Thoughts and prayers aren’t making us safer, readers write

Don’t say a word

No, you are not allowed to say “My thoughts and prayers are with the family,” if you are a politician and make no concrete move to control the unnecessary proliferation of guns in our nation.

You are not allowed to whisper, write, or express in any way your sympathies when you do nothing that has a significant effect on gun control.

Stop the hypocrisy. Act.

Kathy L. Wilson, Wichita

Gun madness

Another mass shooting in America, this time in Nashville that leaves six dead at a private school.

Meanwhile, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. R-GA, along with others stops an ATF agent from doing his job at a gun store in her state.

The gun madness is becoming all too familiar, and until meaningful legislation is passed that takes these dangerous weapons off our streets, the bloodletting will continue.

And it cannot stop there. Hollywood and video manufactures must be pressured into stopping the glorification of gun violence.

The gun culture that grips this nation is making some rich, particularly gun manufactures who often hear the sound of profits as each mass shooting unfolds.

Too many don’t just love guns, but they seem to love the death that follows as millions increasingly become desensitized by the news of yet another mass shooting.

Michal Betz, Wichita

Polluters first

MAGA Republicans in Congress are trying to take away tribes’ sovereign rights to consent to mining and drilling on or near Native lands.

But we need more public review and accountability, not less.

They’ve introduced a legislative package they’re calling HR1 — meaning it’ll be their top priority this year — which would gut every environmental protection law and investments in green energy infrastructure, and take away tribal rights to be a part of the decision-making process on polluting projects that would harm communities.

Some are calling it the “Polluters Over People Act.”

This is a terrible plan! I want to know where our Republicans in Congress stand on this issue.

Mary Ann Harmon, Garden Plain

Transgender sports

“Transgender athletes can only compete on teams representing a majority of members who have the same gender as the transgender athlete’s birth gender.”

This ruling would eliminate the physical advantage that many transgender women have over other women. There are past examples of girls being allowed to play on boys teams, when there is not a team for the girls.

Privacy issues are settled by separate dressing rooms.

Eddie J. Thomas, Wichita

Thanking Sebelius

Most Kansans don’t remember the important action taken by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius 20 years ago on March 31, but untold numbers have benefited from it.

On that day, Sebelius vastly improved access to safe, cost-effective health care throughout the state, especially in rural and medically underserved areas.

After consulting with the State Board of Nursing and the Board of Healing Arts, she informed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in Washington that Kansas would no longer require Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists be supervised by physicians when providing anesthesia care.

Presently, 900+ CRNA’s provide more than 16 million anesthetics to patients for surgery, labor and delivery, trauma, and other essential services.

Every day they work closely and collaboratively with surgeons, obstetricians, emergency room doctors, not under their supervision.

As a CRNA, I want to recognize Sebelius for her wise and courageous action, and I thank our state leaders these last 20 years for putting their trust in CRNAs.

I speak for my CRNA colleagues throughout the state that it will be our honor and privilege to provide safe, cost-effective anesthesia care to Kansans for the next 20 years and then some.

Rebecca L. Lucke, Wichita