YOUR VIEWS

Hollywood hypocrisy

With so many pop culture icons in the world of movies and television, isn’t it time they are called out for inserting so much gun violence into their creations? The use of violence, exploitation of women and animals, where actors and rappers are admired for these acts? If they are going to argue for gun control, which is already law, let us argue against their right to bodyguards with guns, or gate-keepers with guns at their mansions and gated neighborhoods. Of course, all they are doing is “fitting in” with the mentally adolescent clique of Hollywood. Like penguins to the water, they will trek to whatever is cool if it brings them acceptance by their fellow groupies. These are the same people who look down on all who seek and worship God. I would argue against censorship in their productions, but I know they don’t have the ability to see their holier-than-thou emotions are trying to censure me. Yes, I take it personally.

Leo Kuschnereit, Midwest City

Beware of promises

The terrible mass murder in Las Vegas should not be used by America’s political left to threaten Second Amendment rights for citizens to keep and bear arms. In America, too often gun ownership is demonized as an evil right that brings death and destruction instead of as a source of protection from harm. Television and movie personalities, politicians and university professors seem bent on distorting the facts of the causes of crimes and the values of gun ownership.

Beware of those who promise you security from criminal acts but in turn want you to surrender your Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms. Remember, a free people is an armed people.

Allen H. Wise, Edmond

Not fair or compassionate

U.S. Sens. James Lankford, Thom Tillis and Orrin Hatch recently unveiled the SUCCEED Act (Solution for Undocumented Children through Careers Employment Education and Defending our Nation). In a press release, Tillis

stated, “The SUCCEED Act is a fair and compassionate solution that requires individuals to demonstrate they are productive and law-abiding members of their communities to earn legal status. This is a merit-based solution that should unite members of both parties, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the path forward.” The reality is that this legislation is neither fair nor compassionate.

As recipients of DACA, “dreamers” have maintained the standards described in the SUCCEED Act. Requiring people, for whom this is their lifelong home, to wait a minimum of an additional 15 years to “be eligible to apply for” a green card is unwarranted and intentionally demoralizing. Every two years they have paid their fee and reapplied to the program, meeting all criteria to maintain their DACA status. The finish line must stop being moved. We aren’t talking about goods that ended up here and now we want to return them. These are humans who have families, relationships, roots, careers, educational aspirations and worth.

Eric Davis, Tecumseh

Nothing funny about it

Perhaps Steven Perry (Your Views, Oct.9) is unaware that when the Big 12 downsized to 10 teams, it couldn’t use the name Big Ten because it was in use by another conference (which has, by the way, 14 teams). But my big problem in his letter is with the word “lie,” which in my lexicon denotes intent to deceive, when no deception was intended. Clearly, neither the Big 12 Conference nor the Big Ten saw a need to spend tons of money to “rebrand” itself just for numerical accuracy. Saving money doesn’t make you a “funny cousin.”

Ron Griffis, Oklahoma City