Sounding off: Gun safety, book bans, Israel, university 'leftists' among week's topics

What is Lisa Baker doing about gun safety?

An open letter to Sen. Lisa Baker, chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee:

Regarding gun safety legislation now pending before your committee, you are quoted in the Tribune-Review saying, “I said we would invite proposals from anyone that represented something of a consensus on approaches deemed constitutional, enforceable and practical. To date, we have not received such a proposal.” (“Pa. Senate committee has ‘no plans’ to move House-approved gun safety measures,” Nov. 23, TribLive).

You are the Pennsylvania Senate’s chief law enforcement legislator. Respectfully, ma’am, what is your proposal?

Five years ago Robert Bowers carried legally obtained firearms and used them to violently murder innocent Pennsylvanians in our community. He is also quoted in the Tribune-Review, saying that “all Jews should die” moments after he committed his crimes (“Robert Bowers wanted ‘all Jews to die,’ authorities say,” Oct. 28, 2018, TribLive). Bowers, who has still not expressed any remorse, is clearly a psychopath. Of course, he has been subsequently tried and sentenced to death, our most drastic consequence. But evidently even the most drastic punishment was not effective in deterring the kind of gun violence Bowers exercised that morning in our state.

In response to this horror, our city’s legislators passed a series of gun safety ordinances, which the Republican Party successfully fought to invalidate. To date, there has been no state legislative response to this tragedy.

So I ask again, Sen. Baker, what are the laws you are proposing to protect your innocent fellow Pennsylvania residents from a dangerous psychopath whom the state has allowed to purchase, own and possess deadly firearms?

Sean Carroll

Lawrenceville

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Fighting the ideological book banning battle

The writer of the letter “Protect children from adult material” (Dec. 11, TribLive) makes vague claims that “adult material” is somehow being made available in public school. Yet he conveniently fails to list even a single title of the supposedly offending material. Instead, he chooses to hide his ineptly constructed and devoid of substance argument with biblical imagery.

Historically though, titles like “To Kill A Mockingbird” and “The Diary of Anne Frank” are common targets for those who wish to ban books. There was even a group in the 1930s who relished burning books that they didn’t like, before they started doing the same to people who they didn’t like. We had to fight them in places like Normandy Beach. Today, we are fighting their ideological descendants in our very schools.

Brian Luce

Buffalo Township

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Align voting age with duties, privileges of adulthood

The writer of the letter “Lower voting age and get out the youth vote” (Nov. 30, TribLIVE) points out that “Many of our youth are required to pay taxes and follow the same laws as adults, when working and driving, at the age of 16 and above. At age 17, our youth can serve in any U.S. military branch.” The age lines seem arbitrary and capricious since there is no objective criteria involved just an age.

The letter was thought-provoking. I’d be in favor of lowering the voting age, but we should align the voting age consistently with other civic duties and privileges of adulthood. Since 16 is already the legal age of consent in Pennsylvania, I propose 16 be the threshold for adulthood.

Older than 16 ends: parental responsibility, compulsory school attendance, minor protections in the courts. At 16, one should be able to make medical decisions, sign contracts, buy alcohol and tobacco, get a medical marijuana card, obtain a concealed weapon permit, and join the military. This would achieve what is right, just, fair, ethical and equitable at a consistent age.

Let’s not be “dismissive” of U.S. citizens starting at the age of 16.

Alan W. Hill

Irwin

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University leftists

The insanity of the far left was on display for all to see as the presidents of Harvard, Penn and MIT testified in Congress regarding whether it was against their schools’ codes of conduct to call for the genocide of Jews.

None of the three could bring themselves to state unequivocally “yes” to a simple question asked repeatedly by Rep. Elise Stefanik. Instead, these three offered up a verbal salad of hot garbage citing things like “context” and “if this and if that” nonsense to what should have been a simple “yes.”

This was a clear example of the left leanings of many college leaders in America. In the meantime, they have no trouble helping block conservative speakers from their campuses.

