LETTERS: Wilcox stepped up, was the better man
To the editor:
Regarding Thomas Glennon’s letter, well, I’d like to thank him very much for his fine Monday morning lawyer take on the tragic events of June 8, and the actions of the hero (yes, hero) Joseph Wilcox (“Had Joseph Wilcox stopped Jerad Miller, he would have been a criminal, too,” June 28 Review-Journal). Does Mr. Glennon think that because Jerad Miller only fired at the ceiling, one could then assume that the weapon wouldn’t be pointed at somebody else? “Oh, it’s OK everyone, he’s talking about some revolution and politely asking us to leave (with a gun), let’s go back to our shopping.”
During your fine legal research, Mr. Glennon, did you come across the term “imminent danger”? Look it up. If I’m in a store and somebody comes in firing at the ceiling yelling about a revolution, I’m pretty much thinking he isn’t there to sign anybody up for the Peace Corps. I wonder if you would have the same opinion of Mr. Wilcox had one of the slain officers been a relative of yours.
I daresay there are probably an extraordinarily small number of people who would agree with Mr. Glennon’s take on the events of that day. Joseph Wilcox did what he thought was right. He gave his life trying to stop an unfolding tragedy. Had he not acted, who knows how many more officers or civilians might have been killed.
I can’t say for certain that I would have had the courage to do the same thing Mr. Wilcox did, had I been there. But I can tell you that worrying about being charged with anything as a result of my actions wouldn’t have crossed my mind. I can only guess that Mr. Wilcox didn’t worry about that either. He chose to act, in the face of imminent danger, and sadly it cost him his life.
There is a quote from John Stuart Mill that came to mind as I read Mr. Glennon’s letter. The topic was war, but there is an excerpt that I feel is applicable here: “A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”
Mr. Wilcox was the better man that day for eschewing his own safety in trying to secure the safety of others. For that, I salute him and gladly call him a hero. May he rest in peace.
GREGORY GLENN
LAS VEGAS
Hobby Lobby ruling
To the editor:
Social media is awash with comments regarding the Supreme Court ruling that Hobby Lobby does not have to pay for contraceptives for women. The one thing everyone seems to be missing is that this is not what the Supreme Court said.
The court did not say that women could not use those contraceptives; it ruled that Hobby Lobby did not have to pay for drugs or devices that are considered abortifacients. Having to pay for such contraceptives is what the company objected to. So if a woman does not want to conceive and wants a drug or device to prevent pregnancy, she can get it under Hobby Lobby’s insurance — she just needs to take precautions before, not after, the act. That doesn’t sound discriminatory to me.
Also, some have said that if certain contraceptives are not covered for women, then Viagra should not be covered for men. My insurance does not cover Viagra, and I see nothing wrong with that. If I want to buy it, I just need to get a doctor’s prescription and pay for it myself.
BOB ASHBY
LAS VEGAS
Domestic insurgency
To the editor:
I have two neighbors who came to this country through the process and laws we have now. The only thing that is broken is the law, by illegal aliens. Wake up, America. Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, vote for the people who will enforce our laws.
Mr. President, you have your own insurgency problem right here in this country. Instead of sending Marines to Iraq, send them to the border to protect us and our insurgent problem. Who knows what disease or troubled person is already here? Send them back to where they came from, then let them go through courts and the legal processes to get here.
During the next several years, America needs to stand up and fight for this country in the same the way we fight to protect other countries’ interests. It’s time for the majority to take a stand.
DAVID A. DALLATORE
LAS VEGAS
