“Technological” weapons not limited to guns
Jay Bookman acknowledges in “Are mass shootings a ‘mental-health problem?’” Opinion, Nov. 8, that such shootings may have a mental-health component, but he’s decided that aspect can’t adequately be addressed, so just take away the tools from everyone that a mentally deranged (or evil) person might feel the “technological imperative” to abuse. Well, not all such tools. Not planes, vehicles, cellphones that can remotely activate bombs, etc. Just ban selected firearms that Bookman claims have no Second Amendment protection for self-defense use.
Conversely, if several armed intruders break into your house in the middle of the night, a passenger jet overhead, a technologically advanced Buick in your garage, or an iPhone X isn’t going to defend you and your family like Bookman’s feared “high-capacity assault weapon” would.
GREGORY MARSHALL, MARIETTA
GOP’er should join Lewis on climate caucus
The federal government’s National Climate Assessment that came out on Nov. 3 confirms, for the umpteenth time, that our planet is warming and human activity is the primary culprit. The consequences of this increased warmth were recently visited upon us in the form of storms made more deadly and destructive, storms causing damage expected to exceed $200 billion.
Things will only get worse if we fail to enact policies that reduce the emission of heat-trapping gases.
Hope for congressional action resides in the growth of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in the U.S. House. Congressman John Lewis has expressed a desire to join this caucus, but the Atlanta Democrat cannot join unless a Republican joins with him — maintaining balance.
This would be a great opportunity for Representatives Karen Handel or Buddy Carter to help break the partisan impasse on climate change by joining the caucus with Lewis.
STEVE VALK, ATLANTA
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