Winston-Salem Journal LTE TU 01/22/13

Public permits

Nothing kills democracy as quickly or completely as secrecy. One only has to look at the history of countries that do not have a free press. Gun permits should not only remain public, they should be searchable (“Official: Gun permit info should be private,” Jan. 12).

PATRICIA IHRIG

Elkin

Ryan Wood

To see how well a community came together is a beautiful sight (“Family, friends lay student to rest,” Jan. 13) . But, unfortunately, it was done under such stressful and difficult circumstances.

Ryan Wood will be dearly missed by the entire community here at West Forsyth High School and beyond. He brought a diverse community together during one of the most difficult times that anyone could have anticipated and gave other people the courage to continue to fight their life-threatening battles as well. It is beyond unfortunate that Ryan had to leave us because of that.

I'm sure Ryan Wood will continue to make an impact on this community and this nation as he has so courageously done. May he rest in peace.

ALEX FLOCH

SENIOR, WEST FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL

Clemmons

Solving the problem

One of the challenges in dealing with gun violence is explaining a reasoned position in an atmosphere of high emotion. Take my position on police officers in schools: I support the valuable School Resource Officer (SRO) program in our middle and high schools. If the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system decides that it's worth putting its scarce resources into expanding SROs into elementary schools, the city should and will work with it.

I only oppose pretending that this is the solution to gun violence. It would be like prescribing antibiotics to treat cancer. It makes the patient think you're taking action, but it doesn't solve the problem. The patient just keeps getting sicker.

Don't forget: There were armed guards at Columbine High, Virginia Tech and Fort Hood Army base. That did not prevent the mass shootings there.

In this case, the cancer is a flood of weapons of war on our streets, too many of which reach the hands of killers.

Yes, the problem of gun violence is complex. And yes, it would be a mistake to overly restrict responsible ownership of civilian hunting and home defense guns.

However, a nationwide ban on the sale of military-style assault weapons that have no legitimate civilian use is a needed part of treating the disease of gun violence. Like cutting out a malignant tumor, it won't be a complete cure, but it will help keep the patient alive while we work on the broader problem.

DAN BESSE

MEMBER, WINSTON-SALEM CITY COUNCIL

Winston-Salem

Amendment standards

I own .22-caliber rifles to protect my cattle from dogs and coyotes.

For those folks who claim the Second Amendment gives them the right to possess elephant-killing weapons that meet the standards of an amendment written in the 18th century, I suggest they be limited to the weapons that reflect the times: the blunderbuss, musketoon, harquebus, muzzleloader, and perhaps a Brown Bess.

DONALD CONRAD

Piney Creek

An insidious forgetfulness

The logical solution to preventing Newtown, Conn., tragedies is to reclaim our nation’s soul for the God of life and love. The subterfuge of eliminating school prayer brought with it an insidious forgetfulness that America was founded by principled men like John Adams who said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.” Ending classroom prayer has weakened our children’s defenses against violence and immorality.

“Thou shalt not kill” is a positive commandment of life and love. Depriving an entire category of citizens, preborn children, of their unalienable right to life led to mass desensitization of the sublime mystery of life; we are each made in the life-giving, loving image of God.

In legalizing abortion, America dehumanized not only children in the womb, but every child at every age. Mother Teresa said, “What is taking place in America is a war against the child. If we accept that a mother can kill her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill each other?” and “Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what it wants.”

As America approaches the 40th anniversary of legalized abortion, in the wake of Newtown, may we have right reason and love enough to restore the father of life to family rooms, classrooms and courtrooms, and bring an end to the dehumanization of all of America’s and God’s children at every stage of life.

TONI BUCKLER

Clemmons

The real problem

What is the real problem? Before video games we had “Cowboys and Indians.” Violent movies have been around since there were movies. Mental illness, as well as weapons of some kind, have been around since there have been people. (Coincidence?) So, what is different - not only now, but here, in America?

The answer is, the broadcast media. Let’s look at what they do: They glorify the shooters, they promote the event and they set the bar for the next guy. Why? To increase ratings. Of course, they are never going to say this. They would much rather point out the problems than point within for a solution.

I’ve heard many people say that England does not have these killings because of its gun laws. I say it’s not the lack of guns, but the media that makes the difference. Try watching the BBC. It, as well as the America’s local newspapers, does something that we rarely see on television these days: It reports the news, and it does not sensationalize the story. No hype!

In our house, the assailants are referred to by what they were/are, “killer.” I don’t know nor care to ever know their names. We refuse to give them what they wanted: Fame.

TOM RAIF

Lewisville

Military suicides

This is in reference to the AP report of military suicides in the Jan. 15 Journal (“2012 military suicides hit a record high of 349”). I am a World War II veteran and have great concern over the stress experienced by our military personnel in combat. But it appears that the entire media is sensationalizing the new high of 349 suicides in 2012.

Your "Nation & World" editor has added fuel to this fire by editing the AP report. I do not know if it was because of a space limitation or a personal judgment call but in any event your readers were denied very pertinent information needed to put this number in perspective. Following is a small part of the omitted AP information:

"The Pentagon says that although the military suicide rate has been rising, it remains below that of the civilian population. It says the civilian suicide rate for males aged 17-60 was 25 per 100,000 in 2010, the latest year for which such statistics are available. That compares with the military's rate in 2012 of 17.5 per 100,000."

Although the military suicide rate is not excessive, each suicide is regrettable and every effort should be made to reduce this rate. This should be achievable in the controlled military environment.

I trust you see my point.

WALTER BEALL

Winston-Salem

Reducing murders

The letter “The dominant narrative” (Jan. 15) was useless. After the murder of 20 children and six adults, this condescending preacher thinks we need to discuss the need for people to follow his religion rather than gun control – as if following Christianity has ever reduced murder. This country was founded as much on the massacre of American Indians as on the Christian faith.

If only everyone had the same opinion the letter writer has. Well, here’s a shocker: If somehow he could guarantee that every citizen in the country sat through mandatory Christian lessons every week, that indoctrination would not turn everyone Christian. It would likely turn many against it.

Gun control is “the dominant narrative” because people have been killed by guns. Turning to religion and prayer is a distraction from the issue at hand. Prayer won’t stop one single bullet.

Pray tell, in what utopian Christian community has murder ever been done away with? At least we have direct evidence from other countries that gun control has actually reduced murders.

REBECCA MINOR

Winston-Salem