War, litter, guns and gas
Poised for Iran
Regarding “We can’t afford to ignore talk of war with Iran” (Opinion, Tuesday): The author, Emran El Badawi, states “there is no credible evidence linking the sabotage of tankers in the Gulf to Iran.” Does he have access to all of our CIA intelligence? I hope not!
As for his statement that the Pentagon presented a plan to send 120,000 to Iran: It is a common practice to have contingency war plans for areas of conflict. Anyone who did not make contingency plans would be derelict in duty. B.C. Bowen, Houston
Balloons, plastic bags
Regarding “Don’t litter in remembrance” (Letters, Monday): I have read the several (in some cases moralistic) letters contesting the practice of releasing balloons as a memorial to a missing 4year-old due to environmental impacts. One writer comments on the fact that several states are considering banning the balloon-release practice and suggests that Texas should follow suit.
I hope these same writers are equally critical of the more overwhelming practice of dependence on single-use plastic bagsand are petitioning our Texas legislators (more interested in overruling local regulations controlling their usage) to participate in such environmentally important controls. Alan Husak, Houston
Second Amendment
Regarding “Founding fathers” (Letters, Wednesday): Defenders of the Second Amendment tend to overlook the amendment’s opening phrase, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State.” They do not realize that this phrase was the primary reason for the amendment’s very existence. At the time of the Constitution’s ratification, there was a great amount of popular opposition to the idea of any American standing army, based on the bitter experience with occupying British troops. Consequently, the only generally acceptable option for national defense was a civilian militia. This meant that being able to bear arms was not only a political right, but also a patriotic responsibility.
Needless to say, with the increasing acceptance of a standing army as the primary means to defend the United States, an armed citizenry became increasingly less essential from a national security standpoint. Unfortunately, the continuing existence of the Second Amendment in its original contextual meaning is preventing a general consideration of the need to manage civilian arms in the same way that the civilian automobiles and civilian drugs are legally managed. This is an indulgence which cannot be allowed to continue, because lives are at stake every day. Brian L. Hope, Bryan
Don’t waste helium
Recent letters to the editor have pointed out the environmental impact of balloon releases. Party supply stores sell helium-filled balloons for graduation, birthdays and similar celebrations.
Prohibition of such uses is necessary for a far more urgent reason: a looming shortage of helium.
Failure to prohibit waste will result in serious consequences. R.J. Bartosh, Houston