Closing of VA clinics good news
The article regarding the possible closing of 1,100 unused and underutilized VA facilities to allow more veterans to receive medical care in the private sector is a step in the right direction in my opinion (“Shulkin says he’s considering closing 1,100 VA facilities,” News, May 4). Our veterans deserved much better care than our government is currently providing them. There are a number of “businesses” that the federal government needs to get out of because, as we all know, government does a lousy job of running most things. I do question the annual savings of $25 million stated in the article, however. My old school math (pencil and paper, not a calculator) indicates this amounts to only $22,700 per year savings per facility. I seriously doubt our government is that efficient by spending so little. If true, perhaps these facilities are about to fall down anyway. I bet the cost of operation is 10 times this amount if credible accounting methods were used.
P.D. GOSSAGE, JOHNS CREEK
New law makes some fearful
On May 4, the AJC reported that Gov. Nathan Deal signed Campus Carry into law. I work at Georgia Tech, and I am personally affected by this new law. I feel that my only option is to either wear a bulletproof vest or quit my job. I’d rather be in a classroom of smokers than gun carriers. I feel safer around cigarettes than guns. It seems ludicrous that guns are now legal in college classrooms while cigarettes are not. Both are health-related issues. If someone is scared to walk to his car from class, then that person could request a police escort, own a service dog, or take a self-defense course. Why is the answer to put a gun in the hand of a young person before we explore other reasonable solutions? I don’t want anyone to fear for one’s own safety, but now I fear for mine. Why is a gun owner’s right to safety more important than my own? I don’t understand.
RAENELL SOLLER, ATLANTA
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