Speak Out

With declining consumer confidence, unstable markets and increased living expenses, Alabamians can benefit by banking with independent, community banks. Community banks are sound, well-capitalized, and open for business all across Alabama, despite negative headlines about Wall Street megabanks.

During difficult economic times, people become concerned about the safety of their money in the bank. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures and protects depositors' funds through coverage of each depositor's account, dollar-for-dollar, up to the insurance limit, including principal and any accrued interest. Funds are insured for up to $100,000, and $250,000 for certain retirement accounts.

Alabama's community banks focus on the needs of families, businesses and farmers. Unlike larger banks, which take deposits in Alabama and lend them in other states, community banks channel most of their loans to the neighborhoods where their customers live and work, helping keep local communities vibrant. And, many are willing to consider character, family history and discretionary spending in making loans, while megabanks often apply impersonal qualification criteria to all loan decisions without regard to individual circumstances.

Challenging economic times call for sound decisions. Alabama community banks, and the bankers you know and trust, remain the best option around.

Scott E. Latham, president and CEO
The Community Bankers Association of Alabama
Montgomery

Guns and common sense

The Supreme Court decision on a citizen's right to own a gun is not the answer to the "right to keep and bear arms" controversy millions would think or assume.

I am an avid hunter as well as a gun collector — within the law. What this decision does not do is recognize essential limitations. Where does one draw a line? Should guns of more than 10 rounds be allowable? Are assault weapons legal?

When we try to judge what the forefathers meant by the Second Amendment, it is fairly reasonable to assume the writers were referring to a "state militia" as clearly stated in the content. Surely, anyone with common sense would agree that those founders could not possibly have had the modern-day world in mind where battlefield weapons are common on our streets.

I fully intend to keep hunting and enjoy my collection. At the same time, I know that we still must employ common sense and have restriction and regulation on the possession of guns. It's as simple as that.

J.W. Anderson
Talladega

Lacking credibility

Re "Government support" (Speak Out, June 27):

The extreme right-wing, Fox News crowd still doesn't get it. The Bush administration is an abject failure on so many fronts.

The Iraq War is just one of so many. It would take too long to catalog all of the scandals that have come out of this administration.

As for former White House press secretary Scott McClellan's recent book, it is obvious that letter writer Don Thornton hasn't read it. I've recently started it.

I would ask Thornton: Just who has discredited McClellan's book? It would seem to me that mostly people who lack any real credibility themselves have and, of course, Fox News itself.

Freddie Hinton
Oxford