Why would Missouri exempt guns from sales tax, but leave out other manufacturers? | Opinion
Why just guns?
I read The Star’s March 9 front-page story concerning state Sen. Rick Brattin’s proposal to eliminate state sales tax on guns and ammunition manufactured in Missouri. (“Bill would make MO the only state taxing food, not guns) This is unsettling, in that guns contribute to our ever-increasing rate of crime.
In addition, Missouri is facing increasing need for infrastructure improvements. My question is why we give the gun industry special treatment with taxation and ignore other hardworking Missourians who produce the food on our tables, the trucks and automobiles we drive, the greeting cards we mail, boats, trails, aircraft components and hundreds of other products that everyone uses every day.
Why select guns and ammunition for special treatment? Why select products that contribute to the problems we face in our everyday society — especially in our large cities?
If you love your family and neighbors, write your state representatives and tell them to oppose this bill.
- Robert C. Struble, Kansas City
Let’s dine local
The Star’s March 8 “Chow Town” section featured a story on a Pittsburgh chef working with students in that city. (11B, “Chef introduces students to multicultural cuisines”) Why go to an out-of-town chef when the Kansas City area has award-winning food programs in its schools? The Shawnee Mission School District’s Broadmoor Bistro and Raytown Quality Schools’ Cinder are student-run restaurants from award-winning culinary arts programs.
Because of the diverse population that Cinder serves, the students create foods beyond their personal experiences. The March 3 menu featured several dishes that I had to Google to get an idea of what ingredients they contained. The four-course meal — including a palate-cleansing sorbet — was professionally plated and delicious, served by the students with poise and efficiency.
Let’s promote public education in our city that is working to give students real-life education and experiences.
- Sarah Frederick, Kansas City
Shut Fox out
It is time for the NFL to pull the plug on its contract with Fox Sports to broadcast football games. That also applies to all other sports organizations with contracts with Fox Corporation entities.
According to legal testimony under oath and messages released in recent legal action, we know senior executives and top on-air talent at Fox News, Fox Sports’ sister company, have lied to viewers about the 2020 election even though they don’t believe the false claims by Republicans, Donald Trump and his lawyers.
It is time to send a message to all the liars in the world: Your lies have consequences. Do the right thing. Take the lead. Other companies will follow, because it’s the right thing to do.
Fox News viewers might not understand, because the network doesn’t broadcast what is going on in court right now with Dominion Voting Systems’ suit. Don’t worry — they will. At some point, they will get curious, ask questions and find out for themselves.
I know I wouldn’t like being lied to.
- Bill Moran, Platte City
Jobs still open
A story in The Star stated that 10.8 million job openings are too many for the Federal Reserve. (March 9, 7A, “US job openings drop to 10.8 million, still too high for Fed”)
My son lost his job at a credit union in 2020 — a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. He worked a couple other jobs until he landed another one in finance. After working there nine months, his whole division was let go.
He has applied for several other positions since then, realizing he will probably have to take a cut in pay. He has had interviews, only to be turned down for various reasons: his being overqualified, the company continuing to seek other recruits and so on. Those positions are still listed on the job boards.
I think the claims that “No one wants to work anymore” or “Employers can’t get applicants” are just excuses corporations are using to keep from hiring and offering benefits, thus raising their profits
- Charles Stack, Kansas City, Kansas
Rail left behind
Thirty years ago, I flew into Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. My teacher friend couldn’t take off the day before a holiday to meet me. No problem. I collected my luggage and took the escalator down one flight to the train station, where I boarded a train to the suburbs of Rotterdam where my friend resided.
I’ve been trying to find out where the train station is at Kansas City International Airport’s new terminal.
To my dismay, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and Mid-America Regional Council just started soliciting proposals for rapid transit connections to and from the new airport on Jan. 27. The deadline for responses was Feb. 27.
The connection to rail lines should have been considered when the airport was designed. Visitors and residents should be able to reach Union Station, St. Joseph, Lawrence, Topeka or Columbia directly by rail. I am so disappointed that this is being handled as an afterthought.
- Kathi Harden, Gladstone
Use your voice
What a frightening time to live in America. Politicians and self-proclaimed “news” agencies openly lie to the detriment of our democracy. Against the beliefs of most of their constituents, legislators continue to pass laws to make it harder to vote and to discriminate against women, minorities and anyone who is different from the majority. Zealots who profess belief in Jesus treat their fellow human beings in ways completely contrary to the teachings of their savior.
I want my grandchildren to grow up in a country where diversity of people, thoughts and actions is welcomed, not persecuted. I used to think that was America, but we’re in a cycle of craziness that seems to get worse each day.
The only solution is for you to stand up and vote against those intent on stealing your freedoms. Yes, it may get harder to vote, but it’s the only antidote. Help save our democracy while you still can by voting in every election for every race.
- Scott Roby, Lenexa
