Josh Hawley’s international reach, Mahomes’ proxies, masks

Count me in

After your editorial’s board’s condemnation of Sen. Josh Hawley on Jan. 7, (10A, “Assault on democracy: Sen. Josh Hawley has blood on his hands in Capitol coup attempt”) I expressed interest in your newspaper. I have subsequently received numerous offers regarding a subscription.

I live in Cape Town, South Africa, and other than a shared contempt for Hawley and his fellow lawmaker insurrectionists, I have no other point of connection with your esteemed (by me at any rate) newspaper. I am therefore not particularly moved to take a subscription.

If you could, however, run a daily feature along the lines of, “What gives with Hawley’s troubled soul?” — along with inviting readers to suggest the likely causes — I would subscribe immediately.

- Michael Hughes, Cape Town, South Africa

Aren’t helping

Honestly, Patrick Mahomes needs to respectfully ask his family members and fiancee to stop with the social media and just let his performance speak for the whole group.

- Peter Cipolla, Kansas City

Met the enemy

I disagree with Eric Schmitt spokeswoman Charli Huddleston that China is our single greatest threat to democracy and freedom. (Nov. 14, 5A, “Political chameleon or committed conservative?”) I believe we the people are the greatest threat to our democracy and freedom.

- James Carr, Kansas City, Kansas

Not all-powerful

The Nov. 11 column about the influence of the National Rifle Association ignores some cracks in the organization’s armor that might offer an opening to those of us working for gun reform. (9A, “Disbanding the NRA won’t solve gun control”)

▪ Despite a recent slight uptick, NRA revenue from membership dues fell by more than $57 million between 2018 and 2019, according to the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety.

▪ Along with 90% of all Americans, even 74% of NRA members support universal background checks for all gun purchases, according to the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

▪ A Gallup poll two years ago found the percentage of people viewing the NRA favorably dropped below 50% for only the second time in 30 years, according to a Newsweek report.

Maddeningly, the NRA retains its stranglehold at every level of government on legislators who refuse to enact gun reforms. But we voters can change that by electing lawmakers who will truly represent us.

I invite anyone, including NRA members, who cares about reducing guns’ lethal impact on domestic violence, suicides and accidental shootings that cause injuries and death to stand with us in working toward a safer community for everyone.

- Judy Sherry, president and founder, Grandparents for Gun Safety, Kansas City

Made your bed

COVID-19 cases are up across the area, but Kansas City and Jackson County, along with the Blue Springs school district and other entities, have dropped their mask mandates. It looks like the whiny babies who don’t want to wear masks or get vaccines win.

You know what? I don’t care anymore. I’m vaccinated and have gotten the booster, so if you don’t want to wear a mask, then don’t. If you don’t want to get the vaccine, then don’t. If you want to take a drug meant for livestock, then knock yourselves out.

What I don’t want to see or hear is your spouse or child crying on TV about what a good person you are, yada, yada, while you’re on a ventilator in the intensive care unit. You made the choice; you have to suffer the consequences.

- Tom Meek, Lee’s Summit

Show the truth

Perhaps the vaccination outliers could be persuaded by the news media showing them actual acute COVID-19 sufferers in intensive care units, with their non-stop coughing and groaning, intubated all alone in their beds, where death is probably imminent.

This might be much more effective for the prevention of COVID than showing the painless and peaceful act of sticking small needles into people’s arms or the little bottles of vaccine rotating in the production line.

Exhibiting fear and gore is much more effective than merely trying to persuade prevention.

I’m hoping to see everyone vaccinated so the pandemic can end.

- William Alburty, Leawood