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Bad Idea
RECEIVED Mon., July 27, 2020
Dear Editor,
Re: “Protester Killed at BLM March, Shooter Released From Custody” By Mike Clark-Madison, 7:00 AM, Mon. Jul. 27, 2020. Once again we get to stand by and witness the violence brought about by our thoughtless gun laws. Hello Congress, presidents, lawmakers, local governments, anyone in a position to take action against our blindsided gun laws. Take a pandemic, total economic upheaval, rising social tensions around police violence and continued racism in our nation, and give the public permission to carry any weapon of choice into demonstrations, and keep a weapon of choice in their cars, and what do you get – the perfect storm for trouble. Do we really think that we can carry an AK-47 into a public demonstration amid rising tensions and open carry laws and not set ourselves up for some kind of incident? Hmmmmmm, let's see. I'll take gun violence for $100, dick. Answer: When these two things are mixed together the possibility of violence is increased exponentially. Question: What is social chaos and open carry laws? What two thing might not go well together – demonstrations and guns, duhh. Time to put aside our Second Amendment determinations and look at this very obvious fact: Guns don't belong in public gatherings where tensions already exist. Bad idea.
Re: “Protester Killed at BLM March, Shooter Released From Custody” By Mike Clark-Madison, 7:00 AM, Mon. Jul. 27, 2020. Once again we get to stand by and witness the violence brought about by our thoughtless gun laws. Hello Congress, presidents, lawmakers, local governments, anyone in a position to take action against our blindsided gun laws. Take a pandemic, total economic upheaval, rising social tensions around police violence and continued racism in our nation, and give the public permission to carry any weapon of choice into demonstrations, and keep a weapon of choice in their cars, and what do you get – the perfect storm for trouble. Do we really think that we can carry an AK-47 into a public demonstration amid rising tensions and open carry laws and not set ourselves up for some kind of incident? Hmmmmmm, let's see. I'll take gun violence for $100, dick. Answer: When these two things are mixed together the possibility of violence is increased exponentially. Question: What is social chaos and open carry laws? What two thing might not go well together – demonstrations and guns, duhh. Time to put aside our Second Amendment determinations and look at this very obvious fact: Guns don't belong in public gatherings where tensions already exist. Bad idea.
Russell Alexander
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Precise Points
RECEIVED Mon., July 27, 2020
Dear Editor,
The New York Times has a relevant July 23 article on this subject: Emily Badger. "How Trump's Use of Federal Forces in Cities Differs from Past Presidents." New York Times, July 23, 2020.
Somewhat more precise points could be made (1-5 below), and an additional point could be made (6 below), if The Austin Chronicle were to address this subject:
1) When President Eisenhower sent the National Guard into Little Rock, it was at the request of Mayor Woodrow Wilson Mann.
2) When President Kennedy did a federal intervention in 1962 in Oxford, when James Meredith was trying to enroll at the University of Mississippi, that occurred via backdoor consultations by the Kennedy administration with Governor Ross Barnett.
3) In 1967, Governor George Romney of Michigan (father of Mitt Romney) requested President Johnson to send federal troops into Detroit.
4) In 1968, Mayor-Commissioner Walter E. Washington from the District of Columbia requested President Johnson to deploy troops there. Johnson conversed with Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago before doing so there. Johnson sent troops to Baltimore at the request of Governor Spiro Agnew (later vice president) of Maryland
5) So none of the 1-4 interventions were unannounced, unilaterally presidentially initiated, surprises in the night. And the troops pretty assuredly would have used military-marked vehicles.
6) One of the cities that's had some unruly protests, and presumably has some crime, is Miami. Curiously, President Trump hasn't mentioned sending the feds there. Except … not curiously, because … guess what? Miami has a Republican mayor (although elected nonpartisan) and a Republican governor. Which doesn't fit the president's cities-with-Democrats-in-charge framing.
The New York Times has a relevant July 23 article on this subject: Emily Badger. "How Trump's Use of Federal Forces in Cities Differs from Past Presidents." New York Times, July 23, 2020.
Somewhat more precise points could be made (1-5 below), and an additional point could be made (6 below), if The Austin Chronicle were to address this subject:
1) When President Eisenhower sent the National Guard into Little Rock, it was at the request of Mayor Woodrow Wilson Mann.
2) When President Kennedy did a federal intervention in 1962 in Oxford, when James Meredith was trying to enroll at the University of Mississippi, that occurred via backdoor consultations by the Kennedy administration with Governor Ross Barnett.
3) In 1967, Governor George Romney of Michigan (father of Mitt Romney) requested President Johnson to send federal troops into Detroit.
4) In 1968, Mayor-Commissioner Walter E. Washington from the District of Columbia requested President Johnson to deploy troops there. Johnson conversed with Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago before doing so there. Johnson sent troops to Baltimore at the request of Governor Spiro Agnew (later vice president) of Maryland
5) So none of the 1-4 interventions were unannounced, unilaterally presidentially initiated, surprises in the night. And the troops pretty assuredly would have used military-marked vehicles.
6) One of the cities that's had some unruly protests, and presumably has some crime, is Miami. Curiously, President Trump hasn't mentioned sending the feds there. Except … not curiously, because … guess what? Miami has a Republican mayor (although elected nonpartisan) and a Republican governor. Which doesn't fit the president's cities-with-Democrats-in-charge framing.
Chris Kuykendall
Winter Texan
RECEIVED Thu., July 23, 2020
Texans,
I am a Winter Texan who comes to your fine state each winter to avoid the cold weather in Kansas. I have some observations about your state and its people that may be of interest to you. First, I find the state to be very welcoming to those of us who visit. I have noticed this many times throughout the years, as I have been to numerous cities in the state. I have attended ball games, concerts, visits to friends, and vacations in Texas. I have eaten some of the best BBQ and Mexican food in your state! My experience with Texans is that they are kind, friendly, truthful, realistic, people who care about others. On my trip through Texas in the spring, I was surprised to see the lack of concern for wearing masks and distancing. In hindsight, I realize that the president and others were not very convincing about the need to be cautious. Now, we’ve learned to use our rational minds and ignore the political posturing! Please, don’t let anyone change your authentic style.
I am a Winter Texan who comes to your fine state each winter to avoid the cold weather in Kansas. I have some observations about your state and its people that may be of interest to you. First, I find the state to be very welcoming to those of us who visit. I have noticed this many times throughout the years, as I have been to numerous cities in the state. I have attended ball games, concerts, visits to friends, and vacations in Texas. I have eaten some of the best BBQ and Mexican food in your state! My experience with Texans is that they are kind, friendly, truthful, realistic, people who care about others. On my trip through Texas in the spring, I was surprised to see the lack of concern for wearing masks and distancing. In hindsight, I realize that the president and others were not very convincing about the need to be cautious. Now, we’ve learned to use our rational minds and ignore the political posturing! Please, don’t let anyone change your authentic style.
D. Mallon