‘Well regulated militia’ keeps killing with guns the Founding Fathers couldn’t imagine

Well regulated?

“A well regulated militia” took a shooting position on a rooftop in Illinois, aimed at strollers and lawn chairs facing an Independence Day parade, and opened fire with more than 70 maximum-damage military rounds. The war rifle was purchased legally by a 21-year-old who was not well.

The list of “what’s wrong with this picture” goes for miles. When will we, American citizens, stand up to the menace of the National Rifle Association?

- Bruce Ramsey, Lenexa

Law-abiding

All politicians who oppose commonsense gun control, in particular the ban of high-powered rifles, are enablers and therefore complicit with the bloodshed. And so are the people who vote these politicians into office.

Do not use the old trope of “law-abiding citizens” who have a right to own any weapon they may want. Everybody is a law-abiding citizen till they aren’t anymore, but then it is too late to take away the murder weapon.

- Klaus Karbaumer, Platte City

Wrong comparison

Jay Ambrose’s commentary “Trump vs. Democrats on who is worse” (June 17, 8A) is full of nonsense and meaningless comparisons. I cannot believe you featured this in your paper.

It is not Donald Trump or Democrats — it is Donald Trump or democracy. That is the question. The issues with Trump are love for authoritarian tendencies and lack of respect for laws.

To be frank, people such as Trump, Eric Greitens and Sen. Josh Hawley are more Republican In Name Only than pro-democracy Republicans. Instead, Trump calls real Republicans RINOs.

Discussing the GOP, not Trump, versus Democrats is more appropriate. Let Republicans who respect democracy fight it out with Democrats. Instead, the GOP has been hijacked by the Greitenses and Trumps of the world.

- Ram Iyer, Eudora

Neglected lots

Come to Lexington, Missouri, and drive toward the east end of Franklin Avenue and South Street. See the vacant lots overgrown with tall weeds? See the dump truck and backhoe that have been parked on a vacant lot for more than two years?

Now imagine being a neighbor there and having to deal with all the bugs and rodents coming from those weeds. Would you want to live there? No.

I have killed six mice in my house just this week. The sad thing is nothing is being done to correct this. I guess we’re just supposed to deal with it forever. This problem should have been addressed from day one but evidently was not.

Police have been contacted numerous times. City Council members have been notified. Still nothing happens. People in the neighborhood are moving out. They’re tired of dealing with this. This is not a problem that will go away on its own. It’s ridiculous good neighbors think the only way to get away from this is to move.

These vacant lots have been mowed one time this year — one time. Lexington should be ashamed. Don’t believe this? Come see for yourself. Unbelievable.

- Carolyn Milligan, Lexington, Missouri

Negate Trump

The question of whether to prosecute Donald Trump is a very difficult one. On the one hand, based on the present state of the evidence (admittedly not subject to cross-examination), it seems likely that Trump violated several federal statutes, including inciting an insurrection.

On the other hand, with this divided country, it would seem difficult to get a jury that would reach a unanimous verdict, and the prosecution itself would further divide the country (particularly with the high percentage of Republicans who still believe the election was stolen).

A potential solution: Trump should not be prosecuted in exchange for his commitment not to run again for president. This compromise should be attractive even to conservatives, particularly abortion opponents. Why? Trump got them what they greatly wanted — a locked-in conservative Supreme Court. Now is the time to switch to a Trump with a brain, namely Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who has all the conservative viewpoints plus graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School with honors.

To those on the left, this solution assures that the very dangerous and irresponsible Trump will not again become president.

- James Kelley, Prairie Village