Readers react to driving while using a cellphone, college education and guns

Cellphones, driving

Driving while using a cellphone is worse than driving drunk and should be treated as such by law. Every day I see someone on the thumb machine crossing over into another lane close to me or another car.

We were hit by a driver using a phone for directions and not watching the road. Plus she did not have auto insurance.

What will happen to her? Nothing.

After having other near misses with these idiots, I think the courts need to up the fines and even put some in jail for shock time.

Ron Erickson

Independence

Munday on Monday

I always enjoy Don Munday’s poems. But this week’s was one of his best (7-27, A2, “National Anthem”). What an amazing talent.

Darla Hajinian

Overland Park

College hopes dashed

I have worked as an educator at a Kansas City charter high school for the past seven years. Almost all of our students are aspiring first-generation college students who come from low-income households.

We also serve a number of “deferred action students.” I am troubled by Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick’s efforts to sneak immigration legislation into a bill for a number of reasons (7-25, A1, “Measure curbs college dreams”).

In the article, Fitzpatrick said: “I was not trying to ban them (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program students) from attending college. I didn’t want their education to be subsidized by Missouri taxpayers.”

First, these students have never been eligible to receive federal grants, loans or the Missouri state access grant. They have had to pay for public college out of pocket or through private, merit-based scholarships.

In other words, their education wasn’t subsidized by Missouri taxpayers.

Second, the legislation effectively bans these students from attending college.

As a result, Missouri public institutions are being directed to charge double and triple tuition rates. Since many Deferred Action for Childhood program students already come from low-income households and pay for college out of pocket, they are being priced out of college.

John Kearney

Overland Park

Kansas, gun rights

People who are up in arms (pun intended) over Kansas’ permit-less carry like to mention how testing and licensing are required for a driver’s license and wonder why the same shouldn’t be the case to carry a firearm.

Here’s the key difference: Driving is a privilege; the ability to “keep and bear arms” is a right specifically enumerated in our Constitution.

Please note, the Second Amendment doesn’t give us that right; it protects the existing right. A person should not have to ask the state for permission to exercise a right.

Dale Willer

Shawnee

Combating fraud

I applaud The Kansas City Star for alerting the community about scams that are prevalent (7-26, A4, “Police list common scams”). To supplement that article, individuals should be aware of the AARP Fraud Watch Network that fights identity theft, frauds and scams, and gives access to information about how people can protect themselves, their families and friends.

AARP members and non-members can get our watchdog alerts, learn about active scams and find resources about what to do to spot and avoid them. AARP invites anyone of any age to participate in this conversation free of charge by visiting aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

On the website, individuals will find “Inside the Con Artist’s Playbook” and the ability to get Watchdog Alerts.

Anita K. Parran

Associate State Director

Public Affairs

AARP Missouri

Kansas City

Presidential games

What is there about taking the presidential oath of office that causes such a strange lapse in vocabulary? Bill Clinton couldn’t figure out what “is” is, and President Barack Obama has no conception of the word “terrorist.”

John C. Morrissey

Lee’s Summit

Brownback’s rule

Given Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s signature of HB 2005 defunding state courts if the Kansas Supreme Court enters a decision unfavorable to the legislative rules, we may see businesses with any flexibility flee the state, followed closely by individuals who can so order their lives.

Kansas’ loss may become Missouri’s gain — probably not the goal of the state Legislature in Topeka.

Allowing the governor to indulge in a temper tantrum against the judiciary is uncomfortably close to a dictatorship. Apparently, the concept of separation of powers means nothing to this governor. If he succeeds this time, what will he dismantle next?

Considering Brownback began his little experiment to attract business into Kansas, it seems a counterproductive move. Surely such contempt for the judiciary meets the bar for recall.

Kathryn Moore

Manhattan, Kan.

Republican for grass

There are benefits to ending the prohibition of marijuana in Kansas. Savings to the state would include eliminating the cost of incarceration and reducing the costs of law enforcement, the crowding behind bars and the drag on the court system.

The product should probably never have been illegal in the first place. Benefits include increased tax revenues and jobs and what could be a huge potential to relieve suffering.

Nature has provided us with a plant that should be taken advantage of for the healing substances it contains. We should be using this tool.

Now is the chance to study the processes other states have followed in transitioning to legalized marijuana. We can learn from their challenges and successes.

This from a Republican for cannabis.

Shelley Theis

Mission Hills

Same-sex marriage

The clamor, fulmination and gnashing of teeth by self-described evangelical ministers regarding the Supreme Court same-sex marriage ruling is an interesting civics lesson regarding the principle of separation of church and state.

They are perfectly welcome to hold whatever beliefs they wish within the walls of their churches. If this includes not performing marriages for same-sex couples, so be it. They weren’t performing them before this ruling.

If a same-sex couple comes to them for marriage counseling or to schedule a wedding, the pastor need only decline. The same-sex couple can then find a welcoming congregation or other venue.

The court is not telling the evangelical congregation what to do. The state does not have that power.

However, neither does the church have the power to impose its beliefs upon the state. It’s called separation of church and state.

John A. Chilcoat

Kansas City

Follow the money

Here are some recent headlines: “Gay rights,” “Battles on bias remain,” “Ending discrimination in jobs, housing and other arenas is still on the agenda.”

Don’t you believe it. It’s mainly about money.

The desired effect is preference and advantage for my group at the expense of other groups. One example was the contracts to refurbish the sports stadiums requiring the hiring of specific percentages of blacks, women and other minorities, even if it necessitated training them, as opposed to hiring trained, qualified non-minorities.

This sanctioned discrimination masks itself as affirmative action. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits preferential treatment based on race, color, religion or national origin on account of existing numbers or percentage imbalance.

These minority groups do not want an end to discrimination. Their goal is discrimination to their advantage.

Joe Needles

Independence

Sharing KC smiles

Having a bad day? Feeling down?

Go to the midtown Costco on Linwood Boulevard near Main Street, have Debra check your receipt and receive a wide smile or laugh while she calls you “Baby” or “Sweetie.” Each customer, myself included, walks out the door with a smile on his or her face.

Sara Colt