GUNS
Real solutions lie within each of us
The July 7 AJC article “Massacres spur look at gun seizure law” notes that some states “are turning to a gun seizure law pioneered in Connecticut 15 years ago.” This highlights the real problem with gun control in America; a desire by our political leaders to make noise without solving the problem. Remember Sandy Hook? It did not work in Connecticut, so why does anyone think it will work elsewhere? It is time we began to look at solutions other than more laws; solutions like encouraging communities to police themselves, neighbors asking neighbors to be cognizant of how they secure weapons, businesses to be more responsible about how they merchandise guns and ammunition. We all need to stop looking for someone else to fix the problem and roll up our sleeves and fix it house by house and neighborhood by neighborhood.
JEFF MARLIN
Hobby Lobby case distorted by opponents
Many people commenting on the recent Supreme Court Hobby Lobby decision do not understand the ruling or are so ideologically blinded they are unable to grasp its meaning or are distorting the facts for political purposes.
The case did not concern birth control, but four abortifacients. The company pays for 16 types of contraceptives, but objected on religious grounds for having to provide abortion-inducing drugs. The Court ruled that under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (supported overwhelmingly by Democrats during President Clinton’s presidency) the government cannot force a company to pay for a drug or drugs that it objects to on religious grounds if there is a less burdensome way a person can obtain that drug or drugs. The drugs that Hobby Lobby objects to are widely available and reasonably priced or free, in some cases.
The larger question, however, is why should a company be forced to provide birth control drugs and devices in the first place? In 99.99 percent of cases, pregnancy is not a medical condition or only becomes one after conception. People need to exercise personal responsibility in the case of sexual matters. Or it that too hard?
EDWARD WATKINS, LILBURN
U.S. pro athletes can learn from World Cup
I have been watching the World Cup playoffs since they started, and I think the singing of the national anthems should be required watching for every professional athlete in this country. When those players sing, they are arm in arm, and actually singing (they all sing the same words) — unlike our professional multi-millionaires who either don’t know the words (which would not surprise me) or are too lazy to be bothered.
Instead of picking their noses, scratching their privates, chewing gum, and or tobacco, or at least looking like a team that is together, they choose to act as juvenile as possible while the anthem is played. It’s about time the respective commissioners (who have the power to require the way they dress, their conduct on and off the playing field) make them learn the words (including those players from foreign countries, since they know enough English to sign a multi-million dollar contract) and make all them stand at attention and set an example for our youth to follow — instead of acting the way they do. A hefty fine when they don’t would go a long way towards teaching them, and the money can go to a charity supported by the leagues. I grant you that not all players are as bad as I describe, but more than 80 percent are.
BERNARD ROSS, WOODSTOCK
