LETTERS: Photo of shooters an insult to slain officers, civilian
To the editor:
When I picked up my paper Tuesday, the story of the police officers and the civilian being shot was the main display, with the pictures of the officers, the civilian and the psychopathic murderers all in a row down the side (“Shooters’ motives remain unclear”). The Review-Journal placed the photo of those murdering lunatics at the top. That is offensive beyond words.
Why would you give them top billing? You owe the families and friends of the officers and the civilian, the Metropolitan Police Department and the entire community an apology for that offensive, disgusting display of those two crazies. They should not even be on the same page as the victims.
Stop giving psychopathic killers this kind of fame. It seems the more these and other killers are publicized, the more killings we have. Shame on the Review-Journal staff for putting these killers on the front page alongside heroes of our community. We expect better of you.
JEANNETTE R. WILEY
LAS VEGAS
Justice for cowards
To the editor:
I still can’t believe that we have lost three cream-of-the-crop people, taken by two lowlifes who never contributed anything to the good of mankind. The two only contributed sorrow and heartbreak. I hope there will be a time of justice for them in another life.
EDWARD SCHILD
LAS VEGAS
Defining ‘extremist’
To the editor:
Days after the horrible shootings that left two police officers and a heroic civilian dead, we are starting to see stories which describe the shooters as “right-wing extremists.” Let’s be perfectly clear about this: they are right-wing extremists. But they aren’t the right-wing extremists that you have heard liberals talk about on TV.
These are people whose beliefs were not welcomed by any political group, or any rational person, for that matter. Their beliefs were not welcomed by Republicans and they certainly aren’t shared by gun owners. They were run off the Bundy ranch because of their views. Let that sink in: Armed, self-described militia members kicked these two out of a protest against the government. So “right-wing extremist” means more extreme than militia members.
Liberals always talk about right-wing extremists when they can’t persuade the public to go along with their ideals. To liberals, anyone who owns a gun is a right-wing extremist. If you oppose EPA regulations, you’re a right-wing extremist. If you think we pay enough taxes already and the government should live within its means, you’re a right-wing extremist. If you had asked a liberal their thoughts on someone with a permit to carry a concealed weapon, they would have told you that person was a right-wing extremist.
But these aren’t extreme positions. The positions held by the two shooters are extremist. And there is a monumental difference between the two, far larger than the difference between Democrats and Republicans.
The next time you hear a politician talk about right-wing extremists, ask yourself if that is a fitting description. If it is not, ask yourself what they are trying to hide.
Lastly, Joseph Wilcox is a hero. He tried to stop the rampage and gave his life in the process. I hope there are people like him around me everywhere I go.
BRANDON G. TAYLOR
LAS VEGAS
When will we learn?
To the editor:
National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre once declared, “The only thing that will stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” The only civilian victim in Sunday’s shooting rampage was that fabled “good guy with a gun.” So much for Mr. LaPierre’s theory. The fact that there are good guys walking around while I’m shopping at Wal-Mart doesn’t make me feel safe. In fact, it makes me feel threatened.
Meanwhile, congratulations are in order for Mr. LaPierre, Sen. Dean Heller, Fox News and the editorial board of the Review-Journal. They continue to get just what they call for: more mayhem.
A popular song from the 1960s included the lyrics, “Where have all the soldiers gone? Gone to graveyards, everyone. Oh when will they ever learn?” The world is full of strife and mayhem. Here in the U.S., we have a system of laws that enables us to escape this strife to a large degree. Rather than using these laws to protect the populace, our cynical political representatives use the laws to protect profit and ideology. When will we ever learn?
JERRY SPEER
LAS VEGAS
Bring back Morrison
To the editor:
Review-Journal readers often express vastly different opinions on a variety of subjects. However, it seems that the one thing we all agree on is that we want to see Jane Ann Morrison writing her opinion columns again. So why is the Review-Journal not providing the one opinion column we all agree we want?
These days, the Review-Journal needs all the loyal readers it can get. So help yourself and bring back Jane Ann Morrison.
JOHN ALDERFER
HENDERSON
