Congress moves slowly on gun legislation
One out of five guns bought in our country is done without background checks, including by criminals who repeat their previous crimes using these weapons, many purchased online. Every day we wait while Congress is in its leisurely recess makes it easier for criminals to buy more guns. Meanwhile, legislation continues to sit on “Bad” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s desk, although polls overwhelmingly support universal background checks. Expect incremental gun control legislation that happens at a pace much slower than our glaciers are melting while we watch the everincreasing number of gun massacres dramatically presented on our chosen news sources. Mitchell Goldman, Richmond
Hot weather all around
Concerning “Inside is the place to be as area bakes” (Page 1, Aug. 15): When hot weather strikes the Bay Area, news stories like this one almost always focus on inland areas like Livermore, which routinely get tripledigit temperatures. Meanwhile, the Wednesday high in coastal San Francisco was a warm but not recordsetting temperature of 85 degrees. So the title of this article should really say “Inside is the place to be as inland areas bake.” Let’s not forget that the Bay Area is known for its varying microclimates, not a oneweatherpatternfitsallareas description. Cecilia Ventigmilia, San Francisco
Software will improve
Regarding “Facial ID misses mark, test by ACLU reveals” (Page 1, Aug. 14): Face recognition by humans is far from perfect. Discussions of the accuracy of facialrecognition software beg this question: Is face recognition by humans any better? The Innocence Project has reported that 7% of 239 convictions overturned through DNA testing were based on eyewitness testimony — i.e., mistakes in humaneyeball identification of suspects caused false convictions. In 20% to 25% of the 75,000 police lineups conducted annually, the witness picks a “filler” (a nonsuspect who volunteered to take part in the lineup). Anyone who has leafed through a police department’s binders of mugshots knows how easy it would be to select a wrong photo; that does happen every day. And let us take note of the “crossrace effect,” whereby humans recognize samerace faces more accurately than crossrace faces. Crossrace eyewitness misidentifications are a determining factor in a large percentage of the convictions of people of color wrongly imprisoned for crimes that they did not commit. Over time, facialrecognition technology will get better and better; face recognition by humans will not. Mike Sage, Santa Clara
Chinatown station
Regarding “Naming battle over Chinatown station heats up” (Aug. 15): Since so many battles have recently been waged over renaming schools and other buildings whose original namesakes later became embroiled in historical controversy, why not avoid this issue with Muni’s Central Subway project? Steer clear of naming it after Rose Pak, the late political power broker known for loudly demeaning enemies, and simply call the station Chinatown. Bennie Oosterhaus, San Francisco
Shielded from Trump
In “Covering their hides” (Editorial, Aug. 15), concerning the decision of the San Francisco School Board to cover up (rather than paint over) a controversial mural, it is rightfully noted that George Washington High School students do not need to be shielded from the unflattering portrayal of the first U.S. president. I would also add to this: What today’s students actually need to be shielded from are the ongoing loathsome racist comments and ludicrous conspiracy theories being made by the bullying 45th president. Theo Alexandrou, South San Francisco
No comparison
As any student of history knows, the SS and its extermination squads were more than scary. They committed atrocities unfit for print. They were brutal beyond belief, opening themselves to every kind of horrific behavior the human mind can possibly invent. To equate U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids with the SS is just ignorance. Did ICE bash in the brains of any children? Were men beaten or shot for moving too slowly?
Were buildings set afire with flamethrowers to flush out those who were hiding inside? Please refrain from printing these ignorant comparisons. They do not do justice to anybody, and most certainly not to those poor souls who were victimized by the SS.
Kate Tompkins, San Francisco
Counter the hatred
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the number of hate groups in the U.S. rose to a recordbreaking high in 2018 — 1,020. A 30% increase since the past presidential election. Some demons have clearly been unearthed. The majority of hate groups, including neoNazis, the Ku Klux Klan, racist skinheads, neoConfederates and white nationalists, adhere to some form of white supremacist ideology. Those interested in societal change realize just how difficult it is to improve racial attitudes in America. Whenever white people are challenged racially, they exhibit behaviors such as argumentation or total silence. Finding a common ground to see whiteness for what it is becomes nearly impossible.
The protection of racial inequality appears to be the norm for many. This is not a healthy situation for anyone. Countering ethnic or racial hatred that has become commonplace in America will take the efforts of every segment of society — families, schools, places of worship, civic organizations and the business community. Most of all, it will take political leadership in order for our society to live up to its highest values. Dennis Kostecki, Sausalito
Sensible gun regulation
Regarding “Don’t blame the NRA” (Letters, Aug. 14): The author wrote that “I am fed up with the ignorance and lawlessness of the current population. Firearm ownership is a right and a responsibility.” Has the author read the Second Amendment?
The text states “A wellregulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Why do so many National Rifle Association supporters ignore the words “wellregulated”? It is clear that the Founders intended that the “right” to firearm use needed accompanying regulation. Instead of bashing those who promote sensible gun regulations, the NRA should work with all parties to make sure that people who use arms have background checks, training and limitations on types of weapons and the number of rounds available for nonmilitary purposes. It is neither ignorant nor lawless to propose firearm regulations that prevent the mass slaughter of innocent civilians.
Jack Zakarian, Orinda
Guns are the problem
The writer of “Level of commitment” (Letters, Aug. 13) can’t be serious. He agrees with President Trump that the root cause of mass shootings is mental illness, not guns. Not only has research repeatedly debunked this myth, but the U.S. does not have a monopoly on mental illness (or violent video games or hate speech).
And if he has to ask whether Trump is sincere about creating a conservative utopia where the mentally ill undergo some kind of antigun therapy, I’ll remind him that one of Trump’s first executive orders made it easier for the mentally ill to obtain a firearm.
John Brooks, Fairfax