Need to focus more on police training
For many people, the aquittal of Michael Rosfeld in the shooting of Antwon Rose came as another confirmation of the brokenness of our criminal justice system (March 24, “Verdict Shakes City”). However, in the whole debate, far too little attention was paid to the question of police training.
Mr. Rosfeld’s attorney said that he did “what he was supposed to do,” and unfortunately he is probably right. Police officers are trained to use deadly force in case of doubt. The fatal encounter between Mr. Rosfeld and Antwon unfolded within seconds — clearly not enough time for any careful deliberation, but only to follow one’s “muscle memory” from police training.
We need to follow the lead of other countries, which are training their officers to employ de-escalation tactics, to use their guns only as a measure of last resort and even then try to avoid killing the suspect. Unless the question of police training is receiving greater scrutiny, members of our minority communities will continue to die. AYRES FREITAS Squirrel Hill
Gaza violence
While I agree that violence in Gaza is tragic, the writer of the March 22 letter “Victims in Gaza are Being Ignored” neglects to mention that Gaza militants regularly hurl rockets into Israel and hide their weapons among civilian populations to discourage Israeli response.
There was no mention of the fact walls were built to deter suicide bombers who regularly snuck into Israel. Also, no mention of the Jewish casualties from Gaza rockets.
All violence should be repudiated. We begin by refusing to excuse anybody, for any reason. LEE THOMPSON Carnegie
Steelers offseason
As a proud Steelers fan and resident of Pittsburgh, I think the Steelers have done a great job this offseason. Many people are criticizing the Steelers’ decisions: Trading Antonio Brown, letting Le’Veon Bell walk and not signing any big free agents. Many people do not agree with the Steelers’ decisions. I do.
Although the Steelers got rid of talent, they also got rid of their drama. They say to win you need four things: a good coach, quarterback, general manager and owner. The Steelers still have these. Even though the Steelers have talent, they never tried to blow people away with talent. They blew them away with team play and a winning culture. Besides, we have talent.
We still have an top-tier back in James Conner and a top-10 receiver in JuJu SmithSchuster. Both players had over 1,000 all-purpose yards. Not to mention we still have the best offensive line in football. We still have T.J. Watt, who had 13 sacks last season. All three players are under the age of 25.
The Steelers just added Mark Barron and Steven Nelson to their defensive secondary. Both played in the playoffs and showed that they can play defense. The Steelers also added wide receiver Donte Moncrief and piled up 10 draft picks.
This season is going to be interesting.
DONTAE WASHINGTON
Hill District
Popular vote
The March 22 op-ed by Kevin D. Williamson, “Democrats are Bent on Revolution,” does not belong in a respectable newspaper. Its rightful home is a dark, conspiracymongering corner of the internet. Mr. Williamson ignores American history.
Constitutional Convention delegates in 1787 considered several options for selecting a president, including popular vote and selection by the Congress. The Electoral College was a compromise to placate slave-owning states.
Because a slave was counted as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of assigning representatives to the House of Representatives (slaves could not vote), slave states received a greater share of congressional delegates than their voting population warranted. James Madison favored direct popular vote in theory, but because he represented the slave state of Virginia, he eventually supported the Electoral College.
The argument against direct popular vote was that an uneducated populace might elect a demagogue. The argument against selection by Congress was the danger of foreign influence on members of Congress. How well did that work?
The U. S. Senate gives lowpopulation states outsize influence in the federal government. There, Montana’s 1 million people have the same representation as California’s nearly 40 million people.
Remember, “We the People.” The Senate already balances regional influence. Cows do not vote. Acres do not vote. Only people vote. If ending the Electoral College is a revolution, then as Thomas Jefferson stated “…a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.” MIRIAM E. LINDAUER
Bethel Park