Lawmakers must end system of delaying court cases
House Speaker David Ralston’s apparent abuse of his privilege to delay court dates so he can conduct business as an elected public servant must stop (“Ralston uses post to delay clients’ cases,” News, Feb. 17). Ralston must hand over his calendar so the public can know exactly what was so important that he was not able to be in court. The AJC’s story exposes more than just Ralston’s seeming corruption. It exposes the lack of transparency in our state Legislature. The Open Records Act must apply to all levels of state government. Also, there must be improved transparency and accountability regarding the right to a speedy trial. Ralston’s clients may have committed horrible crimes, and their victims deserve a judicial system that does not add to their pain. They deserve legislators’ best efforts to immediately fix this system.
DON MCADAM, SANDY SPRINGS
Gun violence crisis still needs sensible remedies
Regarding the articles on this month’s Parkland shooting anniversary and gun violence in America, I believe in commonsense gun laws. I refuse to believe nothing can be done about the public health crisis of gun violence, whether school shootings, inner-city violence, domestic violence, or accidental deaths or suicides aided by easy access to guns by children and teens. If you read most of the materials put out by gun violence prevention organizations, you will rarely see the phrase, “gun control.” These groups know this phrase is upsetting to law-abiding gun owners. We simply believe in reforming gun laws to make Americans safer, such as expanding background checks and keeping guns away from the mentally ill and convicted domestic abusers. It may seem like semantics, but I think the words we use can help bridge the animosity gap between the two sides.
JULIE KIMBALL, SUWANEE
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