Sounding off: Assassination attempt among writers' topics

Assassination attempt an outrage

All of the officers, staff and membership of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 92 in Lower Burrell pray for a speedy recovery, physically and mentally, for David “Jake” Dutch, his wife, Sheree, and extended family. Jake is a Marine Corps veteran and an active and valued member of our post. We hope to see him soon.

It is more than a shame — it is an outrage — that an American patriot cannot go to a rally for a major political candidate without fearing for his/her life. Our prayers are also with the Comperatore family in their time of need, as well as James Copenhaver, Donald Trump and all the attendees traumatized by the actions of such a deranged individual. Our rights as Americans should never be trampled by another.

Lee E. Johnson

Lower Burrell

The writer is commander of Lower Burrell VFW Post 92.

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Stop the anger and hate that divide us

As a 76-year-old American, I have lived through the assassination of President Kennedy and his brother Robert and the Rev. Martin Luther King. America must stop the hateful rhetoric that accuses a political opponent of wanting to be a dictator and attacking their principles.

I lived through the Vietnam years, serving through the Tet Offensive in 1968, and saw the hate that the country had for the returning men who went where the government told them to go. We as a nation must stop the anger and hate that has divided America. What we need is a return to good old-fashioned principles taught in the Bible like, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

The media “talking heads,” as well as politicians of both parties, must stop the attacks on each other. What I want to see in the ads from the candidates is their solutions to the problems America faces, not the attacks on their opponent’s character. We must clean up our acts and repent of our own sins before we point out the next man’s. We all need to pray to God with repentant hearts and ask him to heal our land.

John Watson

North Huntingdon

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Trump has already won

The election is over — Donald Trump won. He is a hero and martyr. He took one for the team. It will only get better for Trump, with President Biden’s slow deterioration. And I’m not even a Trump supporter.

Pete Miller

Delmont

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Supreme Court rulings jeopardize our safety

Thank you to Lori Falce for an insightful, clear explanation of the effects of the recent Supreme Court rulings (“Politics is infection in Supreme Court rulings,” July 5, TribLive): “Let us hope Roberts, et al., have a better understanding of nuclear physics and software engineering than Congress has shown.”

Federal agencies such as the EPA and FDA make regulations not to raise the cost of doing business, but to protect the air, water, health and safety of each of us and our children. We have only to look at the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment and the doors falling off Boeing planes to see that the regulations are not even strong enough because the influence of lobbyists hired by industries is (end ital) strong enough to water down the recommendations of scientists. Now, judges will make the decisions!

Vickie Oles

Ligonier

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Legislators’ inaction on gun legislation shameful

In response to the op-ed “Supreme Court gives Pa. way to stop domestic violence killings” (June 29, TribLive) — I couldn’t agree more wholeheartedly.

I’m the mother of a 12- and a 10-year-old, and I worry every day about their safety at school. Every parent remembers where they were when they heard about the atrocity in Uvalde, or Sandy Hook, or even as far back as Columbine. It’s my worst nightmare.

It’s shameful that the Pennsylvania Senate has taken zero action on bipartisan, life-saving legislation that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed over a year ago to address this threat. House Bill 1018 would temporarily restrict access to firearms when a court finds someone to be an immediate risk to themselves or others. It’s called an extreme risk protection order (ERPO), commonly known as a “red flag law.”

But school shootings are preventable. In all of those cases and more, the shooters gave some kind of warning sign — a “red flag” that could’ve been the basis for removing their guns through a civil court proceeding, before they massacred sweet children and teachers.

My state representative, Valerie Gaydos, voted against the bill last year. And my state senator, Devlin Robinson, has refused to support it or push Senate leadership for a vote. Both are up for reelection in November. Both have failed to keep us safe and must do better.

Jen Suehr

Moon

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The real top issues for voters

The letter “Vote for legislators who listen” (July 12, TribLive) appeared to be an attempt to persuade readers to adopt conclusions set forth by the author.

The observations were “supported” by data presented as factual, but not sourced. I would submit that it either cannot be sourced or it came from a biased provider.

This letter screamed for fact-checking.

We were told that Issue No. 1 for Americans is campaign financing. Apparently 96% of us have night sweats of about this.

Not the economy. No. No. No. Not even a concern for the letter-writer.

Abortion. That’s a biggie. 85% of us, it was stated, “believe” in access to “reproductive freedom.” Really?

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but not their own facts.

The letter went on to address in a statistically unbelievable way a number of other topics.

So, looking for sanity I learned from the internet that a recent Newsweek poll identified the following key issues in the minds of U.S. voters:

• Economy, 60%

• Health care, 33%

• Immigration, 28%

• Policing and crime, 24%

• Environment, 21%

• Abortion, 21%

Seems about right. In my opinion.

George Beidler

Hempfield

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Choosing candidates based on polling data?

It is interesting to read the stories regarding the calls to replace Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for president. Those calling for his replacement are the same ones who have said “every vote matters” and “the voters decide.” In this case, the voters have spoken. They chose Joe Biden as their nominee.

Now the elites say he shouldn’t be their candidate because he can’t beat Donald Trump. If these eliteas were saying that he is unfit to serve, that would be one thing. They are not saying that. They are saying that the polls show that he won’t win. Are we now in a place where party elites choose the candidates based on polling data? That frightens me.

Alan Coates

Shaler