 AUGUST 1999 | VOLUME 3, | ||
| IN-BOX RECENT MAIL RESPOND PROTOCOL: Limit letters to 200 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity, length and grammar. Letters must be intelligent and well thought out (no personal attacks). Respect the opinions of others.
FULL ISSUE CONTENTS | RE: Stop the Insanity [June 1999] Get Real ROB HOPKINS Lacking Journalistic Responsibility I will start by saying that I am not a gun enthusiast. I am an American citizen who is seeing his country's government crumple to the will of a few instead of the majority. Our democratic system is becoming a sham because of extremists finding or creating loopholes in our law system to allow them to force their ways upon others. These self same people, who are supposedly fighting for safety and freedom, also exploit tragedy and the media's ravenous appetite for attention and ratings to get their story hurled in the faces of people throughout the country. Why not be responsible and teach responsibility and morals instead of taking away? I freely admit that guns are potentially lethal items and should be treated as such when placed in a home. But on the other hand, knives, forks, screwdrivers and glassware can be just as deadly if a parent doesn't educate their children about them. Would you consider plumbing supplies to be a deadly weapon? I didn't either, but these people did and created bombs. I don't see very many parents moving quickly to place these items high on shelves, behind locked doors or, even more, working to create harsh laws to regulate them. What about cars? If ever there was a readily available "weapon" of mass destruction, that's it. Are they tightly regulated? One would like to think so, but not any more than what is being proposed for guns. Cars are purchased and not registered very regularly. There are common ways around that. They're stolen and used for various criminal purposes. How many times in the last month have you heard the words "vehicular manslaughter?" I remind you that shortly before the subjugation of Germany, Adolf Hitler strictly regulated guns to promote "safety" among the people. Look what happened there. All of a sudden 38,000 deaths don't look like that many when viewed in that light. But even one deliberate death is too many. We have to create a solution, but creating laws isn't going to solve the disease. It will just soothe a few consciences and take away the symptom. A tool is a tool. Lack of education is what makes it a weapon. The bottom line is that teaching respect, responsibility for ones actions and morals are what keep human beings from killing human beings, not laws. Return to teaching children these lessons and many of the problems our country is facing will fade. In closing, demand that the media expose our children to less violence and broadcast more responsible programs. Teach them that brains, not brawn, is the true path to justice and the American way. Tragedies can be avoided by teaching children to think instead of lashing out. STEVE CHAVEZ RE: Covering the Kennedy Tragedy [July 1999] Enough Already A wire story profile of Rory Kennedy today noted now she attempted CPR on her fatally injured brother, detailing his blood in her mouth... That's when I knew I'd had enough. Let's move on to the tasteful private funeral so we can place our orders for commemorative plates. Will the tragedy-enhanced Lynyrd Skynyrd release a "tribute" version of "Free Bird" with profits to equip all private planes with floatation devices? Nothing will surprise me. R. SUE DODEA Crown Prince MARNY MELINO RE: The Blair Witch Project [July 1999] Fiction Not Fact MIKE FALLIK RE: Don't Overlook Us [July 1999] Deal With It STEVEN BORGIDA | |