Sensible regulations are the price we pay for society. Why should guns be excluded?

Regulations keep societies moving

There is nothing un-American about regulations. They apply to auto and highway safety, air pollution, food and pharmaceuticals. They are part of living with some orderliness in society.

Yes, we should address mental health issues. But it’s absurd to focus entirely on mental health or securing schools without including attention to gun regulations.

- James Langford, North Richland Hills

The Founding Fathers’ mistake

Our forefathers had too much common sense. They put the right to bear arms into the Constitution, making it law, but they put the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness into the Declaration of Independence, where those rights are not legally binding.

I guess they figured we didn’t need a law to understand that gun rights should not supersede those inalienable rights. Too bad our current leaders and too many of their constituents don’t have the same common sense.

- Mark L. Langevin, Fort Worth

What about the kids who are here?

The Star-Telegram Editorial Board wrote that Republican activists should allow some gun law changes but also that what President Joe Biden is suggesting, including a renewed ban on assault rifles, is too sweeping and unrealistic. (June 5, 4C, “Biden aims too high on guns. Texas GOP can go a better way — if party activists allow it”)

Guns are a huge problem in this country. Children just died violently in our backyard, and you appear to be saying “pretty please” to really do anything? How can all who want to protect the unborn and Second Amendment rights work so hard at not protecting or taking care of people once they are born?

- Georgi Roberts, Fort Worth

Texas voters choose gun rights

Thank you, Bud Kennedy, for dividing readers and voters along political lines. (June 5, 1C, “Nothing will change about Texas gun laws until voters change”) Gun laws are supported by Texans from both parties. Assigning voters’ wishes to either group diminishes supporters on the other side. Maybe he meant changing who turns out to vote.

Legislators are grandstanding on gun issues. Expanded background checks would put gun owners on a government list. The good Lord blessed voters to have the right to choose elected officials who will represent their beliefs.

- Ray Harris, Fort Worth

Criminals are evil, not victims

I’m an old man, but when I was young, everybody had guns, yet they didn’t go around seeing how many people they could kill. What has changed? Our society is breaking down.

Why are our young men allowed to get on social media and find support for their twisted beliefs?

Why are they allowed to smoke dope and listen to music that glorifies violence while millionaire and billionaire producers get a pass?

Why has the word “evil” been removed from our lexicon and all beliefs and religions are considered morally equivalent?

Why are criminals considered victims with bad childhoods or betrayed by society? Does anyone think that some people choose evil?

- Michael H. Kilgore, Forest Hill

Lawyers’ role must be studied

Mallory Nicholson served 20 years for a crime he didn’t commit. (June 4, 3A, “Dallas man exonerated of 1982 child sexual assault conviction”) Where are the names of the attorneys who willfully failed to provide critical evidence to the defense that would have cleared him? Why hasn’t the Dallas district attorney acted to expose them or have them disbarred?

This sounds like the fox guarding the hen house.

- Thomas Fenimore, Hurst