Tourists, beware: guns everywhere
The accidental killing in Helen of a woman who had recently become a U.S. citizen (“Stray bullet kills tourist in Helen,” Metro, Aug. 18) is proof that more guns in more places don’t make us safer. The proliferation of weapons in public since the enactment of House Bill 60 will result in more shootings of innocent bystanders. Most Georgians are probably unaware that unlike most states, Georgia requires not one minute of training for a carry license. When it comes to guns in public, it is our lives on the line.
Although it’s unclear whether the Helen shooter had been drinking or possessed a carry permit, one thing is certain. He lives in Jasper in the district represented by the sponsor of the new gun law that encourages more irresponsible behavior, resulting in more deaths of innocent people. Be careful, Georgians. Even quaint tourist towns aren’t safe anymore.
LISSIE STAHLMAN, ATLANTA
Workers are our actual job makers
The article “Jobs return, but wages depressed” (Business, Aug. 17) exposes our benevolent “job creators’” stinginess: Jobs return, but living wages are not offered. One in seven people and one in four military families scrape by only with monthly charitable handouts, despite many of them working more than one job. This is when all-time record corporate profits are registered. All the benefits of increased productivity go to the rich so they can indulge buying million-dollar antique cars, or spend a billion dollars for a mediocre basketball team.
With his “makers/takers” labels, Rep. Paul Ryan got it wrong. The “makers” are those who work for wages — even starvation wages — producing goods and services to make this country function; the “takers” are the rich, fancying themselves “job creators,” reaping the benefits of others’ toils. Since 70 percent of the economy is consumer spending (which creates jobs), higher wages — hence spending — would create more jobs.
WILLIAM HAFFNER, BALL GROUND
Fix roads for congestion solution
Sunday’s editorial (“Another journey toward open roads,” Opinion, Aug. 17) about the work of the legislative joint study committee to find solutions and funding for transportation problems is timely. Working on the problem from the state level, and bringing Georgia’s per capita transportation spending in line with other states (featuring more use of the motor fuel tax for transportation spending), is right on the money. However, because this is so important to the economic health of the entire state, it is critical that the committee stay focused on solving the main problem at hand: traffic congestion in the metro Atlanta area.
Because the 5 million people in metro Atlanta are spread out over such a large geographical area, expensive heavy rail can do little to effectively relieve traffic congestion. In our region, the use of transit trains is simply a novel transportation alternative. Improving the road system, adding toll lanes and implementing a comprehensive, seamless bus system throughout the metro area is the most effective way to address the congestion problem.
JOEL SMITH, STOCKBRIDGE
