Winston-Salem Journal LTE MO 07/30/12

Deeply saddened

As I read my newspaper on July 19, I can't describe in words the emotions I felt as I read "Kitten attacked by children euthanized." As an animal lover, I am deeply saddened at the thought of what this small, defenseless kitten suffered through. My condolences go out to the kitten's family (human and feline). In my wildest dreams, I could not imagine losing a pet in this manner.

I truly hope these children realize the magnitude of their actions and this never happens again. I cannot decide on a punishment to fit this crime.

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SHEILA ELLEDGE

Jonesville

A misunderstanding

There is definitely a misconnect by wealthy Republicans who think middle-class Democrats are jealous of their wealth and therefore want them to be punished and pay more taxes. President Obama's plan to raise their taxes by allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire is more about fairness and having the wealthy pay an equal or greater percentage than those earning considerably less.

Shouldn't the wealthy "job creators" pay at least their fair share of taxes, as do those who work for them? We are not jealous.

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ROBERT C. DILLON

Clemmons

Harming many

When the few can harm the many so easily, there needs to be better regulation ("Gunman's motive unclear in Colo. attack," July 21). Automatic weapons are made to kill people and provide a thrill — those two things should not be linked together in a civilized world.

I've been working with the public on a quasi-social basis for decades, and I can tell you there are a few in every large gathering who are potentially dangerous and should never have access to weapons. Can anyone tell me why they are available to the public in the first place?

I think the Second Amendment gives us the right to have local militia; not to turn our country into an armed camp where everyone is a potential killer. Then we would revert to a kill-or-be-killed mindset, which is a self-fulfilling way of thinking.

Does the right to bear arms include automatic weapons, bazookas and atomic bombs?

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TONY TAMER

Winston-Salem

Invalid views

The letter "A deep insight" (July 19) repeats invalid views. Raising taxes on "rich" people inhibits economic recovery? Where have they been? The fact is that businesses have failed to expand, and hiring has stagnated, despite high cash reserves and ultra-high executive incomes. Increased hiring awaits increased demand for products and services. With high unemployment, demand remains lacking. Federal deficit spending designed to get people back to work can make an important difference. Following recovery, spending can gradually be reined in, as it must. Meantime, our structural differences from the Euro countries continue to underpin U.S. command of rock-bottom interest rates. Premature cutting of financial support for the states, with consequent layoffs by cities and school systems, does more harm than good.

Moving on: The president's management of the economy has been miserable? Bear in mind that President Obama inherited this recession from the wars, tax cuts, deregulation and disastrous banking practices of the George W. Bush era.

The Obama administration's efforts to speed a turnaround, and the president's willingness to seek common ground with his opponents, have been met with a policy of persistent, uncompromising obstruction in Congress. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell declared that his top priority was to make Obama a one-term president.

The writer of "A deep insight" insinuates that the president promotes class warfare to keep his job, that he's just another unprincipled politician who'll do anything for re-election. The record suggests otherwise. Historians are likely to reach quite a different judgment.

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ALBERT "AL" HARBURY

Clemmons

Guns and the public

In the 2007 movie "In the Valley of Elah," at the end of the movie after Tommy Lee Jones' character finds out how his son died, he has the school-yard flag hung upside-down.

Why do we allow the NRA and the gun lobby to frustrate the will of the American people? Most gun owners and the general public agree that we need gun-control laws. Assault weapons and 90-round magazines are not for defense but for aggression.

We will never be able to identify those among us who may one day go on a killing frenzy.

The president needs to get out in front on this. Let Congress explain how it is that we need assault rifles in the hands of the general public. We need a national ban on assault weapons. Only then should we hang the flag proudly.

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JIM PADDEN

Ararat, Va.