Guns
Distinguishing between a right and privilege
Mary Sanchez in “Treat gun safety like the public health issue that it is” (Opinion, July 22) failed to recognize one important distinction: Bearing arms is a right. Driving a car is a privilege. Although I disagree about gun safety being a public health issue, just suppose she is right. I also question whether a car crash is a health issue. Change her quick question to “Are you more likely to die by a bullet or by medical malpractice?” There are (roughly) 100 million gun owners in the United States, but only 1 million doctors. In 2011, there were 8,583 firearm murders. During the same period, preventable medical errors caused 98,000 deaths. Even if you want to include the 19,000 suicides by firearms in her 32,000 figure, it is far less than medical malpractice. Does she want to also shift our attitude about doctors?
PAUL RICE, COVINGTON
Cartoonist way off on Gaza
Mike Luckovich usually is spot on in his critiques. But Mike, you missed it big time in your insinuation that Israel is keeping the Palestinians jailed in Gaza. It is the Palestinians who build tunnels with material that could be used to better their own people. It is the Palestinians who smuggle weapons with which to terrorize Israel. If they only smuggled in computers and books to enrich their children’s lives instead of using their children’s schools and hospitals as military bases and jeopardizing their children’s lives. Mike, what would you have Israel do – just endure hundreds of random missiles that are fired upon it? Accede to the Palestinian goals and dismantle the Jewish state?
MOSHE MANHEIM, ATLANTA
Wrong to ignore Israel’s history
Mr. Luckovich is entitled to exercise his right of free speech by virtue of his political cartoon of July 23rd. However, the AJC also has an obligation to make sure that with regard to such exercise, it is done in an intellectually honest manner. The reference to Gaza being an open air prison is accurate and was frequently made. However, it was made when Egypt controlled the Gaza strip, and was made in reference to Egyptian policies prior to June 1967, when Israel had no control, no presence and no authority whatsoever in Gaza. The living conditions of Gazans improved starting when Israel prevailed against Egypt’s attacks. And, when Israel completely withdrew from Gaza in 2005, there was no sea blockade, the borders between Gaza, Israel and Egypt were open for trade and commerce and economic development was encouraged. Israel even left behind greenhouses and a thriving horticulture business to be assumed by Gazans. It was Hamas which has diverted money and material from the Gazan civilian population into weapons of destruction to attack Israel and to line the pockets of Hamas leaders. It is Hamas that has caused and continues to cause the tragedy befalling the Gazan civilian population. To blame Israel in this cartoon, in such an historically inaccurate way, is hateful and wrong of Mr. Luckovich.
JONATHAN MINNEN, SANDY SPRINGS
Hope for U.S. Senate race
We have two competent people running for the U. S. Senate. Both have shown competence in other endeavors. It would be nice if the one with the most positive campaign for our country and for all the people of Georgia (no negative attacks) could get elected.
MICHAEL HARRINGTON, DUNWOODY
