Fort Worth should have light pollution ordinance for birds

Do you want to see more yellow warblers in Fort Worth? Then maybe it’s time for a light pollution ordinance. Rachel M. Richardson U.S. Geological Survey

Fight light pollution

Thank you for the picture of a beautiful yellow warbler and story of migratory birds passing through Fort Worth’s skies. (Sept. 3, 1A, “Texans urged to save birds by reducing light pollution”) The story points out an important issue: Millions of birds are killed when they fly into buildings, drawn by the lights of our cities.

Could Fort Worth consider a local ordinance on artificial light pollution? Tucson, Arizona, has effective regulations that conserve energy and reduce light pollution. It would be wonderful to see the stars, planets and occasional comets again.

- Sallie Tarride, Fort Worth

Irresponsible gun owner

I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment but was shocked to see the story Sunday about a fired Tarrant County College employee suing the school. (6A, “Man sues Tarrant County College after being fired over gun”) It seems that Joseph Matthews left his firearm on his office desk in plain sight with the door open while he went to the restroom. It could have been a disaster.

How many people had the opportunity to take that firearm and cause harm to the people in that building? The gun could have been taken and used in a robbery or a murder.

Carrying a handgun comes with certain responsibilities. The college should follow its own guidelines for firing, but Matthews should lose his handgun license.

- Harry Thompson, Bedford

Wrong emphasis in headline

I was disappointed Sunday morning to see the Page 1A headline “Two women running in toss-up race for open US House seat.” Is the newsworthiness of this competitive and important race the fact that both candidates are female?

- Catherine Buley, Fort Worth

An inventive set of honors

Thank you for the creative Labor Day banner honoring different occupations across the top of Page 1A on Monday. How cute was that?

As a retired teacher, I especially enjoyed the “R” with mathematical symbols and a red apple. Someone must have had a great art teacher.

- C. Kerr, Fort Worth

NFL protests divide us

The new NFL season is upon us, and we are in for weekly displays of players kneeling during the national anthem. We are four years into these endless demonstrations that we are told are intended to lead us toward a unified goal of racial justice and equality.

The vast majority of Americans support that, but the players could not have chosen a more divisive way to protest. Surely, after four years of the same old thing, some athletes are capable of finding a more creative way of bringing people together.

- Bill Louthan, Whitney

So you hate regulations?

I read Sunday’s front-page story about Granbury residents worried about dumping being allowed into their waterway. (“Granbury residents fear sewage plant will ruin creek”) If you vote for federal, state and local candidates who are pro-business and promise fewer regulations, these are the consequences.

When you read about public officials lifting regulations on water, air and soil quality, don’t ignore it because it is somewhere else. One day, it’ll be your backyard.

- Gabrielle Gordon, Unincorporated Tarrant County