Readers react to Virginia shooting
Shooting reaction
The shooting in Virginia highlights the despicable state of discourse in this country.
The last time I remember this much dissension and vitriol in the country was after Nixon’s re-election in 1972.
It may be a lot worse now. Many people believe that President Trump stole the election and his presidency is not legitimate.
The Russian involvement in our election process certainly deserves to be investigated. Until such an investigation is complete, his presidency deserves all the respect given previous administrations.
President Obama had his detractors on the right, but he was given an opportunity to govern.
He was not hounded daily by those breathlessly dissecting every word he said and continually replaying every campaign speech he ever made or daily protests and riots at town halls. The media barely gave him a slap on the wrist over his promise to the American people that they would keep their doctor and plan under Obamacare.
The left seems intent on depriving the Trump administration and the Republican Congress any opportunity to govern.
The shooting Wednesday is a tragic manifestation of the angst of those who want President Trump to fail.
Vincent Sprinkle, Granbury
It’s terribly ironic that Republicans in Congress were exclusively targeted.
Consider that Republicans have supported a host of measures that have expanded gun owner rights without imposing meaningful limits or regulations on their use.
I’m hoping after this horrific experience that Republicans will develop a new empathy for the families of the 32,000 Americans killed by gun violence every year, and will finally stand up to the NRA and refute their propaganda that guns “keep you safe.”
I’m hoping they’ll work to pass gun safety measures including a mandatory background check before gun purchases (including online and gun show sales).
Hopefully Republicans will learn that gun safety laws can save lives.
Sharon Austry, Fort Worth
Gun control? Licensing? Background checks? “Constitutional carry”?
Those divert conversation from Americans’ obsession with guns.
What’s the real issue in our national crisis in gun violence? Consider a random check of killings.
How many did women commit? How many did men commit? Federal statistics show an enormous gap.
Men commit 85-90 percent of the killings by gun in the U.S.
Why don’t we begin the gun debate with that fact?
Or do we cherish living in one of the most dangerous “developed” countries in the world?
Tony Zurlo, Arlington
Remember what they graded on in kindergarten? “Works well with others.”
It’s sad that partisanship has gotten so bad that it’s divided the country.
John McMahon, Arlington
This story was originally published June 15, 2017 at 3:45 PM with the headline "Readers react to Virginia shooting."