LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Sites: 2022 is year of ‘reckoning’ for those who incited insurrection

Note from Opinion Editor Amelia Robinson. Jeff Sites is running in the Democratic primary for the Ohio’s 4th Congressional District. The seat is currently held by Rep. Jim Jordan, a Republican.

I remembered where I was as I watched in horror as domestic terrorists stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 2021. I wondered how I would explain to my daughter what was happening. I wondered if those people understood what they were doing to us.

Most importantly, I wondered if my country would ever be the same. A year later, we still don’t know.

America is at a crossroads. If the conspirators behind the coup attempt go without consequences, it will happen again. And then we’re on our way to being just another country where power is transferred by bloodshed and not elections.

That’s not the nation I proudly served in uniform, and I know it’s not the nation my friends and neighbors are proud to be citizens of.

An orchestrated insurrection is an even greater crime, and those responsible for both must be held accountable. If 2021 was a year of violence and chaos, we must make 2022 a year of political reckoning for the traitors who sparked it, whether in a court of law or at the ballot box.

Jeff Sites, Lima

Moderate Ryan more likely to get votes than progressive Harper

In his Jan. 2 letter, “Morgan Harper a ‘fighter’ who wants to give everyone a fair shot,” Matthew Roediger praised Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Morgan Harper, and said why voters should prefer her to Tim Ryan.

Harper is one of many “progressive” Democrats across the country. Notably, President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats were unable to get Congress to enact many measures sought by these “progressives” in 2021. I’m a Democratic-leaning voter myself, and like many Republicans and independents, I have grave reservations about the “progressive” agenda.

In contrast to Harper, candidate Tim Ryan is more centrist and more likely to get the votes of independent voters. Ohioans are in general mostly conservative, and the state’s voters are more likely to vote for a moderate like Ryan than Harper.

At this time, many Republican politicians are doing things like promoting lies advanced by former president Trump, and trying to rig state voting systems in their favor where possible.

Given these high stakes, Democratic-leaning voters should settle for what they can get and maintain, rather than aspire for things they’re very unlikely to achieve.

Michael Hamill, Columbus

Who decides which citizens are ‘law abiding?’

I agree with John Mclaughlin‘s Jan. 3 letter, “Lawabiding citizens’ should not have more gun restrictions,” that we should not restrict law-abiding citizens’ access to guns for their self-protection.

Now we just have to figure out which citizens are law-abiders. A list would be helpful. John?

Neal Snyder, Columbus

Second Amendment about more than right to bear arms; read the whole thing

The Jan. 4 letter, “Dewine urged to uphold Second Amendment, sign concealed carry bill,” was interesting.

In it, Lindower urges the governor to sign the concealed-carry bill that is sitting on his desk. His argument for this bill is the the last part of the Second Amendment. You know the part that says “...the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Lindower conveniently overlooked the first part of that Amendment that says, “a well regulated militia, being necessary for the security of a free State ...”.

I suggest that Lindower look up the definition of the word “regulated.”

Chuck Morrisey, Grove City