Readers share thoughts on Donald Trump, assault rifles, Jessica Podhola
Trump’s boasts
Sadly, not everyone had the time to listen to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s lengthy (yawn) acceptance speech (7-22, A1, “ ‘Safety will be restored,’ Trump vows”). For those who missed it, here are the highlights:
As a “law and order president,” Trump said he will save a country now cringing indoors, afraid of the Mexicans and Muslims terrorizing our streets. He will annihilate the Islamic State, bringing stability and prosperity to Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Turkey, Somalia, Afghanistan, etc. And he will do this fast. Certainly by his second day in office.
On his first day, he will be busy arresting and jailing Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, dismantling Obamacare, naming five new conservative Supreme Court justices (whether there are any openings or not), repealing all regulations on businesses and giving huge tax cuts to the wealthy, immediately creating hundreds of millions of new jobs.
On day three, he will lay the ceremonial last concrete block on the new 2,000-mile-long wall and receive a 500 kabillion-zillion-peso check from the smiling Mexican president to pay for it.
An ambitious agenda, yes, but Trump can do it. As he modestly told us, “I’m the only one.”
Talis Bergmanis
Fairway
Deprogramming
A few nights ago, during dinner with my wife, our 18-year-old granddaughter announced, “I love Donald Trump and hate Hillary (Clinton) and (President Barack) Obama.”
I feel the need to rescue her from the propaganda machine.
My fascination with politics dates to the 1952 Democratic National Convention, which, at age 9, I found captivating because of the dynamics of a contested process that would choose a sacrificial lamb to run against the iconic Gen. Dwight Eisenhower. My entire family consisted of staunch Republicans.
It wasn’t until college in 1961 that I considered the option of thinking for myself. I trust my granddaughter to come to her own conclusions, but I’d like to save her from having a vote for Trump on her permanent record.
I’ve chosen to intervene using the love-and-logic approach. These are two core emotions — love, fear; good, evil; heaven, hell; Democrat, Republican.
The people who taught my granddaughter are afraid of something. Fox noise comedians are scared to death. Trump is attempting to infect America with angst and hatred.
Our granddaughter is a kind and gentle person. She deserves better.
I have a spousal order to present my case delicately. Wish me luck.
Gary Evert
Olathe
Assault rifle rules
Here is my proposal for the regulation of assault rifles.
First, limit magazine capacity to 10 rounds.
Second, require a three- to four-week waiting period before an owner can pick up a gun. This would allow for an extensive background check.
Third, levy a large tax on the gun. This would pay for the extensive background check.
Fourth, require extensive training. In Kansas, you need 50 hours of driving experience before you can get your driver’s license. Why not require the same amount of training for an assault rifle?
Fifth, if you sell the gun, you must tell law enforcement whom you sold it to.
I realize these recommendations put a burden on the gun buyer, but individuals’ Second Amendment rights stay intact. In case anyone cares, I am a gun owner.
Robert Kissinger
Prairie Village
Senate candidate
I want to encourage everyone to vote Tuesday. Voter apathy is a big problem. But we can solve it by going to the polls. The issues involved merit taking time to vote.
I also support Jessica Podhola for the 11th District Missouri state Senate Democratic primary. Ms. Podhola is a 15-year Independence resident. She and her husband have three children.
Ms. Podhola is active in our schools, having served as PTA vice president at Little Blue and Blackburn elementary schools in Independence. She is an active volunteer in her church.
Ms. Podhola works as director of governmental relations for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, where she advocates for all Missouri workers. Ms. Podhola strives to improve health care, raise the minimum wage and increase accountability.
She has never before run for office. We need to support people such as Ms. Podhola, who serve communities and are not professional politicians.
Her neighborhood involvement and government relations experience make her an excellent candidate to represent us.
Sandy Querry
Independence
This story was originally published July 30, 2016 at 10:52 AM with the headline "Readers share thoughts on Donald Trump, assault rifles, Jessica Podhola."