Readers react to guns on campuses, bigotry and the Kansas City earnings tax
Guns on campuses
Although examples of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration’s disregard for the will of the people are endless, nothing brought it home like the bill supporting concealed guns on campus.
There was no public outcry and no emails touting the advantages of welcoming untrained, unlicensed gun-toting students on our campuses.
Instead, hundreds of protests from professors, concerned citizens, law-enforcement officers and students citing their knowledge of drinking, drugs and suicide among their contemporaries fell on deaf ears.
These pleas for sanity were superseded by the National Rifle Association, with its lobbying, campaign money and need to open a new gun market. Not coincidentally, the bill dovetails with the gun manufacturer of Brownback’s dreams.
Unimportant were the inevitable costs.
How much tuition money will be lost when parents send their children to private or out-of-state schools?
How much will universities spend on security while more important needs (professors, building maintenance, updated technology) go unfulfilled?
How many potential new hires will bypass Kansas in favor of gun-free campuses?
How many — God forbid — tragedies will we read about?
Beyond finding a deal on hearing aids for the self-serving servants of the people who passed this insane bill, I have no idea how to get them to listen to anyone without big money.
Lynn Stephan
Wichita
Bigotry on display
Georgia Republican Gov. Nathan Deal, under pressure from major corporations that do business in the state, vetoed a “religious freedom” bill similar to one being pushed by Republicans in the Missouri legislature (3-29, A2, “ ‘Religious freedom’ bill nixed in Georgia”).
If passed and approved by voters, the law would amend the Missouri Constitution.
The idea behind this discriminatory legislation is that it would protect certain individuals, businesses or churches from lawsuits if they refuse on religious grounds to provide goods or services for marriage ceremonies or celebrations of same-sex couples.
Rather than passing laws that could amend the Constitution and portray Missouri as a backward bastion of bigotry, why not take a free-market approach? Those who believe their religious freedom is being compromised step forward and show us your colors.
If you are so committed to your beliefs, post your refusals to do business with our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters in your establishments, on your websites, in your advertising and on social media.
That way, the folks who threaten your religious freedom and those who support their equal rights will know where to boycott.
And when NCAA, Big 12 and Southeastern Conference events come to town, fans can choose which vendors best suit their religious-freedom views.
Ron Fugate
Overland Park
Renew KC tax
As a longtime resident of Kansas City in Clay County, I have always been interested and involved in the progress of our city. The renewal of our 1 percent city earnings tax is extremely important.
It is imposed on earnings of those who live or work in the city. According to the city, 50 percent of the tax is paid by non-residents and it provides 40 percent of our general fund.
The general fund supports curbside recycling, brush pickup and fire and police departments. It is an easy and efficient method of funding critical and otherwise neglected areas of our city.
The earnings tax does not apply to Social Security, retirement accounts, pensions, unemployment or disability income.
Until and unless we find an alternative source for this important revenue, it is imperative that we vote yes to renew it.
Bernice W. Williams
Kansas City
Women’s history
As this year’s Women’s History Month comes to a close, it is a perfect time to honor the role women have played throughout Kansas’ history.
I am proud of the tremendous strides Kansas women have made in demanding equal opportunities in statehouses, meeting rooms, courtrooms, classrooms, hospital rooms — and the list goes on and on. When discussing gender equality in Congress, I proudly point to Kansas and the way it has historically championed women’s rights:
▪ In 1867, Kansas became the first state to propose constitutional women’s suffrage.
▪ In 1887, Kansas elected Susanna M. Salter as the first woman mayor in U.S. history.
▪ In 1912, female Kansans cast votes for the first time in statewide elections, and just a few years later in 1918, we elected our first female legislator.
Throughout March, I have traveled across eastern Kansas visiting businesses, such as The Fancy Farmer in Baxter Springs and PTMW Inc. in Topeka, which are owned and operated by Kansas women. These businesses are living proof that the Kansas economy is stronger when we empower women to succeed.
While we have made great strides toward gender equality, there is still much more work to be done.
The unique voice that women bring to the table is invaluable, and a more diverse leadership in our nation will only yield a stronger, more confident America. I am proud to hail from Kansas, where so many women before me have helped pave a path to success for women.
I am committed to continuing their work to create a better Kansas and a better America for our daughters and sons.
Rep. Lynn Jenkins
Topeka
This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Readers react to guns on campuses, bigotry and the Kansas City earnings tax."