Pennsylvania fugitive situation points to larger issue within American prison system | Opinion

Fault wrongly placed

In Pennsylvania, we saw the same old script.

After an escaped prison inmate was captured after two weeks on the run, we again saw public officials giving each other atta-boys and pats on the back.

They totally ignored the fact that if jail officials had simply (and wisely) better secured the area where another inmate had escaped two weeks prior, none of this would have occurred.

But instead nothing was done, and the second inmate took advantage of the situation.

A few hundred dollars to improve the security of an area in the jail would have prevented the thousands of law enforcement man hours and almost a million taxpayers dollars used to hunt for this very dangerous escapee.

The scapegoat for all this was a tower guard.

There should have been a greater emphasis on jail administrators because this fiasco was due to a clear blunder on their part.

James Muldrow, Columbia

Support gaming guardrails

Many South Carolinians already place wagers on sports and other events through unregulated apps and websites.

These practices expose Palmetto State residents to potential threats, including possibly having their financial and personal information compromised.

It is common sense to pass the S.C. Equine Advancement Act which, in part, addresses these issues by regulating what is now a black-market industry.

If passed, the legislation would allow the state to grant licenses to and regulate up to three carefully screened gaming providers.

Providers would only be allowed to offer gaming opportunities on equine events.

Protecting South Carolinians from bad actors should be a top priority for our government officials.

Creating and enforcing guardrails around the gaming industry to prevent malicious activity is a win for everyone.

Patten Watson, Columbia

Veteran feels betrayed

I feel betrayed by our government as I watch both legal and illegal migrants being given all kinds of freebies when I have to fight the Veterans Administration to reimburse me for two toilets and a shower I desperately needed due to being a 100% disabled Vietnam veteran.

My left leg is paralyzed due to nerve damage. I also suffer from a second ruptured disc in my lower back after being wounded five times in combat.

Cancer took a large section of the top of my thigh above the knee years later so my leg won’t bend.

I was told it would take three months to be seen by the orthopedics department to get permission to get what I needed, which was way too long to suffer with the inconvenience and pain.

Another betrayal that irks me to no end – as a former law enforcement officer having lost my job due to a preexisting war wound – is the gall of Attorney General Merrick Garland appointing Special Counsel David Weiss to prosecute Hunter Biden for lying on a gun application to buy a handgun while abusing drugs.

In my opinion, Weiss is guilty of obstruction of justice, violating his oath of office, colluding with those protecting the president and his son as well as dereliction of duty.

He should be removed as special counsel and prosecuted for his illegal acts.

Gregory J. Topliff, Aiken

Support climate movement

If you are concerned about the climate crisis and are not sure what to do about it, know that you are not alone.

Also know that the climate movement needs you.

The movement needs everyone to do everything that can be done to address this crisis.

Here are some ideas:

Learn more about how our world is warming, the causes, consequences and actions that need to be taken to stop it. Start by visiting NASA’s website on climate, https://climate.nasa.gov

Talk about it, a lot, with friends, family, neighbors, everybody and anybody.

Get involved. Join a climate group or two. Ask how you can help. If you have money to donate, please donate.

Get political. Take to the streets, contact elected officials, repeatedly, at all levels of government, and demand that they take action to address this crisis.

They were elected to service the people, and there is no higher service than protecting the world we live in.

Walk the talk. Take steps to reduce your emissions. It is very gratifying.

Pace yourself. Have hope. We’re in this for the long haul.

Ron Sadler, Columbia