Guns more valuable than food, health? and more letters to the editors

Guns more valuable than food, health?

America is shocked, horrified and heartbroken after Stephen Paddock's shooting rampage in Las Vegas, which was the deadliest in modern U.S. history.
This is just too painful, and we all are feeling helpless.

This is not something we should get over and move on from. If you don't want these people's lives to be forgotten, you have to at least make noise. Not to get rid of guns but to have sensible gun laws.

As per a survey, Americans own 42 percent of about 650 million civilian firearms worldwide. If the guns make us safe, we would be the safest country on the planet. One cannot buy medicine without a prescription, but no problem for guns and ammo.

We have no constitutional rights for food and health care, but we are ready to fight for the right to keep and bear arms. It seems guns are more important to us than food and health care.

It seems our government and Congress are helpless and powerless against powerful lobbyists and donors to take any action.

Ashok Patel, Tullahoma, Tenn.

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Cemetery grounds site for monuments?

Walking down East Fifth Street, I passed the entrance to the Confederate Cemetery. It's a peaceful place with lots of grassy areas and many rows of headstones. It made me think of the current conversation taking place in our city and around the country about Confederate monuments.

The Civil War was a self-inflicted wound that almost tore apart our country. To some, the monuments represent honor as well as the sacrifice suffered by Americans at American hands. To others, it represents the glorification of a system that enslaved human beings for financial gain.

Both perspectives are true and valid. Imagine a terrible family argument, one that tests the family's ability to stay together. After reconciliation, imagine placing a memorial to the argument on the living room wall so the family can be reminded of it every day. It's good to remember, but sometimes it's best to put reminders away and let time heal the wounds.

It occurred to me that this beautiful cemetery might be a suitable site for some of Chattanooga's monuments to the Civil War, providing a place to reflect on the heroes, while the headstones remind us of the sacrifices. Chattanooga strong.

W.D. Burkhalter

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Common sense eyed for health insurance

Health insurance companies can only pay out in health benefits what they take in in premiums. If they must insure people with pre-existing conditions, the premium must be high enough to cover the estimated cost of payout.

Most people could not cover the big premium; therefore, other people with better health must pay a higher premium (spread the cost). Healthy people do not think they need insurance.

They purchase policies that cover just high risks such as cancer or those policies with high deductibles. Premiums are lower.

Solutions: 1. Federal government pays the additional premium for those with pre-existing diseases. The insured would still pay to cover the regular part of the premium. 2. Allow insurers to sell across state lines. Competition!

For five years after the law becomes effective, persons with pre-existing conditions may purchase health insurance at the new price. After five years if they have not purchased health insurance, they will have to pay the full higher premium. This is to prevent everyone from waiting until they are too ill to purchase insurance.

John B. Berg

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