Readers want to ban assault weapons, commend Topeka senator and lampoon Democrats
It's time to ban all assault weapons
To all members of Congress:
Please ban all assault weapons — assault rifles and pistols! Civilians have no need for weapons created for military war.
I don’t care if “sportsmen” like shooting them. They are designed to brutally kill people. How can you not care that in our country desperate people in crisis are using them to massacre innocent children?
Don’t tell me killing children is the fault of mental illness and that killers are disturbed, sick people. I say to you: Why do you not care that YOU are creating new mental illness in the terrified survivors who now have PTSD, panic attacks, chronic anxiety, distress and pain, with lives changed forever because YOU haven’t stopped these murders. YOU have the legislative power to stop this!
If you believe mental illness is the cause, then bring back state psychiatric hospitals like we used to have, where families could place their loved ones to be treated until they get well. That would protect the public.
It looks to me like there are three possible solutions to ending mass shootings:
1) Ban all civilian assault weapons.
2) Bring back state psychiatric hospitals with locked wards to treat and help people who are mentally ill and a potential danger to others.
3) Close all schools and do all teaching and all learning at home using Zoom on home computers. I know this isn't psychologically good for kids, but it prevents being terrified and dying.
Guns are now the biggest cause of death to our children. That is a fact!
Please ignore the National Rifle Association and do the right thing for all of us and our beloved children. Please outlaw and ban all assault weapons.
Nancy Tompkins, Topeka
Topekan proud of the way Sen. Kristen O’Shea handled incident
Sen. Kristen O’Shea has demonstrated a style of leadership that is encouraging and worth emulating among our Kansas legislators. When Lauren Shiffman, of Lenexa, interrupted a hearing on the anti-vaccine SB 315 in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee last week, she told O’Shea she needs to “follow her party.”
Ms. Schiffman needs to understand that we Kansans do not elect our legislators to go to the Statehouse for the purpose of “following their party.”
We elect them to do the right thing, which is to represent their constituents.
O’Shea has stated: “I truly believe more than 90% of my constituents would say we support regularly scheduled vaccinations.” The senator knows from my communication with her that I don’t agree with many of the stands she takes, but I applaud her style of leadership. She demonstrates the kind of leadership we need in both our Kansas House and Senate.
Hang in there, Senator.
By the way, it is reported that Shiffman apologized to the committee chair after the meeting for her blatant interruption. Ms. Shiffman, did you also apologize to the person you violated, Sen. Kristen O’Shea?
Rev. Dr. Jim McCollough, Topeka
Kansas Democrats are to blame for stumbling after 'Vote No' effort
Kansas voters overwhelmingly rejected the attempt to restrict abortion rights in last year’s primary election. Yet, several months later, the general election results sent an anti-choice U.S. senator and three anti-choice congresspersons back to Washington.
Voters also elected an attorney general who will use any means possible to nullify the pro-choice victory. Why did this happen?
The “Vote No” effort was well-funded and well-coordinated. If this same effort had been put forth for November’s pro-choice candidates, we might have seen a similar outcome. Jerry Moran and Jake LaTurner should not have been re-elected. Kris Kobach should not be our attorney general.
I blame the Kansas Democratic Party. Democrats are always too nice. The message was there, and it was lost. A campaign to defeat anti-choice candidates was there for the taking. I sincerely hope that the new leadership of the party will turn this around. We don’t need AG Kobach and his ilk controlling any young woman’s uterus (with a little help from Walgreen’s).
Terry Larson, Topeka
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Assault weapons, Topeka senator and stumbling Democrats reader topics
