Video of Uvalde law enforcement is beyond belief. But we must witness the cowardice
Officers out for themselves
The video of the officers in the hallway of Robb Elementary in Uvalde shows them running from the unlocked classroom while an individual with an assault rifle was in there slaughtering children. (July 14, 1A, “Video of police waiting in school adds to Uvalde’s anguish”) One strolls over to the hand sanitizer dispenser. I wonder if their next action might have been to order more protective gear from Amazon?
There are just no words.
- Phyllis Gardner, Fort Worth
We have to see Uvalde reality
Local officials in Uvalde are angry that someone released a video of the lawmen standing around in the school hallway while children are being shot, some beyond recognition, just feet away. The families should see this. They deserve to know what happened and what did not happen that morning.
These law enforcement cowards should be stripped of every badge, button and shoulder star. They should never be allowed to pretend they represent the law or will protect the public or schools.
- Carolyn Sawyer, Fort Worth
Power grid is Texas energy folly
How long has it been since Gov. Greg Abbott told us that plenty of capacity has been added to the Texas electricity grid since the big freeze? What’s he saying now? It’s three or four degrees hotter than we have seen in previous years, nothing like the deep cold that took the state within minutes of a complete grid collapse. Yet we are being told to cut back consumption to save the grid this summer.
How smart does it look now to separate Texas from larger grids to avoid federal oversight? How much longer will voters keep putting this bunch back in office? How bad must it get before changes will be made?
- Jack Ellis, Burleson
I would snub Biden’s handshake
I first became aware of U.S. presidents in 1963 when John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas. Since, I have known 11 more presidents. Each of them, good or bad, had my respect. If I had the opportunity to shake the hand of any of them I would have jumped at the chance. But not this one — I would refuse Joe Biden’s hand. That’s how bad he is.
- Vince Bonano, Fort Worth
Keep weapons from criminals
The elephants in the living room are assault rifles and high-capacity magazines. Does it really matter that there are evil and mental issues in the mix or overlooked criminal records at the point of purchase? The common denominator, the tool used most in mass shootings, is a high-capacity assault weapon. It’s a moot point why criminals shoot and kill people. The tool of their trade remains the same.
Is it really all that hard for Congress, especially Republicans, to make a wise choice of compromise with the past and future loved ones of mass shooting victims? Stop selling these instruments of death now. We have seen way, way too many horrible results.
- Bill Hodges, Colleyville
2nd Amendment meant for the ages
I always get a kick out of people who think the Second Amendment applies only to muzzle-loading rifles of the 1700s. That’s like saying your freedom of speech is allowed only on a stump in the public square or freedom of the press pertains only to manual typesetting at the local print shop.
The framers created a document that has passed the test of time and is still the model of free societies. The Second Amendment guards against a tyrannical government. Countless tyrants disarmed their citizens and brutalized their opposition. The Second Amendment assures that won’t ever be us.
- Chuck Fiedler, Haslet
This story was originally published July 19, 2022 at 5:00 AM.