Sounding off: Division, Ziccarelli, guns, Bushy Run, medical marijuana among week's topics

‘Tale of Two Americas’

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times … .” So begins Charles Dickens’ novel, “A Tale of Two Cities.”

As I write, I’m saddened knowing a former president is near death. Acknowledged by friend and foe as being kind and decent, he became a role model for post-presidential behavior. Then we have a former president undeserving of having his name associated with decency and who evades accountability for alleged criminal activities.

We have a courageous president visiting a war-torn country, absent U.S. troops, encouraging its people with our promise of continuing support in their struggle against a dictator guilty of committing crimes against humanity. We also have political opponents sniping at him for doing so.

A former U.S. House speaker retires with grace and dignity while her successor to that high office shields a newly elected congressman who lied his way to victory.

A congresswoman fights off an elevator assault, followed by recorded death threats, only to have people mock her and repeat untrue stories about her.

With increasing public support for commonsense gun laws, a legislative proposal is made to dignify the AR-15 war weapon as our national gun.

Locally, there is the story of a “welcome to Armstrong County” billboard being removed for laughable reasons after just six days. Meanwhile, a Westmoreland County billboard messaging that an internationally respected health expert lied about covid and that “death shots” were real remained in place for six weeks.

A non-fiction “Tale of Two Americas” is being written every day. Not easy reading.

Glenn R. Plummer

Unity

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Ziccarelli should use her own vehicle

My compliments to Rich Cholodofsky for his well-written article “Westmoreland DA crash racks up nearly $33,000 in SUV repairs” (Feb. 16, TribLIVE). This is what investigative journalism should be — unbiased reportage, allowing readers to form their own opinions.

With that said, why is county District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli “claiming 60% of the miles put on her county-provided vehicle in 2022 were for personal use” yet providing no documentation? Who among us has a taxpayer-financed vehicle for personal use? Repairs for this “minor” collision are estimated at $32,700 on a vehicle valued at $33,000.

The county sheriff/deputies, those working in weights and measures and the county coroner require a county vehicle, but not the county DA.

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate but equally important groups: the police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders. How often does the DA get called to a crime scene?

Ms. Ziccarelli, please just stop the self-serving spin and use your personal vehicle like most county employees. Focus on finding prosecutors who are paid an adequate wage so the backlog of county criminal cases can see the inside of the courtroom.

David Scandrol

Lower Burrell

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Weeding out the ‘crazy’ gun owners

“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” All gun owners should know and protect this amendment. Please note the term “well regulated.” Unfortunately, a lot of people forget the regulation part, only thinking that everybody, no matter what, should have a firearm.

Do you really want the guy who beat the crap out of his wife to own a gun? This was the focus of a case that went before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Insanely, the court ruled that a federal law making it a crime for people under domestic violence restraining orders to own firearms was unconstitutional. Apparently domestic assault will no longer be a hindrance to owning guns.

Shouldn’t the “normal” gun owners be trying to weed out the “crazy” gun owners? And I won’t even start on another court ruling changing the age to buy assault weapons to 18.Shaking my head at the loss of common sense in this country.

Karla Thomas

Hempfield

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Bushy Run and government’s hypocritical stand on violence

So the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has come up with a new “no force on force” policy for demonstrations at historical reenactments of famous battles. This forces the Bushy Run Historical Society to cancel its annual reenactment of the Battle of Bushy Run, its sole source of revenue to finance all its activities for the year. Bushy Run has been doing this for decades, and no one seemed to have a problem with it.

I believe this is another case of the politically correct liberals in our government constantly coming up with solutions for problems that don’t exist. I presume they are concerned about violence in our society. If that is the case, why aren’t they also concerned about the daily over-the-top brutal violence and killings on TV and in movies and video games? Kids watch this stuff every day and are being desensitized to it. Even worse is the brutal violence against unborn babies by the abortion industry (which is real).

Could it be that they have no problem with these things because the entertainment and abortion industries support their liberal candidates financially?

I am sure that if all historical reenactments are eliminated, there will be no more mass shootings in our country (LOL).

Wayne Cymbor

North Huntingdon

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Let’s cut Congress’ expenses instead

Just saw a news clip of President Joe Biden talking about raising the debt ceiling. He was asking where cuts to the new budget would come from if we don’t raise it. He went on using his usual scare tactics: “Do we cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ programs?”

I have an idea, Mr. President: We have 435 House representatives and 100 senators. Let’s reduce their daily “living” stipend, cut each of their staffs by 15%, cut their travel budgets, give them a less expensive health care plan, etc. Why do cuts always have to be to the people who pay for the budget — us citizens?

Sorry, Mr. President, we have had enough of “our” presidents and representatives not thinking of the consequences of raising the debt ceiling.

Dorothy Shock

Springdale

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Science or not, medical marijuana can help

Regarding the letter “Anxiety and medical marijuana” (Feb. 13, TribLIVE): Much like this paper’s cartoons Marmaduke and The Lockhorns, this made me laugh. I found myself questioning the motives of the letter-writer, a psychiatrist.

I have never sought a medical marijuana card, and I have no reason to think he is less than honorable. But, quite frankly, his letter didn’t pass my “sniff test” (pun intended). He states that “There is no scientific evidence that marijuana actually helps with anxiety.” I say, placebo effect. If people believe it helps, it will.

I’m led to believe only he has the magic elixir that will help this anxiety-riddled community. Personally, I believe it would be better sold in our state stores with lower contents of THC so those wishing to imbibe can do so responsibly without frying their brains.

Is the doctor experiencing a shortage of patients (money) causing his prohibitionist viewpoint? Is he unaware of the behaviors of early 20th-century Americans who would breathe the vapors off a cookie sheet pan on their radiators as they rocked in their chairs euphorically?

Come on, Doc, you lost me when you used the buzzword “gateway.” If it helps people feel better without hurting others, then so be it. Do you have a drink now and then? Live your life, let them live theirs. Too funny.

Rob DiSanti

O’Hara

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Reduce drugs, reduce gun violence

If you want to reduce gun violence in America, you have to first reduce the amount of drugs coming over our borders, especially fentanyl. The drugs fuel erratic behavior which leads to the gun violence.

Regis Kruth

Shaler