Letters to the Editor – Our elected leaders and the response to the Uvalde tragedy

Posturing

Re: “Faith leaders protest at Cornyn office — Group demands that Republican take action on assault weapons,” Thursday news story.

The “thoughts and prayers” reply to mindless tragedies appears lame alongside steadfast inaction with regard to pre-empting the tragedies. An even bigger difficulty is our Sen. John Cornyn himself.

There isn’t any level making an attempt to deconstruct the babble from Sen. Ted Cruz, however Cornyn is usually attuned, rational. That is why his inventory paean towards “restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens” is so weird.

What are visitors legal guidelines however focused restrictions? Where and when to eat alcohol are regulated. Furthermore, Republicans haven’t shied away from proscribing the rights of voters, pregnant girls or asylum seekers. Even the rights {of professional} educators to train what they deem vital for contemporary citizens-to-be, or of medical professionals to deal with sexual issues, appear truthful recreation to them.

So why not rational civilian restrictions on navy-model weapons? Why not put the broad American public, not the National Rifle Association, uppermost in our concern? The unhappy reply to the first is male bravado and to the second — cash, cash, cash. Virtually each week this 12 months now we have been taught a lesson. When will elected representatives cease posturing for private achieve and reveal they’ve realized?

Robert M. Lebovitz, North Dallas

Current legal guidelines don’t go far sufficient

Our senior senator and his colleagues are tasked once more with an try to forestall mass killings. But haven’t they handed regulation upon fruitless regulation with this intention? We know the lack of outcomes by title: Sandy Hook, Sutherland Springs, Parkland, El Paso, Buffalo and now Uvalde, to point out only a few.

The names of federal legal guidelines meant to forestall these tragedies are much less well-known. They embrace: the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS); P.L. 110-180, which requires states to submit legal historical past and psychological well being data; P.L. 115-141 necessitates federal companies and states to produce NICS implementation plans; the twenty first Century Cures Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-255) is meant to improve the means of native communities to establish, report and deal with probably harmful, mentally sick people.

It doesn’t seem that these legal guidelines have produced outcomes. Why? Because the mass-killing weapons are nonetheless out there.

Who actually wants a semi-automated rifle apart from a soldier or a police officer? I’ve heard of 1 deserving group — farmers or ranchers who want to shield their livestock, crops and households from gangs of feral hogs. Simple resolution: License these farmers.

There are many justifiable causes for people to have firearms, however the motivations mass killers reveal and their use of weapons similar to AR-15-model rifles lead to just one conclusion: Take these mass killing instruments off the market.

Ed Pincu, Fairview

Proposing random intruder audits

Re: “Abbott pitches checkups — He suggests random school ‘intruder detection audits’,” Friday news story.

After every of the seven mass shootings since Greg Abbott grew to become Texas governor, he has prolonged his “thoughts and prayers” and referred to as for “special select committees” to examine these horrific acts. Since such a tragedy has occurred at a public faculty for the second time below his watch, Abbott is recommending faculty “checkups.”

How would these have labored after the El Paso Walmart or Sutherland Springs church mass killings? Thoughts and prayers, particular choose committees and checkups aren’t the reply. Try a ban on the sale of navy-model weapons for starters.

Sue Owens, Dallas

Different phrases

Guess “thoughts and prayers” have now develop into “committees and studies.”

Elizabeth Bentley, North Dallas

Little reassurance

I retired as a licensed faculty psychologist, then went on to develop into an ordained clergyman. If I had been nonetheless working as a college psychologist, nonetheless, after studying Gov. Greg Abbott’s plans detailed in the above referenced story, I imagine I might shortly submit my resignation and look both for one more place exterior the state of Texas or change fields completely.

His plans wouldn’t enhance my sense of safety working in a public faculty in Texas one bit. In truth, his plans would drive me out the door. I can solely surprise what number of different Texas educators really feel the identical.

James R. Bridges, Fate

Flaws in background checks

What does a background examine precisely imply? What does it include? Who evaluates it? How do you carry out a complete common background examine on an individual who simply grew to become an grownup, age 18, two days prior? A juvenile file can be unavailable.

The 21-years-outdated suggestion has many issues as nicely. Should there be a system by which between ages 18 and 21 you might be an grownup in coaching? Are we not getting ready and educating our children nicely sufficient earlier than the age of 18?

You aren’t allowed to purchase beer or cigarettes at 18, however you possibly can go to battle, and be tried as an grownup. There are many points to think about when one’s rights are restricted or taken away.

Rich Rigsby, Wylie

Capacity, capability, capability

I used to be watching Gov. Greg Abbott discuss at his press convention the afternoon after the Uvalde faculty taking pictures, and it rapidly grew to become clear that he was not there to inform us what he was going to do to assist forestall future such occasions.

He was there to inform what he was not going to do. He was not going to do something. He reiterated all the speaking factors: present legal guidelines wouldn’t have stopped this man; now we have a psychological sickness disaster in Texas; a background examine wouldn’t have caught him both.

Abbott stated there have been no legal guidelines on the books that might have stopped the shooter, and he couldn’t think about any that might.

I believe everyone knows the purpose an individual would have the means to kill in massive numbers, and it’s the enhanced measurement of magazines in the weapons such shooters use. Get rid of these magazines, and you cease mass shootings.

Carl Roberts, Dallas/Preston Hollow

Money from gun lobbyists

Isn’t it about time that every one members of the U.S. Congress checklist the complete sum of money they’ve acquired from the gun lobbies? Say, over the previous 5 years. Then present their voting data on gun laws.

We ignored minions can then put two and two collectively to show that now we have the greatest Congress cash should purchase. God bless America.

Bill Hodges, Colleyville

Gun trade PR

I’m a 3rd-era Dallasite, grandmother and a really involved citizen. The extraordinary actuality is that mass shootings seldom occur in most different democratic international locations. Why? Why do now we have so many weapons, particularly these manufactured particularly to kill many individuals rapidly?

It appears that the reply is public relations from the trade that, so as to make a revenue, started glamorizing navy-model weapons to a market aside from the navy. Luring folks to really feel powerful by wanting like a battle-worn soldier when sporting the costume, which incorporates camouflage garments and a giant gun.

The identical trick was performed on the public and particularly the younger by the tobacco firms, wanting prospects for years forward. I examine the DISCLOSE Act, which will likely be developing once more in the Senate, and Sen. John Cornyn, it appears like you may be a hero, as had been those that spotlighted the revenue motive behind the adverts for cigarettes. The DISCLOSE Act would compel larger transparency for voters about marketing campaign spending.

Let folks make an knowledgeable choice. Bring the folks selling these weapons into the mild. Vote for the DISCLOSE Act, Sen. Cornyn.

Liz Wally, East Dallas

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