Opinion articles provide independent perspectives on key community issues, separate from our newsroom reporting.

Letters to the Editor

Teachers and first responders can do more to stop shootings

Head them off before they happen

On Jan. 16, the editorial board of the Star-Telegram urged Gov. Greg Abbott to give serious consideration to a state red-flag law, which would help keep guns out of the hands of people with troubled or criminal pasts. (9A, “Texas Gov. Abbott must lead on law to curtail mass shootings”)

The better way to spend our resources would be to train first responders and teachers to identify people who need mental health care and get them the help they need before problems arise

If we are not proactive, these people will continue to lash out at the society that frustrates them so. This would also reduce the number of homeless people.

- Owen Whitsitt, Graham

Trump protects us from overreach

Paul Krugman has been notably wrong about so many things that it’s incredible he gets any column space — except that he espouses what the progressives and today’s political left love. On health care, as usual, he promotes more government meddling and a more bloated welfare state. (Jan. 16, 9A, “Trump’s plot against health care continues”)

President Donald Trump, in contrast, is working to reduce government meddling. That returns us more to what made us great and to our foundational principles of self-reliance, choice and individual liberty.

Trump’s “plot” is not against health care. It’s against a government takeover of health care.

- Gary Hancock, Arlington

TexRail does a great job for me

The author of a Jan. 14 letter to the editor (13A) described her recent disappointing experience with TexRail, but my trips have been great. We use the train to and from the airport.

The lack of overnight parking at the rail stations should not be a big problem. Just beg a ride from a friend or use a ride-hailing service such as Uber.

The train cars are clean, comfortable, quiet and attractive. There’s a disabled-accessible restroom on every train, along with a helpful conductor. The trains run every half hour in morning and evening rush hours, and the fare is cheap.

TexRail a wonderful public service, and not enough people know about it.

- M.A. Fraser, Fort Worth

An honor whose time has come

Words cannot express how grateful I am that the Star-Telegram printed an article regarding the street-naming honors for Cesar Chávez and Dolores Huerta. (Jan. 16, 4A, “Fort Worth to honor Chávez, Huerta with North Side street”)

I am proud of what they stood for: non-violent activism, standing up for what is right and advocating for immigrants’ and women’s rights.

It may have taken a while, but I’m proud to live in Fort Worth and proud to be a Latina.

- Gloria Enrriques, Fort Worth

This story was originally published January 19, 2020 at 5:00 AM.

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