Countering gunmen
Have we the willpower to counter acts of homegrown terror that allow a mentally ill young man armed with handguns and a pump-action shotgun to fire inside a crowded auditorium, kill five people and wound 16 more before killing himself?
Writing in THE WEEK magazine of Feb. 29, William Falk addressed the gravity of our sickness, but he prescribed no treatment.
While sharing Falk's concerns about the malady, I'm disappointed with his bottom lines.
"Every few weeks or month," he writes, "some tortured soul will arm himself to the teeth, find a crowd, and show us all exactly how he feels. And we have no more power to stop it than we do to stop tornados in Kansas."
I respectfully disagree. We do have power to counter the terror of depraved gunslingers. Civility mandates an enlightened approach in treating mental illness and morbid obsession with assault weapons.
As a one-time member of the National Rifle Association, I'm convinced that reverence for life in a disciplined society can override irrational use of deadly weapons.
It's irrational to suggest that faculties and students be armed in classrooms. A more civilized academia can prevail.
Can we lower the fever of the prevailing ill? Yes, we can, but it will take willpower, patience and time. It's no time for naysayers to weaken our resolve.
John A. Vanderford
Jacksonville
Time for action
I am disgusted by our elected officials' failure to appear and support the proposed legislation sponsored by Sen. Scott Beason of Gardendale, which would go a long way in controlling illegal immigration in Alabama. It's simply another example of the arrogant and self-serving attitude of those we have elected and sent to represent us in Montgomery.
I think their names should be made public and every one of them should be held accountable at the next election if they continue to evade this issue and fail to take action to protect Alabama from the continued invasion by foreign workers. These immigrants enter our country illegally and place a burden on our health-care system, schools, police and fire protection and force employees in these areas to have to learn Spanish in order to accommodate them while they openly break our laws. It's time for action!
Jim Scott
Gardendale
If Iraq welcomes Iran ...
Iran's president made a trip to Iraq recently. Not only was he welcomed with open arms but he did not have to sneak in. He came in broad daylight at the stated time and place, unlike what Americans and our politicians have to do.
If our so-called friends are welcoming our enemies, what does that say about our role in Iraq? Something is seriously wrong, and surely even right-wing warhawks can understand sacrificing our children is just not worth it.
That is a serious red flag, and I think it is time to come home. We are quite capable of fighting terrorism with police and special ops just as other countries do.
I encourage residents to write our local senators and congressmen and demand we bring our kids home. War is not the only way to fight terrorism. It is, however, one of the most profitable ways for private corporations to get rich off the blood of our children.
Eric Luna
Anniston
