Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, October 8, 2017

NRA supporters need a choice
Our national tragedy gets played out over and over again with no end in sight.  Fifty-nine confirmed dead, over 500 wounded. Will the next mass shooting be 100 killed and 1,000 wounded? Every agency has to be part the solution to mitigate the slaughter of innocent people.
The National Rifle Association solution is more killing machines.
Most reasonable gun enthusiasts understand that we have a epidemic of gun violence. As the NRA is currently configured,  by default if you support the NRA you are part of the problem.
I propose a reasonable solution for the NRA. Split the NRA in two.
One branch of the NRA would support hunting rights, gun safety, sport shooting, reasonable Second Amendment rights, etc. Call this branch NRA-S (sporting).
The other branch of the NRA would support assault weapons, high capacity magazines, body armor piercing bullets, no background checks, no waiting period, no permits for concealed weapons, automatic weapons and silencers. Every conceivable machine for slaughtering people is protected under the Second Amendment.  The latter branch we’ll call NRA-K (killing).
An NRA supporter can decide which branch of the NRA represents their interests. Do you support NRA sporting or NRA killing?
As it stands now the NRA is culpable for mass murder.
— James Robinson
Anchorage
When good men become bad
The gun aficionados continually affirm that “the cure for a bad man with a gun is a good man with a gun.” Well, before the horrific event in Las Vegas, Stephen Paddock, who had no criminal record, either felony or misdemeanor, would have been described as a good man.
— Penny Burt
Anchorage
In a free America, protests  are a means of change
Mr. Randy Lee Harkins (“Get up,” Letters, Oct. 5)  could be auditioning for the next season of “Mad Men” with his intemperate response to the national anthem protests. This angry neighbor should reflect on the fact that Rosa Parks, a hero to many of us, made her mark on history NOT by standing up, but by sitting down. And yes, some were angry with her, too; but history has decided she was right.
Newspapers, including these letters, are no more a protected form of speech than is kneeling during the national anthem. The personnel on the field have the right to express their opinions. Mr. Harkins has the right to visit his refrigerator while they do so. That’s America.
— Scott Walker
Anchorage
Thoughts from the daughter of a hunter
I come from a family of hunters. We don’t need semi-automatic weapons to provide for our families. We need bolt-action precision rifles. We don’t need machines that are capable of decimating hundreds of living creatures in minutes, we need crossbows. There is no reason why a civilian should be able to walk into a shop and purchase weapons that are capable of this amount of destruction, without so much as a hunting license.
This year, there have been as many mass shootings as there have been days. Hundreds have died. Teachers and doctors and lawyers and parents and children and spouses. Does this surprise you? I am brokenhearted and resentful but not surprised. What is surprising about a person with a mental health issue and access to military weapons unleashing his fury publicly? Unlike a hurricane or an earthquake, this problem can oft be prevented. I’ll send my prayers to the victims of Harvey and Puerto Rico, but let’s send letters to representatives for this one. Yes, we need to decrease the stigma associated with mental health in America, and yes we need to have basic measures of security at public venues. But while these issues may be involved in certain instances involving gun violence, let’s look at the one thing that all these cases have in common: Accessibility to automatic and semi-automatic weapons. Let’s start making changes now.
— Krista Soderlund
Anchorage
Thanks, Gene Horner
I finally found the time to read your front page Sunday article, “Sounding one final salute” (Oct. 1). Your profile on Gene Horner was as amazing as he is!
The fact that he makes certain that our military members are buried with a live bugling of taps is something to be admired and hopefully emulated by others.
I recently attended a funeral on JBER for a friend who had served in the Air Force and heard Mr. Horner’s live version.  I should have taken the time to thank him then!
The picture or Mr. Horner standing in the blowing snow on Veterans Day 2009 was especially moving.
Thank you, Gene, for your service and your continued service and respect to all military members.
— John Alcantra
Palmer
The views expressed here are the writers’ own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.
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