Fort Worth not surprised at injustice for Atatiana Jefferson

This is the same place where a skinhead got probation for killing a Black man in the 1990s. Family photo

But are Black lives valued?

I understand why the Black community is upset that Aaron Dean wasn’t convicted of murder. After all, this is the county where, in 1993, a jury gave probation and no jail time to a teenage skinhead convicted in the murder of a Black man. Nothing changed until 10,000 people showed up at the courthouse to protest the sentence.

The more things change, the more they stay the same in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. Black lives matter, but to some, they have no value.

- Andre Washington, Fort Worth

A new low for Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s “major announcement” — selling digital trading cards — is the latest example of how big an embarrassment he continues to be to the United States and what a stain he was on the presidency.

- Greg Noone, Saginaw

Arming teachers is no answer

Nicole Russell’s columns are always well-written, even if skewed to her conservative viewpoint. But with Wednesday’s “Keller ISD has right idea to stop shootings: Let staff carry guns,” (13A) she seems to have placed herself firmly among those gun-loving citizens who say that the answer to every incident of gun violence is for more people to carry more firearms in more places.

As a former Marine infantry officer and criminal prosecutor of gun crime, I have experienced the effects of gun violence. Folks like Russell grossly exaggerate the effectiveness of defensive handgun use by non-professionals. Even if armed school teachers regularly visit a gun range to work on marksmanship, relying on them to use a handgun effectively without hurting the innocent while they themselves are being shot at, their hearts are racing and their hands are shaking, is unrealistic at best.

- Brooks Harrington, Fort Worth

When you can’t count your guns

In August 2012, I was selected to serve on a jury. During lunch breaks, I often talked with a fellow juror about hunting. One day, he mentioned that he wanted President Barack Obama to lose reelection because he was afraid Obama wanted to take our guns. I asked him how many guns he had. He began contemplating, and I said, “Oh, my god, you don’t even know for sure?”

That’s why I (grudgingly) have to agree with Nicole Russell about Keller ISD allowing staff and teachers to carry. We should outlaw military-grade weapons, but there are already too many guns out there to effectively control.

- S.R. DeWees, Arlington

Leonard Pitts Jr. will be missed

I will greatly miss the retiring Leonard Pitts Jr., the Miami Herald columnist whose commentaries often appeared in the Star-Telegram. (Dec. 15, 11A, “Thanks to a bunch of people — and so long!”) I consider him a truth-teller extraordinaire and have always appreciated his unique perspective and insight, especially into the Black experience. I surely hope the opinion staff can find someone of his stature to carry the torch for him.

Mr. Pitts, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service, kindness, candor, patience, clarity and bravery. Your work did not go unnoticed.

- Penny Baxter, North Richland Hills

Solve the border with humanity

The situation at the border is a humanitarian crisis. It is neither Republican- nor Democrat-created. Much like with the displaced people in Ukraine, the question is: How do we care for the influx of desperate human beings, most of whom are good, decent people? Do we leave them on the other side of the border indefinitely and turn a blind eye? In the bitter cold without shelter?

We should be better and kinder than that. We have the resources. Think what we could do with but a fraction of what is spent for political campaigns.

- Wendy Stoecker, Arlington

One-time fix for immigration

I support George F. Will’s immigration views, with a twist. (Dec. 15, 11A, “How Tillis-Sinema immigration bill would right 2 glaring wrongs”) The overall issue will never be fully settled without it being done altogether more imaginatively in one grand manner. This means for the “Dreamers” as well as for their parents and all others in the same predicament. Then, we can move on to harder issues.

We certainly will never solve the issue by sending those here illegally back by force or otherwise. To attempt it would tear this country apart like we have never seen.

Instead, let’s tie up everything into one neat package by granting a one-time amnesty and couple it with a bipartisan agreement to finish the border wall and ensure that future mass crossings will end.

Sometimes we shove aside the easy solutions for overly complicated ones, making the problem even harder to solve.

- William Brown, Arlington