Readers discuss guns, Donald Trump, self-love, giving
Gun insanity
Guns: What is the problem with them? What are people afraid of?
You see, guns are not the problem at hand. In fact, they are inanimate objects that cannot be used unless acted upon by another force.
We pass all these laws about needing to be a certain age to buy one, laws about requiring a background check to even be allowed to own one, laws about when it is OK for someone to use one.
My favorite quote is by comedian Penn Jillette: “You can’t stop insane people from doing insane things by passing insane laws.”
Basically, what Jillette is saying is that we can pass laws to protect people, but there are still going to be people who either find a way to go around that law or do another stupid thing for the government to have to make another law for.
Sarah Noble
Kansas City
Bedfellow caution
For years, I’ve argued that Vladimir Putin’s former Soviet Union was not an example of socialism. It was and is a far-right-wing authoritarian dictatorship, much like those of Panama’s Manuel Noriega, Chile’s Augusto Pinochet and, yes, Iraq’s Saddam Hussein — the ones we propped up until they were no longer of use to us, and then abandoned.
The dictatorship versus capitalism was not the problem. It was the far-right wings in both that could not coexist. And now Trump wants our far-right wing and Putin’s far-right wing to be best friends forever.
Dumping the Soviets isn’t as easy as dumping the Argentinian junta or the Shah of Iran. Trump should be diplomatic but otherwise curtail this romance.
Bill Doty
Overland Park
Time for love
Recently, my cousin told me that she sucks in her stomach when she walks in hallways at school. She also said that she felt uncomfortable in her own skin and that she looked at others and wished she had a figure like them.
I could tell that was something she wanted to confess for a long time.
No, this isn’t a sob story. This isn’t a cry for help either. I’m sure you’ve heard something similar about a thousand times, but this has been an issue for so long.
Self-appreciation is often overlooked and seen as being conceited. To have self-recognition and accept who you are as a person is one of the most powerful things one can accomplish. But for others, it can be difficult.
Before you make rude remarks toward other people, think about my cousin. My cousin is her own personal bully. She calls herself ugly every day. Think about how it would make her feel if you were the one validating her thoughts.
With all the hate in the world, I think it’s time that we spread a little love.
Stephanie Pham
Kansas City
Giving, not judging
As I was driving to get gas this weekend, I saw yet another man holding up a sign and begging for money. As I looked at the man, my first thought was about how he actually spends the money he is given on the streets.
This is a sad first thought, but in the modern day, I can’t help but have it.
Often we hear the less fortunate abuse money given to them and spend it on the wrong things, like drugs or alcohol.
But then I realized it is not my job to wonder what they’re spending it on. It’s my job, as well as that of everybody driving by, to give with an open mind and an open heart.
We never know which people on the street are truly trying to get back on their feet, so we should treat each individual as if he or she is.
If you are worried about the abuse of your cash, there are other solutions to helping. You can give water, a snack, socks or simple hygiene items to aid the needy. We should lend a helping hand and leave the rest up to them.
Audrey Azpell
Kansas City
Protection
I’m all for keeping people safe, but passing laws that contradict rights specifically given to us in the Constitution is not OK with me. The hardest thing for me to fathom is why we would take guns out of the hands of citizens, when that just leaves them unarmed and therefore unable to protect themselves.
No matter what laws and restrictions are passed,criminals will always be able to get their hands on weapons. That leaves the law-abiding citizens unprotected from the people who tend to do the most harm with the guns they shouldn’t have in the first place.
The best protection from a gun isn’t anything other than another gun. If we take away guns from the people who need them, then we are setting up the perfect opportunity for crime to increase.
Logan Steenstra
Liberty
This story was originally published November 17, 2016 at 2:39 PM with the headline "Readers discuss guns, Donald Trump, self-love, giving."