PRODUCT SAFETY
With cribs, government has gone overboard
Our ever-vigilant government has struck again (“Crib ban in effect,” Living, June 28). They now prohibit the manufacture, sale or even resale of drop-side baby cribs, which have been blamed in the deaths of dozens of children. While any child’s death is a terrible tragedy, the government’s selective outlawing of certain products is going overboard. How about the hundreds of children who die in backyard pools? Shouldn’t those pools be outlawed?
Cribs have drop sides for a reason: to make it possible to lift a toddler out without injuring your back (especially if you are short and the child is heavy). Lowering the whole crib closer to the floor certainly doesn’t solve the problem.
Judith McCarthy, Atlanta
MEDIA
No need to report about TSA search of diaper
Regarding “Diaper causes TSA alert; 95-year-old woman nearly misses flight over pat-down” (News, June 28), the dignity of the elderly lady involved in this situation was of primary concern for the majority of people hearing about this story. Transportation Security Administration employees may be required to perform their duties for security purposes. There was no “requirement” that the news media (including the AJC) report this story in detail, which only added to this lady’s embarrassment.
Is the news media really this desperate to sell newspapers?
Paul Towler, Tucker
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Putting probationers in the fields is no solution
I have been open-minded about Georgia’s new law to curb illegal immigrants, but to employ probation individuals as a solution to farm labor problems is really preposterous. These individuals have no job skills (nor motivation to do farm labor).
We should adopt a guest worker program like the Bracero Program of the past. It would alleviate hardships for the U.S. farmer, consumer, immigration officer, and the poor immigrants just trying to get a job in the United States.
Ben Brashears, Canton
WATER
Does the rain wash away people’s common sense?
Georgia’s politicians repeatedly make public pronouncements about water conservation. However, on the day following a humongous downpour, sprinklers can be seen operating throughout metro Atlanta!
Dr. Sheldon B. Cohen, Atlanta
HUNTING
Bowhunting is a cruel form of recreation
Regarding “‘In hunting, we all have the same goal’” (Sports, June 26), it’s too bad Braves third baseman Chipper Jones can’t find another form of recreation. Bowhunting is the cruelest form of hunting. What do you think happens to those animals that are not ‘kills’ but merely ‘hits’?
Leslie Garretson, Marietta
