YOU SAY: letters To THE editor
Wyatt Earp nation?
Re: Dec. 18 article, “Perry: Let Texans be armed in public.”
So, Gov. Rick Perry believes that allowing more “normal” citizens to carry weapons, either concealed or in the open, would possibly prevent more events like the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting. What numerical percent of the American public should carry for this to have any real effect ... 10, 30, 50 percent or more? What effect have carry laws had to now?
With our media’s fanatical obsession with violence, I cannot remember any substantial reports of “carrying” individuals using deadly force to prevent any similar incident to the Connecticut event. It’s always: “Well, if someone had only had a gun. …” How many armed individuals must be immediately available for this concept to work and if that’s really what we want — a nation of Wyatt Earps? Take a serious, realistic look at gun control laws and leave the actual shooting to professionals. Stan Graham
Austin
Guard our schools
Re: Dec. 19 article, “Massacre could propel Texas gun law revisions.”
The U.S. seems to have more than its share of crazies. If, magically, all the guns disappeared, the nut cases would resort to car bombs, truck bombs, IEDs, pipe bombs, knives, etc. Police can’t respond instantaneously. Schools need armed protection to distract shooters until police can arrive.
Alan Kirby Granite Shoals
GOP’s morning-after pill
Re: Dec. 19 article, “Boehner’s ‘Plan B’ vote draws fire from all sides.”
Plan B — The “morning after” pill. What the Republicans want the country to take when their hopes for continued tax breaks for the wealthy fall through. Does anyone else see the irony? Jo Ivester
Austin
Don’t cut cancer funds
Re: Dec. 14 commentary, “Digging for truth in research scandal.”
In fighting cancer, federal dollars have a huge impact on patients and the economy. More than 80 percent of federal research funding is invested in our country’s cancer centers. Last year, $1.06 billion in federal funding came to Texas for cancer research, adding nearly 26,000 jobs, but also providing Texans with access to lifesaving clinical trials and treatment breakthroughs.
In following the debate in Congress, I worry that lawmakers may cut funds to the National Institutes of Health, negatively affecting cancer patients. I urge our leaders to consider the impacts of their choices back home. More than 33,000 jobs in medical research could be lost, including 2,019 in Texas. More importantly, this would lead to stalling innovation, progress and research. Let’s not jeopardize progress against diseases such as cancer, which kills 1,500 a day in the U.S. Don’t let the fight against cancer fall off the “fiscal cliff.” Jon Hornaday
Austin
Tree lights or people?
For a number of years I have been noticing the trees on 360 and elsewhere in Austin being decorated for Christmas. And this year, for the first time, I thought of the effort and money that is being spent on this effort. Why not, I thought, instead donate the time and money that goes into decorating these trees into feeding Austin’s homeless. There are so many people who are in need of help during this holiday season and while decorating trees is a beautiful gesture it does not alleviate someone’s hunger. Nima D’Souza
Austin
Bring back courtesy
What has happened to simple manners like saying “thank you” or “you’re welcome” after making a purchase? Most clerks today are young people who can’t seem to look away from their phone long enough to acknowledge a customer who just supported the business they work for. “Here ya go” or “Have a nice day” is not “thank you for patronizing my business and giving me a little bit of job security.” Is it me just griping about poor service getting worse or has anybody else noticed this trend?
Lee Crowell leecrowell30@gmail.com
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