Time to get tough on terrorists
South Ozone Park: My heart goes out to the families of those killed in Tuesday’s attack in Manhattan, and kudos to the first responders at the scene. Unfortunately, because of our current laws, these radicals are protected and able to plan and carry out their maniacal actions. I have a suggestion. The FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the police all know who the radicals are; they have a list. Because of the laws that govern people’s rights, enforcement cannot do anything with these people because they are protected by our laws. These acts are terrorism, and some laws should be waived. Let’s start kicking in the doors of these people and searching their homes. Yes, warrants are needed, so let’s get them. Law enforcement knows who and where these people are.
It’s unfortunate law enforcement’s hands are tied, so let’s untie them. Let’s see the stockpile of weapons and any plans the radicals may have and nip them in the bud before any more innocent lives are lost. Sheila Cohen
Target Muslim communities
Brooklyn: Why in 2017 can’t our police and FBI run into Muslim communities and chase terrorists down? We did it to the Mafia, in Italian-American communities, and the Westies, in Irish neighborhoods. Where’s all the police surveillance, cameras, wiretaps, bugging and doors kicked in? We don’t do this in the Muslim communities. Are we just gonna sit here, like sitting ducks, while they plot, plan and pray for our destruction? Get our police forces, FBI, CIA, etc., back in the game. Forget about their religion, their ways and start remembering this is the United States of America, not the United States of Islam. Now chase them down, because they’re out there. Bug them, spy on them, just like what was done to the other organizations. They have destroyed peaceful civilization for too long. Patrick Doyle
Punish the families
Brooklyn: Concerning the latest cowardly attack in New York, I propose the following: This coward destroyed families. I say if a terrorist can be identified, their families should pay the price for their relative’s despicable, cowardly act! Round up their mother, father, sisters and brothers and place them in jail for life. Then we would see how willing a terrorist would be to do their cowardly act.
Jeff Kulikowski
Respect before resilience
Staten Island: I am personally getting sick and tired of hearing politicians say that New Yorkers are resilient after each and every terrorist attack. I am tired of being resilient. I am tired of being strong. I want something done to prevent these attacks. I will leave what that is up to the politicians since they don’t seems to be doing much of anything these days. Also, had the attack happened a few days earlier, I would have said we should go back to business as usual, but the attack happened on Halloween and we still held our annual Halloween Parade in the Village. This is not business as usual, this is disrespectful to those eight victims who died that day. It was also costly, with the added security. I think we could give up one day of acting like children to show some respect for the dead. To tourists visiting, we must have appeared cold-hearted and uncaring. I know we need to send a message to terrorists that they will not affect us, but this was just wrong! Dawn Russell
A failing President
Bronx: Shame on Donald J. Trump! When will he rise to being President of the United States of America instead of being a deranged toddler? A terrorist act committed against innocent people, and instead of consoling the nation he launches an attack tweet against Sen. Chuck Schumer. It was hoped by some that he would “grow” into the presidency. Instead of becoming more presidential, he’s been devolving into a place where it becomes clearer every single day that he cannot and should not be the leader of this great nation. He does not have the temperament or the ability for such a task. He should resign now for the sake of the nation. I’m no fan of Vice President Mike Pence, but he would at least bring back dignity to the White House and the country. Pauline Graham Binder
Happening all over again
Brooklyn: It was only a matter of time. Take a good look around: It’s not only guns; it’s cars, too, killing innocent people. It’s not a car accident; it’s a terrorist attack. It’s been 16 years since the World Trade Center attacks and I am as fearful as ever. I know the governor tells us to go on with our lives. It’s not that easy. I continue to keep the news on, and when I hear heartbreaking news, I dial to see where my family is. It was Hallow- een, a day for children to have some fun. Nothing is fun when terrorism looms over our heads. I wish I had an answer, but I do not. What I do know is that it’s only a matter of time. Mariann Tepedino
De Blasio’s P.R. problem
Forest Hills: In the wake of the horrendous terrorist attack in lower Manhattan, our mayor wore his Puerto Rican flag on his lapel. I guess with the election a week away, he had votes on his mind, not the tragedy at hand.
Mary Manly
Pinning down the mayor
Astoria: I am so disgusted with Mayor de Blasio. After people are killed by a terrorist in the shadow of where the World Trade Center stood, he could not even put an American flag pin on his lapel. The arrogance of this man is beyond the pale. To wear a pin other than that of your country after it’s been attacked shows the ideology of this man and where his priorities stand. What is truly sickening is that he has a chance of being reelected, which will only embolden him to further change this city into his warped perception of what the world should look like. Linda Smith
Your neighborly nonterrorist
Sacramento, Calif.: If not talking to the neighbors is a sign of terrorism, then the police need to investigate everyone on my block. None of them speak to me, and some even duck back into the house when they see me, to avoid me saying hello to them. Apparently, the reason is that I work from home. That I am not seen commuting every day, and am seen walking to the corner store in casual clothes during business hours, got the rumor started that I am “on welfare” and therefore too poor to be worth talking to. Ironically, only one house on the block has no mortgage — mine. I’m also debt-free, other than the few items I’ve ordered from Amazon this month, to be paid off when the Visa bill arrives.
Karen M. Campbell
Unstoppable tragedies
Bronx: Re: “Our city attacked” (editorial, Nov. 1): The News says, “No travel ban would have stopped this man.” No gun law would have stopped Stephen Paddock in Vegas. Mike Clarke
Biased words
Fairfax, Va.: The News made several assumptions about the driver that have shaped the national discourse regarding Muslims, Muslim Americans and immigrants (“Eight dead after terrorist in Home Depot truck runs down bikers,” Nov. 1). The title begins with calling the maniac who decided to hurt and maim bicyclists a terrorist. This is clearly a description based on the alleged maniac’s race, faith and ethnic background. Our Constitution is designed to protect us from discrimination on those grounds, but your journalists and many others in your industry seem to believe that it is fair to classify any foreign or first-generation Muslim male who commits an act of horror as a terrorist. Your paper reserves the term terrorist solely for Muslim suspects. White mass murderers are not terrorists. White mass murderers who shoot black men and women in church are not terrorists. In fact, so much coverage is placed upon the mental state of the alleged white suspect that it makes it almost laughable that a sane white person would be a killer. History is rampant with many examples of heinous white murderers, serial killers and terrorists. Yet, when a Middle Eastern man shouts “Allahu Akbar” and kills innocent people, he cannot be sick, mentally ill or deranged. He must be a terrorist. Your article was particularly biased, and it deeply disturbed me. I hope that you will use the word terrorist to describe all insane killers — Muslims, whites, Christians, etc.
Mohammad Mahmoudi
Wasted words
Indianapolis: “Suspect” is too often abused as a way of describing “the person who was observed doing such-and-such.” The person who actually did this or that, was observed doing this or that, or even admits doing this or that is not a mere “suspect.” He’s the driver, the attacker, the stabber, the shooter or whatever. Using “suspect” to describe the person who actually did something, and was caught in the act of doing it, is not good word usage.
Clifford W. Shepard