Letters to the Editor – Fines for the homeless, gambling in Texas, free speech

How does this make sense?

I’m at all times amazed when a gaggle of clever individuals working collectively as a committee render selections that make no sensible sense. The metropolis has determined to tremendous principally homeless people $500, who’ve so little cash that they stand on medians and beg drivers for their unfastened change? When they can not pay the tremendous, they’re now responsible of two crimes.

What does the metropolis do then? Probably nothing. If you lock up the homeless for not paying the tremendous it’s almost certainly a blessing presently of 12 months. The incarcerated would obtain a secure clear place to sleep, entry to restroom and bathe services and three meals a day.

What is the level of this? Is there so little crime in the metropolis that petty laws like this are wanted?

H. Wayne Snavely, Trophy Club

Out of sight …

Re: “Throw panhandlers a curve,” by Robert Norris, Tuesday Letters.

What a callous letter. Those cannonballs are hostile structure. The quintessential instance is placing spikes on benches in order that homeless individuals can’t sleep on them. But simply because they’ll’t lie down on a bench doesn’t imply they all of a sudden have a mattress to sleep in.

Hostile structure does nothing to remedy the issues that lead individuals to sleeping on the streets or panhandling. Cities use it so their wealthier residents don’t have to be reminded of utmost poverty. Out of sight, out of thoughts.

This is the liberal model of criminalizing poverty: if we will simply “disappear” the panhandlers, then property values will return up.

Putting up cannonballs could also be cheaper than combating lawsuits, however each value our souls. Misanthropy is so rampant we’d somewhat arrest the hungry than give them meals; we’d somewhat disperse homeless camps than construct public housing.

But actual options value cash, so cities as a substitute create the phantasm of prosperity. Hey, if I can’t see poverty, it’s another person’s drawback to remedy, proper?

Thomas Urech, Plano

Why there’s a disconnect

Re: “Is Texas ready for full-on gambling? — Perhaps it’s time to let voters decide about casinos and online sports betting,” by Ron Simmons, Sunday Opinion.

I disagree with Simmons’ assertion when he says, “I believe that it would be hard for any constituent to realistically argue against letting the voters decide.”

Unfortunately, I believe it’s all too doubtless the legislative members will proceed to deny a well-liked vote on many objects on which they seem out of step with the majority of Texans, together with abortion, gambling, marijuana legalization and Medicaid enlargement.

Why the disconnect between our elected representatives and the public? I believe we will thank Republican gerrymandering and their illustration of their donors’ needs over the will of the individuals. If they are saying it isn’t so, then put it to a vote by the individuals!

Henson Rogers, Dallas

Time to begin therapeutic

The tragedy of Atatiana Jefferson’s loss of life can’t be lumped right into a neat, clear narrative. Her loss of life doesn’t seem to be intentional, however it’s doubtless a results of lengthy-held fears and preconceptions.

This was a scared cop getting into a tense scenario with out the weight of expertise, and concern altering what would appear to be a case of terribly poor judgement, with a sampling of racial bias thrown into the combine.

We’ll by no means know with 100% certainty what went via Aaron Dean’s thoughts as he fired the deadly shot. Taken at his phrase, it was a horrible misreading of the circumstances.

Can all of us lengthen the good thing about doubt? Can we come along with charity and luxury for all touched by this? I hope our society can mature to the level that we will reply in the affirmative to these questions.

Anger and hatred won’t ever return Jefferson. Remorse will lend little consolation. Please, I pray, all concerned can free their hearts of mistrust, concern and anger. May therapeutic start.

Larry Portman, Garland

It’s about free speech

I help the rights of my fellow Americans to carry out in drag reveals, attend them, display peacefully in help and peacefully display in opposition to them. I reject the help of armed residents for drag reveals and vigorously condemn the hate teams who oppose drag reveals and help homophobia.

The open carry of arms is anti-democracy, anti-free speech and is supposed solely to intimidate and threaten opponents. An armed group which claims to help gays is anathema to not solely the reason for gays and homosexual rights, it’s anathema to free speech, the bedrock of our democracy.

All of us, no matter our opinions and beliefs, ought to reject the use of drive and the expression of hate. We are lucky not to dwell in locations like Russia, Iran, China or North Korea, the place free speech and peaceable demonstrations are punishable by imprisonment and even loss of life.

There are many the explanation why individuals from each nation on this planet have emigrated right here, and certainly one of them is the cherished proper of free speech.

Jerry Frankel, Plano

Heed the warnings

So Republicans are accountable for all the gun shootings? I would recommend we glance nearer into our communities and into the legal guidelines now we have concerning weapons. I recommend we additionally look deeper into our colleges, church buildings, mother and father, and so forth., and alert authorities concerning uncommon behaviors. How many instances can we learn {that a} shooter has had conduct issues however no one paid consideration? Let’s begin at dwelling concerning shootings!

Barbara Ann Wiskow, Dallas

Add to the want listing

Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones has acquired approval to spend $295 million for enhancements to AT&T Stadium. I’m certain that gamers and followers alike are hoping he’ll use just a bit of that quantity for curtains on the west finish zone opening to defend them from the blinding daylight throughout late afternoon video games. But first he has to admit there’s a drawback that wants correcting. And apparently that’s an issue, too.

Fred R. Neary, Far North Dallas

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