Would you be willing to give up the right to possess unlimited assault weapons, super-sized magazines and ammunition, if it would save the life of one innocent child? If it would save the lives of hundreds of innocent children?
Would you consider agreeing that no individual citizen needs an arsenal of assault weapons, which have been used almost exclusively for the murder of school children and other innocent people?
Would you be willing to vote against any political office holder or candidate who wants unlimited access to assault weaponry, without regard to age or mental competence?
These are three questions I hope you’ll ask yourself before you vote later this year. Will you follow your conscience, not your political affiliation? Will you?
Cory Raymond
McAllen
Lack of action
is disturbing
On May 27, MSNBC reported more disturbing facts about the UvaldeElementary School tragedy where 19 children and two teachers were killed by a deranged 18-year-old male using two Daniel assault rifles he purchased legally. This mass killing occurred just 10 days after the shooting of grocery store shoppers in Buffalo, N.Y., by another deranged 18-year-old with a similar weapon. Besides the evident gun control policy issues, there were also apparent gross performance failures by officers in Uvalde based on MSNBC investigations, beginning with Uvalde’s mayor, as follows:
1. During a news conference by Gov. Abbott, Mayor Don McLaughlin shouted obscenities at Beto O’Rourke for blaming Abbott when he pointed out that Abbott had failed to pass proper gun laws to protect Texas children (rather, Abbott recently signed seven laws that make acquiring guns/weapons in Texas easier). McLaughlin called Beto a “sick SOB,” and Beto was removed. All MSNBC commentators and others pointed out that more than half of Texas residents agreed with Beto’s gun safety proposals, so that McLaughlin and those behind him were the real sick SOBs for ignoring them.
In my opinion, Mayor McLaughlin should resign. He is responsible for Uvalde residents’ safety. Prayers alone save no one.
2. Police reports have been misleading. It turns out that the gunman was not confronted/engaged outside the school by a school police officer. Instead, apparently it took more than one hour for the police and U.S. marshals to arrive. And once there and “armed to their teeth,” they stood outside the school “doing nothing,” while children were being killed inside the school. Students themselves called for help, but officers did not respond. They acted improperly and against protocol adopted after the Columbine incident. So, there appears to have been gross negligence.
At a minimum, some disciplining/reform may be called for. Parents may have grounds for legal action against local, state and/or federal authorities.
3. Upon seeing the inaction by officials outside the school, a parent insisted on going in herself to get her children. U.S. marshals handcuffed her, letting her go only after local police intervened. Thereafter, she went in by jumping over the fence, and safely got her two children out. I let the public decide what to do with these U.S. marshals.
I agree with Rep. Joaquin Castro that a full investigation is needed to determine whether there was misconduct and/or negligence by government officials in Uvalde. The people of Texas deserve this much.
Raul Field Escandon
Houston
Impose
beliefs
In a recent commentary (May 25) (May 29), Gerard Pahl states that he is opposed to abortion for his wife and himself but does not want to impose his beliefs on anyone else. Then he proceeds to imagine all these different scenarios as to why women should have abortions.
Mr. Pahl, it is cowardly for you to oppose abortion based on your beliefs and not be willing to stand up for them. You have to pick a lane and support it with truths, not made-up scenarios.
The problem of relativism is the “evil monster” that we currently face in our society today because we have lost our moral compass. Members of a society who have no problem killing children in the womb have no problem killing children in the classroom.
Writing a commentary that supports killing of children through abortion is not in line with a person who supposedly has “so called beliefs.”
Ileana Vicinaiz
Palmhurst
Requested
of candidate
An open letter to candidate Mayra Flores. Here is a novel idea for your campaign ads. Instead of spending your money trashing the Washington liberals, please enlighten the voters on how you plan to address the affordable medical care crisis. Maybe you should reveal your plans to end the homeless and opioid crisis.
Do you know or even care that the American education system is crumbling? Enlighten us, please!
David Fleiner
Harlingen
