Media shouldn’t make mass murderers famous
Regarding “Name the names, run the gruesome pictures” (Open Forum June 2): Our mass shootings are plainly copycat crimes. Yes, the public does need to be confronted with the grisly victim images, but not the shooters’ names or photos.
There’s no valid reason to give mass murderers their 15 minutes of fame. They should know they will be consigned to posthumous oblivion. The author’s inference that publicizing these perpetrators might deter future mass shootings is flat wrong.
George Petty, Berkeley
Show reality of killing
Regarding “Name the names, run the gruesome pictures” (Open Forum June 2): Edward Wasserman is correct. The news is too nice to the killers. We need to see what they actually have done.
I would add that until we change the Second Amendment, gun control is an illusion. Any laws passed just get tossed by the courts. We are so afraid of the National Rifle Association that we talk about piecemeal measures. We need a comprehensive national gun policy with real enforcement. Let us acknowledge the rampaging elephant that is in our living room, so to speak.
Charles R. Donaldson, Sacramento
Ignore false recall claims
I greatly appreciate recent letter writers Judith Garvey (“Don’t blame Boudin,” June 2) and Henry Der (“Boudin supports victims,” May 31) as well as the many retired judges (“Retired judges oppose recall of Boudin,” May 12) who effectively called out the drone of falsehoods supporting the recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin.
I’m not a supporter of Boudin, but I detest dishonest political campaigning, and I insist on high-quality objective reporting. Garvey and Der, together with our judges have substantially debunked the dishonest and self-serving recall claims. Furthermore, it is clear to me that Boudin is doing exactly what he said he would do when elected. Yes, elected! If people are unhappy with that, they can work to elect another candidate next election.
Finally, I was disappointed by the recent column on the recall by Chronicle writer Heather Knight (“Boudin’s promises on victims disputed,” May 29). I felt Knight relied on biased sources and failed to sufficiently research the issues. Knight’s platform requires a higher level of scholarship.
It is my hope that San Franciscans will rise above the false, self-serving campaigning of the recall supporters, and, if they have another preference, it won’t be long till until the next election.
James Wesser, San Francisco
Offer a second chance
Regarding “D.A. withdraws motion in lifer’s release” (Bay Area & Business, June 3): I’ve written and visited Clyde Jackson since 2013. After a very difficult childhood, he committed this terrible crime when he was 17 and has lived his life ever since to become a better person.
He has been in prison for almost 42 years — 31 years spent in solitary confinement. I’ve written a play, “Solitary Man: A Visit to Pelican Bay State Prison,” based on his letters, and I initiated the process to request his resentencing. Since he was released into general prison population in 2014, he’s taken every class and done everything possible to demonstrate his rehabilitation. He has excellent recommendations from staff and guards and is a role model for younger prisoners. He was the one long-term survivor of solitary confinement in all California prisons to be chosen to be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on “60 Minutes.”
Does the chance for rehabilitation mean anything, or is this society only about vengeance? If anyone has used the prison system successfully to change their lives it is Clyde. I truly hope he gets out one day and is given the opportunity to prove himself to society — because I think all of us will benefit.