Ban purchase of weapons

Editor, OBSERVER:

I sent a letter to our U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer. It stated:

Please submit a federal bill to the U.S. government only allowing federal military groups to purchase or possess assault weapons, including the AR 15.

No individual may purchase or possess assault weapons, these types of weapons, including the children. Protect our students and reject the NRA.

PAUL B. McGAVIS,

former labor leader,

Dunkirk

The two faces

of Hollywood

Editor, OBSERVER:

Once again we grieve the loss of young, innocent lives because of an evil, unstable young man who was allegedly upset over losing his girlfriend. These were young people who would have been laborers, technicians, accountants, doctors, attorneys ….. a spouse, a parent.

Such a horrible and grievous waste. Fifty years ago, school shootings were not the chosen outlet for such earth shattering relationship breakups. Pain and frustration were directed at the individual(s) causing same….. a verbal barrage or maybe a fist fight.

In the ’50s, Hollywood produced TV entertainment such as “Father Knows Best,” “Leave It To Beaver,” “The Brady Bunch,” Gene Autry, “The Lone Ranger,” “Sky King” and Roy Rogers. The sophisticated, enlightened critics of today openly mock this “simple, provincial” viewing, favoring increased violence and sexuality.

Freedom of speech and broader community standards, they say. The average teenager today has viewed, condoned and stored 20,000 “murders” by age 18. Not enough action for you; let’s spend hours playing violent video games. If you can’t shoot, blow up or eliminate an adversary in some violent and spectacular way, you’re just not cool. How has this effected today’s society compared to the “simple, provincial, puritanical and backward” folks of 50 years ago who apparently were too unimaginative to maim and kill innocent fellow students because of the anger and pain in their life? It’s time to expose Hollywood for its hypocrisy calling for oppressive gun control while “feeding the beast.”

Mental illness and mental instability need to be prohibited the access to firearms, but with equal protection and due process as granted by the Bill of Rights ratified almost 227 years ago. And I trust the Bill of Rights far more than the knee jerk reaction of so many of our well-meaning, hoplophobic and naÔve politicians.

DOUGLAS MITCHELL,

Addison

Our country’s big threat

Editor, OBSERVER:

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed’s empty response to the Parkland, Fla., murders. “We must not take away Second Amendment rights” endangers all Americans. The following letter was signed by more than 40 people gathered outside Reed’s Corning office on Feb. 18:

“We, the residents and voters of the 23rd Congressional District, call on Congressman Reed to lead the way and enact meaningful, common sense gun legislation. This would include, but not be limited to, 1) a minimum 14 day waiting period before purchasing a gun, 2) minimum age of purchase at 21, 3) a ban on bump stocks and cranks, 4) a background check for all sales and 5) registration of each firearm.

“In a country where it is necessary to register a driver’s license, a car, a boat, a motorcycle, a scooter, a drone and a dog, Congress can no longer simply call mass murders a mental health or a political issue. America’s present lack of gun control is a domestic threat to every American.

“Finally, and most important, the call for Meaningful Gun Legislation can no longer be an issue whose agenda is driven by the National Rifle Association nor is it any longer enough to simply send ‘thoughts and prayers to the families of innocent victims.’ Quoting Emma Gonzalez, a survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School murders: ‘It is time to start doing something.’ ”

Not one of the suggested legislation takes away Second Amendment rights.

GARY McCASLIN,

Corning