Letters

Arlington shooting

Christian Taylor should be alive today, but Arlington police officer Brad Miller also has every right to be alive today. (See Wednesday story, “Chief fires officer who killed teen.”)

Miller may have made mistakes, but Christian Taylor was obviously beyond control that evening, as evidenced by security camera video.

The Arlington Police department should reinstate him. Otherwise, the message to officers in the department is that they don’t have the right to protect themselves from someone who charges them during obvious criminal activity.

We need to thank God every night before we go to sleep that we have officers on the streets risking their lives to protect us.

— Dee Hodges, Arlington

Where is your common sense? A burglar who was threatening a police officer was shot.

Since then, the Star-Telegram, Fox News and the media are making a celebrity of him. And the Arlington mayor says “our city is grieving.”

However, Brad Miller, the rookie police officer, is being persecuted. I’m sad for his parents, the police force and all involved.

— Wilda Stephens, Haltom City

Perot in 1992

An Aug. 9 letter by Jonathan J. Carroll suggested that Ross Perot was the reason that George H.W. Bush lost to Bill Clinton in the 1992 presidential election.

Exit polls as reported by The New York Times, CBS, NBC, CNN and ABC showed that 38 percent of Perot’s voters would have voted for Clinton and 38 percent would have voted for Bush.

Perot had no effect on the election’s outcome.

I think Bush more likely lost the election because of his famous “Read my lips, no new taxes” statement. As you may recall, he raised taxes anyway.

— James Farrell, Fort Worth

Abortion debate

I had been wondering when Richard Greene would go hysterical over the Planned Parenthood debacle. (See Greene’s Aug. 9 column, “Bogus claim of war on women’s health is finished.”)

Greene is always ready with some Tea Party hype.

I’ve found those who object to Planned Parenthood, including Greene, have no understanding of what this organization does for women, but declared it to be awfully bad indeed.

— Jackie Bell, River Oaks

High water bills

Residents of our north Arlington neighborhood recently received their water bills.

On the N Arlington Butler Elem blog, people began sharing their bill information. Nearly 50 people received bills that were as much as $400 higher than the prior month.

A number of people contacted the utility, but so far meters were correct.

Many of us suspect that the meters had not been read for months. I know that mine was buried under dirt. But a few weeks ago, I noticed the pedestal was open and the gauge uncovered. They’d read it.

It’s difficult to believe that it’s mere coincidence that so many people saw such a dramatic rise in their bills, even with increased watering.

— Frank Roso, Arlington

Putting party first

Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, who is Jewish and the third-ranking Senate Democrat, announced Aug. 6 that he can’t support the proposed Iran nuclear deal.

But he waited until others had announced their support, and gave an earlier heads-up to the other New York senator, who announced her support for the deal hours before Schumer spoke.

Then Schumer announced late on Aug. 6, knowing the Republican debate news would bury his announcement.

Odds are Schumer won’t campaign against the deal, either. He’s putting the Democratic Party above the best interests of the nation. Politics as usual. Despicable.

— Mike Estes, Fort Worth

Special treatment?

What other technicality will the Republican Party come up with to get Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton off the hook?

Could it be the same one they used for Rick Perry, Tom Delay and Kay Bailey Hutchison?

Oh, but they’re quick to say they aren’t given any special treatment.

How many people smile when they have their mug shot taken?

— Rupert Garcia, Fort Worth

Trump and Cruz

Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz tell it like it is. The other candidates are so afraid that they’ll offend someone. I vote for honesty and leadership, which we do not have.

— A.L. McCluney, Hurst

This story was originally published August 14, 2015 at 6:38 PM with the headline "Letters."