Letters: Guns, Second Amendment, NRA Convention, Voter IDs, Garland Election, Amazon, Prayer

Do your homework on NRARe: "We're not all gun nuts -- Joshua J. Whitfield: Will the NRA speak to people who appreciate guns but not bravado?" Thursday Viewpoints.Educate yourself regarding the National Rifle Association's history -- both recent and early. Read The Last Gun by Tom Diaz as a primer. Just because you've shot all manner of weapons doesn't qualify you as an expert to claim that guns are an American way of life. So what? Americans aren't marching on the village green with their weapons, so they are not "a well-regulated militia," as described in the Second Amendment. Uncontrolled slaughter should not be a consequence or "fabric of these United States." Ask Parkland, Fla. Consider that Lee Harvey Oswald bought his Italian assault rifle by mail order, and since then hundreds of thousands of Americans have been killed by cheap, unregulated firearms largely enabled by NRA lobbyists who have bought, lock stock and barrel, politicians who support deregulation of cheap and lethal firearms. And those same politicians are going to speak at the NRA meeting in Dallas -- but no guns allowed during VIP speakers. NRA lobbyists wrote, verbatim, the Stand Your Ground law that got Trayvon Martin's killer exonerated. That was "outdoors."Wade A. Crowder, DallasGuarding revenue, not rightsJoshua J. Whitfield wishes that the National Rifle Association would present a less ideological and dogmatic front that would represent the thoughts of most gun owners like me who take a less extreme view of common-sense gun control issues. The NRA, gun manufacturers and other Second Amendment champions will have us believe that any further regulation of guns could eventually lead us down a slippery slope to the federal government enacting severe limitations on gun ownership and even seizing guns. At some point they envision the possibility of having to take up arms to defend against an oppressive government. ("Take my gun from my cold dead hands.")In my view this is an irrational fear approaching paranoia. The cynic in me also makes me wonder if the manufacturers and purveyors of guns that provide substantial funding to the NRA are less interested in protecting gun rights than they are interested in protecting revenue from gun sales.Fred R. Neary, Far North DallasGun ban is standard protocolRe: "Trump gets a gun ban?" by Tina Sanchez, and "Gun ban doesn't add up," by Jan Schroeder, Thursday Letters.In response to Sanchez and Schroeder's letters regarding no guns allowed while President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are at the NRA meeting in Dallas, a little research might do them well. This was a decision made not by the NRA but rather the Secret Service. It is standard protocol to ban weapons when POTUS and VPOTUS speak at events. Sorry to put facts in the way of your narrative.Chad Blacklock, KennedaleApply gun safety rules to allIf having more guns makes America safer and National Rifle Association members are the safest gun owners, why are guns prohibited before and during President Donald Trump's and Vice President Mike Pence's appearances at the NRA convention? Why not have the same gun safety rules for all Americans' appearances everywhere?Frank Allen, RichardsonGive voters ample noticeRegarding elections in Garland, I voted early this week and was surprised by the Propositions to City of Garland Codes and Procedures on the ballot. I had never heard anything about these "housecleaning" amendments or propositions leading up to the election. Upon inquiry I was told that city of Garland leadership felt it was not worth notifying the electorate in Garland of these proposals. What? If the voters are asked to vote on the issues, they need to know what the issues are. Rationale or reluctance to spend has gotten in the way of the voting process of government leaders toward the very people who make their jobs possible.Gary D. Sawyer, GarlandAbortion issue drives electionsMany recent letters supporting a midterm Democrat surge have listed numerous issues for consideration by voters. However, they have ignored the Texas elephant in the room. The Democrat platform is pro-abortion and the Republican platform is pro-life. Except for some inner-city and border districts, Texas is a pro-life state. I think this major issue will continue the Republican leadership of the Lone Star State.David W. Ramsey, North DallasDon't alienate corporationsIs Austin deliberately trying to end economic investment in Texas or are they just stupid? Are they trying to give away Amazon's HQ2? Companies are looking for locations that are big on human rights and what is best for the people.I know, that goes against what Austin is famous for. Vote in November, folks, and do a statewide cleanse. Bring back decency to Texas.Kurt Wolfenbarger, East DallasPhoto ID is reasonable Re: "Texas confuses voters, hurts turnout with dueling elections," by Gromer Jeffers Jr., Thursday Metro & State column.I take issue with Jeffers' assertion that voter ID laws resulting in voter suppression should be considered a negative. Quite the contrary if voter ID prevents illegitimate voters from voting.How can anyone not obtain a photo ID? An ID is necessary to conduct all sorts of interactions in daily life. Surely Jeffers doesn't mean to imply that certain segments of the population are too clueless or too lazy to obtain a photo ID?Citizens who care enough to vote will find a way to obtain the needed photo ID. I'm all for any law that suppresses illegal voting.Tom Wilson, GrapevinePrayer not only for ChristiansRe: "National Day of Prayer," by Bob Mattila, Thursday Letters.The National Day of Prayer is intended for all religions, not just Christianity. Therefore, Mattila's assumption that: "Our nation is being torn apart because we no longer follow these instructions and everything else in the Bible" is narrow-minded and erroneous. The quote of John Adams: "Our Constitution was made for moral and religious people" does not designate a specific religion. There are millions of religious people who are not Christians. Neither is it necessary to be religious to be moral.The holy books/manuscripts of all the major/minor religions worldwide have teachings similar to those in the Christian Bible. The Christian Bible, God and Jesus are not necessary for the United States nor the world to achieve unity. Acceptance of all religions is what brings about unity. The U.S. has embraced freedom of/from religion since its beginning, something that seems to be forgotten by Mattila and other Christians.A National Day of Prayer is futile unless it is sincerely for everyone and every faith.Charlotte Camilla Koford, Dallas/Old Lake Highlands  Continue reading...

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