Letters to the Editor Steve Kerr, gun laws, the Second Amendment, democracy – The Dallas Morning News

Pound tables to demand change

Finally, the answer from Steve Kerr, coach of the Golden State Warriors: Its not silence and prayers, its noise. Kerr pounded the table. I suggest we follow his lead.

What if instead of moments of silence, we have many moments of noise when the next, and there will be a next, mass shooting happens? Imagine a group of people whether at a sporting event or in a legislative chamber or at a place of worship all at once letting out a big scream to express their true feelings of sadness.

Maybe that would get someones attention. There is a saying. If you always do what youve always done, youll always get what you always got. Gun violence and silence are, sadly, the perfect example of that vicious circle. We should all be using our loud voices and pounding tables, demanding change, not continuing the silence.

Perri Brackett, Lewisville

I cried as I watched the news of the Uvalde school shooting. By the grace of God, my 10-year-old grandson was not there and is safe. But God cannot guarantee his future safety, only our politicians can.

Gov. Greg Abbott talked about how special children are but made no suggestions on how to protect them from future shootings. It would take only two simple laws to make a difference: universal background checks with an age minimum of 21, same as the drinking age, and the elimination of military-style semi-automatic guns whose sole purpose is to kill scores of victims quickly effective in wars but with no clear purpose in civilian life.

The argument is that people should have the freedom of choice to own weapons. How is this more important than the choice of the victims to have a safe life? How is it different from the choice of a woman who is managing her reproductive rights?

So what can we do? Vote. Vote for politicians who will protect our right to life from mass murderers. Vote for politicians who will not allow forced deliveries. Vote for our democracy.

Elizabeth C. Knoop, Frisco

The Second Amendment was ratified almost 231 years ago. Do you think anything has changed in our country since 1791? No matter what political affiliation you may have, common sense should take over our elected politicians to change the Second Amendment.

We, the people of the United States, have to hold them accountable to make owning a deadly weapon difficult, at minimum. Age requirements, background checks and a required waiting period should be the standard for any gun ownership.

The killing of our kids and others can be stopped. I just dont understand the lack of effort to change this right to bear arms by our elected officials. After Sept. 11, the entire country and airlines changed their requirements to fly. We learned from Sept. 11 and have avoided another disaster of that magnitude. However, after 231 years and numerous horrific mass shootings, we havent acted to protect our citizens. Its deplorable.

Curt Richmond, Carrollton

As an independent native Texan, I no longer recognize the Republican Party. What happened to separation of church and state? Thomas Jefferson and fellow Virginian James Madison felt that state support for a particular religion or for any religion was improper. They argued that compelling citizens to support through taxation a faith they did not follow violated their natural right to religious liberty, and I agree.

In my profession, Im driven to resolve problems, not create new ones. This party seems to manufacture problems to proliferate hatred, ignore real problems and divide and distract people. In my opinion, this party has become an authoritarian theocracy where citizens are being forced to follow its beliefs including its version of history, gun laws, abortion policies, voting rules, election results (only valid if they win) and many outrageous conspiracy theories.

Evidence is no longer required for this party, because if enough people believe something then it must be true. My hope is that moderate, reasonable Republicans show up to the polls with love and compassion and right these wrongs.

Vincent Pollinzi, Carrollton

It is hard to comprehend how our country got to this point. The U.S. military is flying weapons to Europe for the war in Ukraine. The U.S. military is flying baby formula back to America for our babies. Does anyone recognize the absurdity? One government is fighting off a Russian invasion. Yet our government cant manage baby formula.

Pam Meyercord, North Dallas

In November, voters must decide to cast their ballots for congressional candidates who view fidelity to the rule of law as sacrosanct or for those who consider the oath to protect and defend Constitution as a hollow pledge. The outcome, likely to determine whether or not our constitutional republic survives, brings to mind John Adams pessimistic assertion: Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. If, as Adams suggested, our form of government is on a path toward suicide, then we must look to the electorate for intervention.

Should Republicans regain control of Congress, the autocratic-leaning movement within the party will probably spearhead further attempts to silence the opposition by advancing its assault on the cornerstone of democracy voting. If we are to prove Adams wrong, the electorate must once again rise to the occasion, as it did in the 2020 presidential election when it ousted a sitting president for undermining democratic governance.

Jan Larkin, Tampa, Fla.

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Letters to the Editor Steve Kerr, gun laws, the Second Amendment, democracy - The Dallas Morning News