U.S. doesn't need public 'shootouts'
In the Jan. 19 letter, "Guns in right hands can reduce violence," the writer expressed amusement by another writer's reasonable argument that guns aren't needed to fight crime. I fail to find humor in his cavalier attitude about such a serious subject. His desire for an "infusion of reality" should include what actually happens in a chaotic scene such as the one in Tucson.
The reality is that an armed bystander, Joe Zamudio, drew his handgun and came within seconds of shooting the man holding the gun. As stated on Fox News, that man was actually the hero who had just wrestled the gun from the shooter. Mr. Zamudio also realized that had he drawn his gun, he could have been mistaken by another armed bystander as a second shooter and been shot himself.
Surely our society has progressed beyond Wild West-style public "shootouts."
In hindsight, the presence of a pair of uniformed police officers at Rep. Giffords' event would have been wise and would have offered far better protection than any self-appointed, armed vigilante.
Had someone in Tucson attempted the writer's super-hero fantasy, he/she may have killed a real hero and been killed in turn. It's time for reasonable people to support reasonable gun restrictions.
LEWIS ADDISON
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Let Sarah Palin continue to talk
During a recent television interview, Sarah Palin issued a shrill and defiant statement concerning those who do not share her views: "They are not going to shut me up!"
While I am neither a fan nor supporter of hers, and certainly do not share many of her views, I do not want to shut Gov. Palin up. To the contrary, my hope is that she will continue to talk, and talk, and talk and talk. ...
THE REVEREND H. HUNTER HUCKABAY JR.
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Where is the GOP in shouting match?
While Rupert Murdoch writes $1 million checks to the GOP, and Hannity is leading Sarah Palin through a prime-time Fox News "interview" of cream puff questions designed for "blood libel" damage control, Speaker John Boehner is using fuzzy math to argue for killing Obama's health care bill as former Minority Leader Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee says "No!" Not to mention that the nonpartisan CBO says "No!" to the GOP's fuzzy math. But fuzzy is fuzzy, right? Rubbish!
Palin said on Fox (Hannity) that "they" are screaming "shut up!" to "us." She failed to identify the "they" because there is no "they" saying shut up. But she identified the "us" -- Mark Levine (shout radio), Rush, Hannity (of course) and Palin. Where is the GOP?
B.J. PASCHAL
Sevierville, Tenn.
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Beware hazards going up Signal
Please be advised of the potential hazards driving up Signal Mountain from Chattanooga.
There are several dead trees that are leaning over the road and need to be cut before they fall. I sent an e-mail (to TDOT) about this over a year ago and there has still been nothing done. It is so obvious that one would have to be blind not to recognize the danger.
One tree is about 100 yards below the S curves by the space house. The other is in the first curve below the space house (the bark is peeling off this tree and it is covered in vines). Then there are several more along the top of the bluff. Do they have to fall before TDOT will address this matter?
I also find it strange that the state spends so much money on slide areas in East Tennessee (Interstate 40/Highway 64) but to my knowledge has never removed any loose rocks or dead trees along the bluff on the front of Signal Mountain. Even though we all know this highway is sliding off the mountain one would think that TDOT would perform some normal safety precautions.
JAMES B. CASE
Signal Mountain
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Charity should begin at home
We are the only country where we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed without eating, elderly going without needed meds and care, and mentally ill without treatment -- yet we have a benefit for the people of Haiti on 12 TV stations, ships and planes lining up with food, water, tents, clothes, bedding, doctors and medical supplies.
Imagine if we gave ourselves the same support that we give other countries.
I feel badly for them, but I wonder who cares about America. Certainly not other countries.
During our trials and tribulations with hurricanes, storms, flooding and wildfires, has any country provided us with any of the above?
Wake up, America. Charity should begin at home.
FRANKIE HOOD
Ringgold, Ga.
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Rich not using cash for jobs
Regarding the Republicans' recent showcase repeal of health care in the House, I have several observations. A couple of complaints they have is that it's a "job killer" and will raise taxes.
Folks, we are in the midst of a recession, but Wall Street is doing extremely well, rolling in cash and giving out record bonuses. Ergo, should we be worried about taxing these gents to provide health care for the poor? If these people have so much cash, then why are they refusing to use it to create jobs?
I mean, isn't this the main argument the Republicans give for tax cuts for the rich is that they will spend it on creating jobs?
You know, we need to reinstate the fairness doctrine in the FCC. It was in 1987 when Ronald Reagan had it repealed, that Rush Limbaugh jumped in and started broadcasting. Rush would be terrified to debate Keith Olbermann?
MIKE C. BODINE
East Ridge
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Maybe alcoholics need to change fear
I talked with a friend about an alcoholic father who kept abusing alcohol. It drained her mother, never knowing if her husband would be home drunk, or be the man she married.
My friend's father's drinking cycle was obvious to everyone, but something he would never admit. It was drink to the point of being drunk, being sick, exhausted and irrational, promising to "never do it again," and then when the work week ended, he would repeat the same performance.
Her mom finally left. But what hurt the kids the most was that her father said he was sorry but never admitted his drinking was the problem.
For those of us who know recovering alcoholics, we know that admission is the only way to change. Without admission, it often means that changing would be so hard or such a battle for that person that they never would admit it.
Maybe the fear is trying to live a life without ever having that substance to fall back on for that quick, temporary high. But why can't the fear be leaving your kids and family who are destroyed by the cycle of memories that stole the life that could have been.
CHRISTINE DIWAN
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ObamaCare not way to care for poor
I've seen some letters to the editor of late praising ObamaCare for its ability to "protect the weak and poor from the rich and powerful," and that we must "protect the sick and poor if we are to be a moral people," and that Obama-Care is a wonderful avenue to accomplish this.
While I can agree in principle on the views of assisting the sick, poor and weak, I will greatly dispute the fact that supporting ObamaCare is the way to do it.
We are selling our souls and mortgaging the future of this country for one of the most ill-conceived ideas in American history. We are setting this republic up to fail by increasing our debt and making our citizenry just that much more dependent on government assistance and giving our personal freedoms up to an incompetent federal bureaucracy.
It is my sincere hope that Congress comes to its senses and repeals this insane program post haste. It is my sincere hope that we, as a nation, are educated and intelligent enough to cry out to our representatives that this health care bill is ludicrous, costly and a threat to our domestic prosperity.
JEFF MILLER
Hixson