As of this writing only Liz Magill of Penn has resigned under pressure, while the other two attempt to walk back their blatant ignorance. Another leftist will probably replace her, but at least more Americans got a glimpse inside the rat’s nest. Politicians from both parties are calling for investigations of these universities and their funding. So much for allowing kids to hear all voices. This makes one see that diversity of thought is not welcome.

Sadly, this is but one glaring example of how our leftist university leadership thinks and acts. It was once assumed you sent your kids to college to expand their horizons and be exposed to all sides of issues and thought. In reality, you’re sending them out for four years of brainwashing and group think.

Tim Kaczmarek

Natrona Heights

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We must continue to support Israel

On Oct. 7, Israel was brutally attacked by the terrorist organization Hamas, which is the governing body in Gaza, elected and supported by the Palestinian residents of Gaza. Hamas massacred over 1,200 innocent civilians, including over 30 American citizens, women, children and infants. They committed mass rape and torture, burned people alive, decapitated children and infants, and reportedly burned an infant alive in an oven. They also took over 240 hostages, including American citizens.

These are the actions of inhumane savages, not human beings. Israel has responded with the necessary level of force required to destroy the terrorist organization responsible for these atrocities. When the enemy hides among the civilian population, there will always be unintended collateral damage and civilian casualties. The Palestinian residents of Gaza are suffering the consequences of electing and supporting a brutal terrorist regime.

Now we’re seeing the useful idiots of the far left, including Democratic politicians, protesting the military response and calling for the destruction of Israel while supporting Hamas. I’m fairly certain the American people and press didn’t condemn the American military in World War II for the massive German and Japanese civilian casualties incurred in the destruction of our enemies.

We need to continue to support Israel in their campaign to completely eliminate Hamas. The entire world will be better off without this evil terrorist regime.

Ed Davis

Greensburg

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Facts about weapons in Afghanistan

If I give something to you and you misuse it or transfer ownership to another, your actions aren’t my fault and I shouldn’t be blamed. I’m responsible only for my own actions.

Such is the case when, following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, millions of dollars worth of military equipment ended up in the hands of the Taliban, an American and Afghanistan enemy. Unfortunately, misinformation about how this happened has appeared in letters to the editor as writers misstate or ignore facts.

It is almost never written in these letters that the terms of the withdrawal were negotiated by the Trump administration, leaving President Biden’s Pentagon to carry out the mission. Unfortunately the withdrawal was poorly handled by Biden’s team and deserves some criticism for how the mission was executed.

However, the previously agreed-to deal provided that military equipment, paid for by American taxpayers, was to be turned over to the Afghanistan government, not to the Taliban. That decision, to leave weapons and other material behind, was done in part because it was less costly than shipping it elsewhere and, most importantly, to provide the Afghans with the means to continue their fight against the Taliban. It wasn’t possible to know, when the original deal was negotiated, that the Afghans would surrender to the Taliban and turn over what American fighting forces had left behind to the ultimate benefit of the enemy.

As the late U.S. Sen. Pat Moynihan was fond of saying, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts.”

Glenn R. Plummer

Unity

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Pa. powers America

I was amused by a recent TripAdvisor survey naming Pennsylvania the “most American state.” While the metrics used were silly — most RV parks, fast-food restaurants and the like — I still think the idea holds merit.

We’re the birthplace of America, after all. But more than that, we play a leading role in powering our country every day with Pennsylvania-made natural gas and oil.

Although we may not be as geographically large as other states, Pennsylvania is an energy powerhouse — ranking as the second-largest natural gas producer in the country, behind Texas. Plus, our vibrant natural gas and oil workforce is nearly 100,000 strong. The industry pumps money into our economy, reinvests in our communities ($279 million in impact taxes last year alone) and puts food on the table for families trying to achieve the American dream.

Without the industry and its workers, each one of our metrics on the TripAdvisor survey would plummet. Restaurants would become parking lots; RV parks would sit empty.

So, while I may poke fun at the survey’s methodology, I wholeheartedly agree with its conclusion. I’m proud of the role Pennsylvania has played and will play in powering America.

Pam Bryan

Squirrel Hill