LETTERS

Not quite a hillbilly state

Thank you to the Benton County GOP committee.

Well, well-maybe it’s finally over; it’s been long overdue and slow in coming. Could it be the Era of Ideological Purity Testing and Garbage Mouth Politics, that anything goes if done or said about a perceived political wrong or an “impure enemy” of the same or other party, is drawing to a close?

Congratulations for setting an example for America by drawing a line as to where enough is too much even when talking about

politicians. All citizen rights require responsible use, although many ignore that fact. I’m glad to see that fact reaffirmed by the party long claiming to be about people being responsible.

I must ask just one question: Would the reaction have been the same if the over-the-top comments had been about a certain president of the United States, or members of the U.S. government, rather than local politicians? It should be; they all are really our friends and neighbors as U.S. citizens, but based on some published materials even in this newspaper, and especially posted online, I wonder.

But celebrate, Arkansas. This grassroots rejection of poor taste on top of expanding health care to the poor via private option-great work! Two examples in one week for America that we are not quite the state of backward feuding hillbillies portrayed in the mainstream media, or tweets by birdbrains (even if they are homegrown).

The two positives are examples of how this republic is designed to function-America, D.C., and media, do take notes.

GERALD O’BRYAN

Springdale

Civility’s left building

We no longer have a civilized society when people go around threatening to shoot anyone who does not agree with them.

We have not yet lost the freedom of thought and expression. Yet.

NANCY SAVULA

Rogers

Federal law has helped

I would like to respond to a witty letter by Kelly McElyea concerning a ban on dangerous knives and standing up to the imaginary National Knife Association. He said he didn’t mind people owning butter knives or throwing knives, but felt we should outlaw box-cutters and other dangerous knives.

Many people may not know that the government did indeed outlaw the manufacture, importation and distribution of switchblade knives in 1958. Switchblade knives are still illegal in several states. They are legal in Arkansas.

The switchblade knife was considered a weapon of assault. I suppose there are those who would argue that the government had no right to restrict the manufacture of such knives back then.

I recall the story of a student at my elementary school who stabbed and killed his music teacher with a switchblade knife that he had won at the War Memorial Amusement Park. Clearly, lives have been saved by the federal legislation.

STEVE RALEY

Little Rock

We are not in charge

My thanks to Patricia Nesiewicz for her recent Voices letter. There are few of us today old enough to remember the boast of Nikita Khrushchevof Russia. His prediction is being fulfilled, even in our lifetime.

Look around, America. This is not the America I grew up in.

Instead of seeking to find and encourage the best in our fellow citizens, we look through the magnifying glass of political correctness to find even the slightest flaw to protest against with self-righteous indignation.

We are obsessed with not offending anyone, with no regard of offending God, who has complete control of every heartbeat and every aspect of the universe he created. How foolish for the created to defy the creator.

Wake up, America, we are not in charge.

NORMA YOUNG

Bella Vista

In serious need of clue

Our elected officials and the top brass of the military claim they haven’t a clue as to why the North Korean dictator is talking war and telling people to seek shelter or die. His intentions are understood.

Just like in 1952, the U.S. continues to underestimate the threat from North Korea and China. Obviously, another war with North Korea cannot be fought as in 1950-53. This won’t be a police action. This war will have to be waged with deliberate methods designed to eliminate any more such threats from the North. The U.S. will have to utilize its best weapons systems.

What seems a mystery to me is how the North Korean dictator can continue to feed all the North Koreans. The whole country is basically on food stamps and welfare. Perhaps he wants the U.S. to feed his people and bow to him as God’s gift to Koreans.

The Korean War never ended. While South Korea has made big progress in improving its standard of living, across the border to the North freedom does not exist, and neither do industry or commerce.

Obviously the leadership of the North does not have a clue on how to peacefully achieve co-existence with the free world. Their methods are not compatible with the other countries of Asia.

LUCIAN SIMMONS

Oil Trough

A fix, but no solution

Re the Boeing 787 battery fix: I’m not an aeronautical, electrical or mechanical engineer.

It amazes and concerns me that the powers to be have approved the changes to the two lithium-ion batteries that will ensure the safety of the aircraft and its passengers. These changes would eliminate concerns that the batteries would burst into smoke or fire. The fix includes more insulation between each of the eight cells and also the batteries would be encased in a new steel box to contain fire and vent possible smoke or hazardous gasses out of the plane.

