governmental indoctrination gulags we used to call schools. The religion of global warming has taken a bare scientific observation and expanded it into ideas that are so good they must be made mandatory. Oddly enough, no one can tell us what happens once everyone converts and bows at the feet of our benevolent government, which impoverishes us for our own good. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Gary Nelson, Modesto
Keeping an eye on AI
As the newscaster came on the air he announced “breaking news” but, of course, it was not. It was sadly a report of the daily carnage from violence throughout the world. The second news story presented the lightning-fast development of AI with the remarkable ability to “learn” to think and behave like humans. There are so many possible benefits to this technology. However, a frightening thought is AI will learn to be as inhumane and violent as humans.
While it sounds counterintuitive, do we need AI to teach us how to be more kind, considerate and compassionate toward one another? As the nightly news reports, we are not doing a good job on our own.
Lee Ervin, Modesto
