Your letters June 28, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Poor choice of photo
I am disappointed with The Associated Press article, “High court affirms gun rights in major decision” by Mark Sherman, that you chose to run on the front page on Friday, with the accompanying picture of a young African-American male buying a gun.
It is placement of subliminal messages such as this that plays on the fears of many that violent crime is perpetrated by this group. The article goes on to quote Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago who called the ruling “very frightening” and who predicted more violence and higher taxes to pay for extra police if his city’s gun restrictions are lost.
I compare your choice of article/picture to today’s KC Star article authored by Rick Montgomery that contained pictures of two Supreme Court justices, one affirming, one dissenting, and then a thoughtful review of the Second Amendment and an interesting sidebar describing gun laws in other countries. This article strives to raise the bar of discussion above the sensational and helps the reader consider constitutional and global issues. Your choice of article does neither.
This country needs a discussion on violence: it’s causes, costs and curtailment, and not subliminal messages that black men buy guns. Your readership has a right to front page articles that provide information to stimulate intelligent discussions not innuendo to inflame deeply seated prejudices. Your “Debate” page is the appropriate place for editorials.
If the St. Joseph News-Press does not have a staff writer capable of writing a quality article, then at least, the front page editor should be one capable of selecting unbiased articles/photos from The Associated Press.
Kate Brunk
St. Joseph
Good for Kay
Kay Barnes was right to tell Congressman Sam Graves’ henchmen to “get a life” when they harassed her with a video camera (“Barnes wants to focus on issues,” June 18). Those of us who have witnessed, and been victims of, Graves’ dirty campaign tactics are glad to see that Barnes won’t get bogged down by them. Instead, she is focusing on the real issues that matter to Missourians.
It’s no wonder that Graves doesn’t want to talk about the price of gas or health care and how Barnes would vote differently from him. He has been part of the problem in Washington for so long that his only strategy is to deflect attention from his record.
Kudos to Barnes for not getting distracted by Graves’ shameful negative attacks. We need someone like her to clean up the mess in Washington.
Bob Saunders
Liberty, Mo.
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Guns don't kill people ! People Kill People !, an old comedian said it best, IF guns kill people then I guess I can blame mis-spelled words on my pencil ! I DO carry a gun, and I am licensed to do so, therfore, if you are a criminal and try to rob me or otherwise threaten me, I WILL shoot you. In addition, if I see you raping some woman along the parkway trail, or beating the thunder out of an older defenceless person, I WILL shoot you ! The messaqge for the criminals is, I know you need money, we ALL do but I worked for mine and if you try to take it from me, I WILL shoot you. Get a job, get off of drugs, and clean your life up or you are likely to attempt to take advantage of someone who will not tolerate it, and if it's me, you will NOT get a second chance, we are taught in class, DON'T shoot to wound, make sure it counts, and if YOU feel you need to empty a 17 round clip to escape the threat, DO IT!
And to all law abiding citizens, don't fear or condem us, all we want is our GOD given right to be safe and protect ourselves, we do not consider ourselves 21st Century cowboys and will be happy if we NEVER need to use our guns, but I would rather have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Remember that you may be the one on the parkway getting raped, or the senior citizen being beaten and robbed, well I assure you, if I am around to witness it, you will not have to wait for the Police to come help you, and the beauty of the whole thing is, Criminals are thinking twice about doing wrong, they are wondering, Hmmm,
does this guy have a gun. We ARE partly responsible for taking our Country back from the undesirables and we need ALL the help we can get!! GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!!
Steve-O
Posted by momswisher on June 28, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)To Steve O ::: EXACTLY !! TO THE POINT AND VERY WELL SAID.........
Posted by dalearch on June 28, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)Steve-O:
I think the reason people blame it on the guns is that then they don't have to think things through.
If guns are so dangerous wouldn't it be deadly to go to a gun show?
Posted by gladimgone on June 28, 2008 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)So, to be more "appropriate" the picture should have depicted a Bible-thumpin', gun lovin' (thanks, Barak!) toothless redneck with a beer in one hand, cigarette in the other, a bassett hound at his side wearing an Elmer Fudd hat (the redneck, not the bassett hound; well okay, maybe both)?
Do not young African American males buy guns also (and drive cars, eat pizza and mow the lawn) just like any other demographic?
Are the PC Police so strong now that a newspaper article inflames deeply seated prejedices? Does anyone hear the "R" word in there?
Posted by gingersnapp on June 28, 2008 at 10:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)Dalearch maybe you didn't think things through. How many loaded guns have you ever seen at a gun show. Even in right to carry states loaded guns are banned at gun shows.
Posted by dalearch on June 29, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)Ginger:
Let’s think a little here. I wonder if someone could carry in bullets to put in a gun.
Posted by comment on June 29, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)I did not see it quite that way Kate. I saw a young African-American who has a right to protect himself and his family.
Posted by gingersnapp on June 30, 2008 at 1:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)dalearch: since I only have a BS degree in P.E.and Health from 35 years ago and have limited thinking ability because I choose to stay at home and raise my three children, I asked my Masters degree son,( who works for NASA on maintenance and design for the Space shuttles thermal protection system and design of the next generation space vehicles thermal system) and my recently degreed son with a BS degree in Journalism, who heads the publications department at Malloy College in New York City and my soon to be BS degreed son who will have be certified in Marine Biology from Texas A and M, and each told me that a metal detector would not only detect a loaded handgun but also bullets in pockets at any gun show in America. Geez, If only I was as smart as my kids, I could rule the world!!!
Posted by akm on June 30, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)I have a BS degree, my kids are educated and busy...so I didn't want to waste their time...I've been to a few guns shows...and can't remember walking through a metal detector. I called a friend of mine who has a license to carry and he can't recall any metal detectors either.
Posted by dalearch on June 30, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)Ginger:
The last gun show I attended was in Garnett, KS several years ago. They had no metal detectors. Whether or not they have them now is beyond me, and is irrelevant to my original point – which you seem to have missed. Plus the fact that at every gun show I’ve ever been to several gun vendors were also selling ammo – so it was already inside.
My original point was that the anti-gun people claim that guns are inherently dangerous and that gun owners are “gun nuts.” If this were so, who’s to say that one of the vendors wouldn’t load a gun and start blowing people away?
You also seem to have some real self esteem issues. You appear to want to pick a fight over anything. You seem to think that being a stay-at-home Mom is a big deal. You constantly mention that and list your children’s supposed accomplishments. Grow up.
Do you have a BS degree – or a degree in BS?
Posted by Mr_America on June 30, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)I see nothing wrong with a young man exercising his rights as an American citizen.
Posted by rxyrch on June 30, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)I have a bs, my degree is bs, and i have a degree in bs. :)
Posted by wickedtruth on June 30, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)And that ain't no BS!
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