This is fine, except neither the FAA nor the National Transportation Safety Board has found out what caused the batteries to fail in the first place.

It seems to me that this is a containment fix without correcting the initial source of the problem.

DONALD D. DUGAN SR.

Little Rock

‘Liberal’ application

Like most people of conscience, I find Nate Bell’s buffoonish tweet rude and distasteful. It did, though, make me start thinking.

First, I must admit I am a gun owner and used to hunt in my youth, and enjoy shooting at targets at a range.

But the way Nate and a lot of of people who worship at the altar of the gun use the word “liberal” makes me wonder: Do they know the primary definition of the word liberal?

In my old American Heritage Dictionary, circa 1982, the primary definition (first one listed) of the word liberal is: having, expressing or following political views or policies that favor civil liberties, democratic reform, and the use of government power to promote social progress.

Damn, that sounds like what our politicians who serve the people are suppose to do for us citizens.

Could be that old Nate is a liberal himself?

ANDREW PHILLIPS

North Little Rock

Everybody’s business

Recent letters have ridiculed our elected representatives for being mostly old, white, Christian males. These were probably the qualities that prompted voters to elect them. The courage shown as they champion the truths they value in spite of criticism is admirable.

These critics reason that, rather than allow a baby to grow to become abused, just dispose of him/her in the womb. Whose business is it?

Where life is concerned, it is everyone’s business, and murder is worse than abuse.

Some plead for the innocent girl who is suddenly making the most important decision of her life. They plead that counselors’ and ministers’ advice is being ignored as legislators make the decision for her. Where were those counselors when she needed them more, the time when she should have been informed of choices involving chastity, condoms and pills versus unprotected sex?

Choices have consequences. Mature, moral individuals accept those consequences. If the expectant father and mother are not capable of providing the care needed, there are those who are. Murder is not morally acceptable, in spite of Roe v. Wade.

New York newspapers may ridicule our state, but we need not accept their values as ours. I salute our legislators for upholding the right to life for the defenseless unborn. Thanks to the counselors who are urging our youth to make informed choices before sex. Sympathy to those who have made bad choices, but more so, for the unborn who are the innocent victims.

AVANELL CONNER

Helena

More misinformation

And so another erroneous opinion letter has been penned. It’s typical of the confusion about “semiautomatic,” “automatic,” “machine guns” and what constitutes “assault weapons.”

Assault weapons are defined as being capable of fully automatic operation. Bullets come out continuously as long as the trigger is pulled and ammunition is available. A machine gun usually refers to a heavier weapon, and would typically be carried and operated by a team rather than an individual.

No hunter uses a machine gun. Fully automatic weapons have been illegal since about 1934, unless federally licensed, including payment of a large fee. So the writer’s statement, although technically true, carries no weight in his argument.

A semiautomatic weapon is neither an automatic, nor is it an assault weapon. Most rifles and shotguns used by hunters and sportsmen are semiautomatics. One trigger pull means one round fired. The small-caliber (like .223) semiautomatics used for sport and competition shooting are favorite targets of the politicians’ assault weapon bans.

The letter writer apparently feels that he knows just what the Constitution’s writers intended. But I believe they most certainly didn’t intend to limit future citizens to muskets and flintlocks. The Second Amendment wasn’t written just to protect hunters’ rights.

If you are interested in the founders’ thoughts, try reading the Federalist Papers, particularly numbers 28 and 29.

LARRY ANDERSON

Sherwood

Feedback

That vote is lost …

I am a registered voter, participating in about 90 percent of all elections in the last 25 years. As an independent, I choose candidates according to what I read about their qualifications.

In the past five years, my main issue in any election has been robocalls. I have planned to vote for a particular candidate, but after receiving a robocall from them, changed my vote. Any candidate who bothers constituents at home with unsolicited computer calls obviously doesn’t have good judgment.

In the past week, I have received two robocalls from Mike Ross announcing plans to run for governor. I shudder to think how often his campaign will call once it is actually up and running.

TERRY CURTNER

North Little Rock

Two kinds of stupid

Some things are up with which I cannot put: the votes by two U.S. senators from Arkansas on the background checks for certain gun buyers, and state Rep. Nate Bell’s stupid words toward grieving Bostonians.

WILLIAM C. KRAMER

North Little Rock