Readers sound off on conceal-carry, Eric Greitens, guns

Koster, gun bill

I am a Missouri resident, and I can’t believe Attorney General Chris Koster, who’s the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor, said, “I haven’t heard anything that would cause me to think that the governor should veto it (SB 656)” (6-7, A1, “Missourians debate possible effects of concealed-carry bill).

If Koster is no different than the Republicans running for governor, why should I vote for him? Missouri legislators are irresponsible shills for the National Rifle Association, and I want a governor who will stand up to the gun lobby.

It’s our only path of resistance against the majority Republican legislative body. Why are reasonable restrictions on gun ownership so wrong?

Requiring a permit to carry a concealed weapon is reasonable. I don’t want to be shot at Hy-Vee because grandma’s gun fell out of her purse and she never took a class about putting the safety on.

Also, the provision that gun owners are not obligated to back down before using lethal force is just going to turn fistfights into murders. I’m furious that the Democratic candidate for governor is not standing up for reasonable restrictions (which aren’t even restrictive).

A large majority of Missouri residents oppose this bill. Please come out against this law.

Sara Lott

Raytown

Hotshot Greitens

How can this state possibly allow Eric Greitens, who is running for governor in Missouri, to have TV ads showing him shooting an assault weapon and blowing up a target?

Are the election commission and the state attorney general not at work and doing their jobs?

How can this ad even be considered for airing on television when we still are reeling from Ferguson, Mo., and police shootings and other violence infecting and ruining the lives of thousands in our state? What kind of insane people think this kind of violent advertising should be allowed in any political campaign?

Half the country is against having so many people with guns and glorifying and objectifying killing and violence. Please help get this advertisement off our televisions.

We have too much violence, and this candidate should pull out of the race if assault weapons are the only thing he has to talk about.

Greitens is a disgrace to our state. He should move to Iraq or wherever he can openly use his weapon and should be banned from running for public office.

Charlie McMullen

Forsyth, Mo.

Dumb gun idea

Bill Flynt, in his June 13 As I See It column, “Restricting concealed carry only makes cities like KC less safe,” wants everybody to be armed. But he doesn’t go far enough.

He doesn’t say how single mothers and elderly widows who need guns whether they know it or not are supposed to pay for them. Congress easily could be persuaded to offer subsidies for gun purchases.

But given the desperate need we all have for guns, a better idea would be for the government to finally make good use of our tax dollars and give everyone — say, age 10 and up — a serviceable weapon. And any training could be left to the owner’s discretion. If he or she wants to pay for it, fine.

What is most important is not training or even an owner’s mental health. What is most important is that everyone be packing, openly or otherwise. That way no one will ever be afraid of anything again.

Clearly, Mr. Flynt was not given an award for Exceptional Service in the Public Interest for being an imbecile, but until he offers a way to make sure the most vulnerable are actually equipped to kill, his pie will be a distant target in the vacuous sky.

Debbie Hatfield

Liberty

Backward Missouri

My husband and I couldn’t get onto the Fort Leavenworth base to see the old fort because a Missouri driver’s license was not acceptable identification. It seems it doesn’t meet federal standards.

Why not? Our Missouri legislature in its infinite wisdom refused to comply with the 2005 Real ID Act passed by Congress. The Republican-controlled General Assembly said it invaded privacy and was a back-door attempt to create a national ID card.

I contacted my state representative, who advised me to use my passport. Isn’t that a national ID card?

My passport expires in July. Picture, $15; fee, $110; postage, $6.45. To renew my passport cost $131.45.

All because our Missouri legislature refuses to follow the federal law. And soon the airlines won’t accept your Missouri driver’s license as identification, either. So good luck, citizens of Missouri.

Joyce Reichman

Lake Lotawana

This story was originally published June 14, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Readers sound off on conceal-carry, Eric Greitens, guns."