A license to shoot guns safely

Bement, Ill.: a gun is a machine humans designed to be used to kill. My father and brother put food on the table using the gun, and I have no problem with the responsible use of weapons. But not everyone is capable of managing that kind of machine. I believe we need a weapons Bureau, similar to each state’s department of Motor Vehicles, which would follow weapons from manufacture to an owner. The Nra should be involved in putting together requirements for the issue of a license to sell or operate weapons.

when I was born, if you wanted to operate a vehicle, you did. Then you had to send for a license and be registered. Now you must prove your vehicle is safe, have insurance, be physically able and pass a written and driving test to obtain a license. we still have death by vehicle.

a weapons Bureau won’t fix everything, but it will help address massacres and slow the creep of human-caused gun violence. Is there a state anywhere that is brave enough to at least design a weapons Bureau?

do we support our youth in finding solutions to gun violence, or do we remain a silent part of the problem? I am asking grandmothers everywhere to contact legislators and help our grandkids.

Barbara Hinton

Betraying the flock

Brooklyn: re “dolan vs. victims” (March 21): How can this socalled Christian protect and actually shield pedophiles and pornographers? The only toxic element in this shocking story is dolan’s absence of ordinary Christian virtue. It is appalling. Sister Sally Butler, member

Catholic Whistleblowers

Keep the statute of limitations

whitestone: I agree with Timothy Cardinal dolan when he says that the only organization being targeted for sexual abuse is the Catholic Church. I believe it is time to go by the law and the statute of limitations. In St. Luke’s Church in whitestone, we had a truly dedicated pastor who was accused of sexual abuse 40 years ago. The letters of retraction from the alleged victims came too late to save the monsignor from the damaging attacks on his character. State Sen. andrew Lanza is right when he says he has grave concerns about allowing victims to reopen time-barred cases.

Dorothy Lyons

Laws already protect kids

albany: advocates for the Child Victims act continue to mischaracterize the current state of New York’s law. In 2006, the Legislature extended the criminal statute of limitations on rape and aggravated sexual abuse so that, as with murder cases, the perpetrator can be prosecuted at any time. The law also extended the time to bring a civil lawsuit for an additional five years after prosecution or once the defendant is charged with such a crime. despite claims there would not be a flood of litigation, when California passed similar look-back legislation, more than 1,100 lawsuits were filed, with over 800 targeting the Catholic Church. In addition, as New York lawmakers negotiate this bill, they should ensure maximum compensation for the survivors, not the lawyers. a section should be added to limit lawyers’ fees by creating a fee schedule similar to what already exists for medical malpractice lawsuits. Tom Stebbins, executive director Lawsuit Reform Alliance

of New York

Reopen the playgrounds

oakland Gardens: Growing up in the Bronx, I learned at a fairly early age that games like stickball, ringolevio, hit the penny, hideand-go-seek and others were a deterrent to growing up a juvenile delinquent. dewitt Clinton High School was our playground. why can’t kids growing up today have this environment rather than becoming gangbangers? The new schools chancellor should meet with his colleagues and open up the possibility of resurrecting the old days. Voicers unite.

Gary Rofofsky

Animal behavior

Brooklyn: To Voicer Lee Edwards: what sickness has invaded america that it is normal to call for the death of a teacher because a turtle was being a turtle? Snapping turtles maim and kill all kinds of cute animals every day. It is how they survive. It is this sickness, this devaluing of human life, that leads to kids killing their schoolmates.

Walker Blankinship

An appeal

Staten Island: To Voicer albert Glass: To your point that students are protesting to wrong people, I would like to inform or remind you that on numerous occasions the alleged shooter was reported to FBI and the local law enforcement authorities before the shootings occurred. No action was taken. So who should the protesters protest to?

Jerome Cooper

The grifters

Clifton, N.J.: we have a number of self-proclaimed geniuses and a new disease in the U.S. that is only prevalent among a certain segment of the population. The disease is called “little white lies.” The only ones infected at present are the 1%. The individuals appear to know in advance of any big news that the dictator in the People’s House is going to make so that they may become richer. Sell a large amount of stock in this company, tank that company. So what if it hurts businesses or small investors, as long as it doesn’t hurt them or is to their advantage.

Alice J. Dymek

What Putin’s got

Bronx: re “Ex-CIa head John Brennan thinks russia may ‘have something’ on Trump” (March 21): why is donald J. Trump constantly genuflecting to Vladimir Putin? Trump being blackmailed by the Kremlin is the only reason that makes sense. Time and again he takes the russian dictator’s side over our FBI, NSa, et al., agencies charged with keeping our country safe. It is clearly the reason why Putin worked so hard and spent so many millions of dollars in an effort to undermine the 2016 election and install Trump in the white House. Common sense tells us that he would have wanted someone there who would do the most damage to america at home and abroad. I’m happy to see someone like Brennan connecting the very bright dots.

Pauline Graham Binder

The end

Howard Beach: Voicer Thurston onei thought he was being very clever when he said you can’t spell “triumph” without “Trump.” does he realize that you can’t spell “Trump” without “rump?”

Barbara Berg

Life happens

waretown, N.J.: I’ve been a Mets fan all my life. I am sure I am not alone when I say that I am beyond weary of hearing about the plight of david wright and his continuous setbacks. Many regular people have far worse sicknesses and injuries, and deal with life changes or retirement. They are certainly not owed $47 million plus what he has earned already. No pity here, david! Give it up already. Terri De Giglio

Shouldn’t be surprised

Bronx: re “de Blasio slams Cuomo for using NYCHa buildings as ‘photo op’ while withholding funds for fixes” (March 21): Since Blaz has spent years of his work life walking the halls of NYCHa developments, why were all the infrastructure breakdowns a surprise? a fire needed to be lit under the bureaucratic tuchus of NYCHa. The governor did it.

Gene Roman Brooklyn: To Voicer Charles Knoll: I commend your decision to become a nondriver due to seizures. My husband has seizures and no longer drives due to other medical problems. I know this is a hard choice for families to make. I wish you good health, with no breakout seizures for the rest of your days. Fran Giammalvo

Stop your engines

Brooklyn: while controversy swirls around the benefits or detriments of plastic bags, there is something all who own cars could do right now that would save countless gallons of fuel and make our air cleaner. we could stop sitting in our cars with the engines idling while we text or talk on our phones. an idling motor is a dirty motor. Turn it off. Ed Temple

Gone soft on snow

AP Manhattan: when I was a child, the decision to close schools was not made until the early morning of the day in question, and schools very rarely closed. Now, the decision to close schools is often made in the afternoon or evening before. In some cases, the forecasters are right on target with the severity of the storm. However, in some instances, when we were expecting a lot of snow, we did not get anything. Amy Rosenfeld