Democrats and Republicans must continue to support the Harris-Walz coalition because Trump is incompetent

Echo opinion letter published in The New York Times: To the Editor:

The aftermath of the Trump election reminds me of my breast cancer diagnosis in 1997. I was a divorced mother of three young girls, and friends marveled at my optimism. 

Although I was scared and depressed, I held onto hope — even though I faced surgery, chemotherapy and radiation — because what choice did I have?

In much the same way, today we have no choice but to stay engaged. The events in my lifetime seemed to be insurmountable. I protested against the Vietnam War, for civil rights, for voting rights, for abortion rights and even for the right of girls to wear pants at my high school. Much of what appeared to be unattainable actually came to be.

The world has at times appeared out of control, with progress unattainable and democracy teetering. It is my hope that every sad, disillusioned American out there will hold onto the fact that the Harris-Walz team built a coalition of millions. That coalition is still out there.

But I do fear that people, especially our young people, will become complacent, resigned to what seems overwhelming, and will stop caring. Care we must. We must stay engaged — fight the misinformation that got us here and stay involved.

From Susan Berger in Highland Park, Illinois

American obsession with guns is literally destroying us

A woman wipes tears after a shooting at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

Echo opinion letter published in Tuscon.com

https://tucson.com/opinion/letters/letter-american-carnage/article_2e53a880-fd37-11ec-b71a-e7ede84449d8.html

CNN reports: In an upper middle class Chicago suburb, seven people were shot dead, dozens more were wounded and sparked a manhunt for a gunman who fired on unsuspecting attendees from a rooftop, authorities said.  The shooting in Highland Park, about 25 miles north of Chicago, began shortly after 10 a.m., Central Time, as people enjoyed a sunny Fourth of July parade along Central Avenue.

Members of the FBI evidence response team work at the scene a day after the shooting in downtown Highland Park on July 5.
(Charles Rex)

Firearm evidence was found on the rooftop of a nearby business, police commander Chris O'Neill said. The shooter used a ladder attached to the building on a wall in an alley to access the roof, said Sgt. Chris Covelli of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.

The gun was a "high-powered rifle" and the attack appeared to be "random" and "intentional," Covelli said.

Dear Editor: And so we add another place to the litany of locations linked to mass murder--Highland Park, Illinois.

A body is transported from the scene of the shooting on July 4th in Highland Park, Illinois. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/AP)

I grew up in a Chicago suburb much like Highland Park and raised my children in another one. 

My son and his family live in another town nearby. We enjoyed holiday celebrations much like this. We felt safe, happy, enjoying friends and neighbors.

I grieve for the generations to come that they won't be able to fully experience this freedom and joy. The American obsession with guns is destroying us--literally.

From Karen Schickedanz in Saddlebrooke, Arizona

In 1787 the U.S. did not have unregulated automatic weapons

Opinion letters published in The New York Times:

Evil Guns in America- Deadly automatic weapons did not exist in 1787: Rising above conflicts between individual states, George Washington created an atmosphere that allowed convention members to reach the compromises necessary to create a bold, new government.

But that was then and this is now:  Well, America, it has happened in our little town. You know our town, right? It’s the one people are sending thoughts and prayers to. It’s the town where people say, “We never thought this could happen here.” It’s the safe town with wonderful cops and a sense of community.

It’s the suburban town where everyone takes their kids in red wagons or on tricycles with streamers to watch the Fourth of July parade. It’s the town where people are shot randomly by someone with a rifle.

We are now in mourning. It’s now the town where pundits, who have never been here, will rattle swords and shriek to score points using dead people as chits. My town? It’s your town. It will happen again. Does this sound like freedom to you?

From Kevin Tibbles, Highland Park, Ill.
The writer is a former NBC newsman

To the Editor:  This Independence Day we hung at half-staff two of the six American flags that normally line our driveway every year. We did this to honor those six lives sacrificed in Highland Park.

Their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness was usurped by the intentional misrepresentation of the Second Amendment by a minority of Americans. May all those who profess to be pro-life search their souls to examine their stance on gun legislation and what being pro-life actually means.

From Marcella Woodworth, Venice, Florida

Horrible to report more serial massacres caused by unbridled gun violence

July 4, 2022- more gun violence now in the most unlikely community - Highland Park Illinois! So soon after Uvalde's massacre where 19 children were murdered.  

One of the Uvalde victims' mothers warned us- "it can happen to you". Americans live in a gun culture. Although all gun violence is preventable, it is clear that our freedom from fear of gun violence is NOT among the rights we are granted in our Constitution. 

Moreover, Kimberly and Felix Rubio, parents of Lexi Rubio, one of the students who died at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, testified virtually, calling for members to ban assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, to raise the age to purchase assault weapons from 18 to 21 years of age, to implement red flag laws and to strengthen background checks and to repeal gun manufacturers liability immunity.

Calls for help in Uvalde, Texas

Two opinion letters published in the Uvalde Leader-News

School district police Chief Arrendondo’s decision to “wait for reinforcements” was a cowardly act, and a death sentence for 19 children and two teachers.

His decision was contrary to rapid response and established law enforcement policy. I don’t think Arrendondo is qualified perform a menial task, let alone be a police chief or councilman. (Maine Writer: So,  Arrendondo said he didn't know he was the incident commander at the shooting scene in Uvalde Elementary School!  That is an impossible and cowardly statement, from a man who has clearly resorted to telling the community a lie about his important role at the scene! His training has taught him otherwise. He was the incident commander.)

CNN is now reporting that two children made a combined eight calls to 911 begging for help. Uvalde police did nothing except run and hide from danger.Uvalde police have now set a new record for cowardly behavior while on duty.

https://www.uvaldeleadernews.com/articles/letters-to-the-editor-26/#:~:text=Uvalde%20police%20did%20nothing%20except%20run%20and%20hide%20from%20danger

From Darrell K. Lilja in Sun City Arizona

Killing weapons- better known as "guns"

I was born and raised in Uvalde, graduating from high school there almost 50 years ago. Having been brought up in a ranching family just outside of town, you could say we lived in a well-established gun culture. Our pick-ups regularly carried bolt action deer rifles in the highly visible gun rack behind the seat, along with a shotgun for killing rattlesnakes. We never kept more than a handful of shells with us at any time.

During a press conference following the recent massacre at Robb Elementary, Gov. Abbott (reading from a carefully prepared statement!) defended current gun laws by stating that 18-year-olds have always been able to purchase “long guns” in the state of Texas.

He conveniently left out the fact that current gun culture has expanded to include easy access to weapons of war, the kind that an 18 year old can use to cower several armed cops, take over an entire campus, and destroy the lives of 21 families.

My dad served in World War II, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and earned a Purple Heart before returning to Uvalde. He of course knew about and used weapons specifically designed for killing other humans. If he were still around, I imagine he would be saying something like, “How in God’s name did that boy get his hands on that weapon?”

What would you need that for, except to kill people?”

From Jack Marsh in Brackettville in Texas