Young minds aren’t fully developed. Do Texas teenagers really need heavy firepower?

Young brains aren’t ready yet

The idea of raising the age for legal gun purchases may have merit. From what I’ve read, our brains are not fully developed until after our teenage years. Increasing the eligible age to 21 would give more time for brains to reach maturity and perhaps dampen a young person’s bent toward carnage. We must alleviate the mental instability aspect of children killing children.

- Wallace Hahn, Fort Worth

Will the left sign on to this?

Here is a proposal to see just how committed the left is to reducing gun violence. Let’s have universal background checks to include gun shows and online sales and a narrowly defined red-flag law that requires warrants, and raise the age to 21 to buy a rifle.

Now, to make this bipartisan, here’s what I want: mandatory prison time for anyone convicted of a crime using a gun or illegally in possession of a gun, minimum bail of $500,000 for those accused of violating those laws and a two-strikes-you’re-out provision.

Also, all violent gangs should be designated domestic terrorists and pursued no differently than al-Qaida or ISIS terrorists.

- Chuck Fiedler, Haslet

Way too hard on Southern Baptists

The Star-Telegram editorial board paints an ugly picture of the Southern Baptists in Texas. (May 27, 21A, “Southern Baptists fell into same-old awful pattern on sex crimes: abuse, cover-up, denial”) Of course, it is not the only religious organization that has suffered scandal, but it is one that openly condemns gay marriage, abortion and sexual perversion, making it fair game for progressives and nonbelievers. Why do I never see editorials on the shady protection of public figures and politicians involved in the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking scandal?

Anyone can call himself a Christian, but God looks at our hearts. And I doubt that he smiles at the hearts of those who are quick to hinder the spread of the gospel whenever the opportunity arises, even after an unacceptable scandal like this one. It needs to be exposed, yes, but not exploited.

- Vicki Tidwell, Weatherford

Cornyn takes a back seat to ego

The enemy to our country is not from the outside, it’s right here in the United States, where arrogance is alive and functioning. Is it arrogance that stops our politicians from working together on safer gun regulations?

These few conceited, haughty, self-important, ego-driven men and women cannot come together to help keep us safe and our children alive.

Fortunately, Sen. John Cornyn is now trying to work out solutions, but Sen. Ted Cruz shows his arrogance every day and refuses to evolve in his thinking on guns.

- Johanne Timpson, Aledo

Affirm the value of the innocents

There are principles all sides agree on: Innocent life is sacred. Too many young men have a nihilistic disregard for innocent life. They sometimes bring their plans to fruition, leaving tragedies surrounded by caution tape and photographers.

We need to pivot our culture’s direction. We need to talk to young men through whatever outlets we can — social media, video games, schools, sports, all of it — and proclaim that innocent life is sacred and worth fighting for. Celebrities need to chime in, too.

We all sense the cultural void that could swallow our nation. Let’s at least agree on the sacredness of innocent life and instill it in our young men.

- John Peffer, Fort Worth

We don’t need this conduct

I agree we need to change something on guns, and I certainly don’t have the answers. But I have the common sense to know that Beto O’Rourke’s outburst at this most sober moment was an absolute disgrace. (May 27, 21A, “With wild disruption of Uvalde event, Beto O’Rourke proves again that it’s all about him”) This was not the time or place for him to showboat.

Be careful who you vote for; you might get that person.

- Vince Bonano, Fort Worth

O’Rourke showed he has courage

I was proud that Beto O’Rourke had the nerve to speak up and let the governor and others on the stage who were addressing what happened in Uvalde know what so many people are feeling. He probably knew there were many who would call it grandstanding, but I’m glad he did it.

We need someone in this state who has the courage to come forward and advocate for sensible gun laws.

- Peggy Syrus, Benbrook