Letters to the Editor category, Page 199

Regarding the letter “Base gun decisions on facts, not emotions”: The author’s claims are based on outdated studies and directly contradict extensive data that demonstrate the broad efficacy of gun violence prevention laws. In addition to correcting the record, this response letter is to state clearly: As a Presbyterian pastor,...

I don’t know where Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew gets his idea that voters do not want mail-in voting (“Westmoreland commissioner says county voters want end to no-excuse mail-in ballots; another disputes that” ). There are many of us who are old, ill, frail or physically handicapped, or lack transportation,...

In his column “Republicans consider ballots more dangerous than bullets,” when he states that “in America, you see, everybody should have the right to vote, period,” Leonard Pitts Jr. misses one very important item: Our Constitution states that “citizens of the United States” have the right to vote, not anybody...

I’d like to address two “opinions” that were so “eloquently ” stated in these pages. Here’s my question to the writer of the letter “End of the virus or end of Trump letters?” (March 28, TribLIVE): People on your side of the aisle spent four years pouting and doing anything...

As far as I’m concerned, this state seems to be going to hell in a handbasket. Regarding the article “A bill that criminalizes spitting on Pa. police includes extra penalties for people who are sick” (March 28, TribLIVE): The bill is punishing people for being sick when they spit on...

It’s a sad and disgusting state we live in when vehicle drivers and passengers have absolutely no respect for others’ property, winding down their windows and tossing out trash. The food wrappers, cans, bottles and plastics that litter our roadways show what our culture has become. There is no excuse...

This whole covid thing has put the idiots in charge. I had to submit a release-of-records form to my doctor. I offered to hand-deliver it to the office. I was told that was unacceptable, and they would not accept it. I would have to mail or fax it (email not...

Fires, floods, once-in-a-century storms coming every few months — for those not in denial, the climate crisis is already upon us, demanding action now. The Biden administration has plans to cut greenhouse gas pollution quickly, and here in Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf also is taking important steps, such as having...

After reading Oren Spiegler’s letter “Thankful for compassionate leaders” (March 30, TribLIVE), I was forced to reply. While I agree with Spiegler on some points regarding past presidents showing compassion, I am shocked by the current administration’s moves. Like a schoolyard get-even situation, President Biden couldn’t wait to cancel some...

President Biden vowed to eliminate President Trump’s “America First” policies as soon as he took office. In the first month of Biden’s administration, he did just that. Some Democrats vowed to fundamentally “change America” as we know it. So far, they are doing a mighty fine job of that. So...

I am an independent. Not just an independent voter, but an independent in everything I say, think and do. I neither approve, nor do I disapprove, of people throwing rotten tomatoes at each other — that’s their business. Besides being an independent, I am a 100% disabled Purple Heart Vietnam...

I’m concerned about air quality issues around the Franklin Regional school complex in Murrysville, located just steps from my home. The complex’s proximity to so much air pollution from the vehicles on adjacent roads and nearby Route 22 could profoundly harm children at the school. According to scientists at Stanford...

Traveling from Maine recently to visit family in the Allegheny Valley, I had the misfortune of driving Route 28 from Brookville to Freeport, a sad corridor of poverty and decay. And nothing signifies the degree of that economic and intellectual deterioration more than the ridiculous Trump signs and flags that...

Letter-writer Robert Supansic “Republican Party unrecognizable,” March 18, TribLIVE) wrote that “the party of ‘family values’ (Republicans) looks away when children are torn from their parents, sometimes with no hope of reunion.” I would like to ask him if he watches the news that shows children coming across the border...

It’s a shame that we have to live in a world where identity theft and daily scams are common. Recently, I received a 1099-G from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania indicating that I was responsible for paying taxes on $10,600 of unemployment benefits that I supposedly applied for and received. I...

Eight people were shot to death at three massage parlors in the Atlanta area last month, raising fears that the crimes may have targeted people of Asian descent. Such an attack, race or gender based, serves no purpose other than to destroy the peace of a society and to bring...

I don’t know where Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew gets his idea that voters do not want mail-in voting (“Westmoreland commissioner says county voters want end to no-excuse mail-in ballots; another disputes that” ). There are many of us who are old, ill, frail or physically handicapped, or lack transportation,...

While growing up as a kid, my parents, teachers and most other adults preached and used the term ” common sense” as a means of explaining right from wrong. It was and still is a simple theory in itself. It forced you to put yourself in the position of the...

Sadly, as our country slowly returns to normalcy, it seems mass murders by white domestic terrorists have returned also. Lax gun purchase laws in Georgia allowed the shooter there to go out and purchase a gun as easily as buying a soda in a convenience store. Had there been a...

During this pandemic, many have complained about price gouging, where retailers raised prices on needed items in short supply. This often triggered government-mandated price controls. But when prices are held constant by government decree, needed items quickly vanish from shelves, causing shortages. Thus, most people don’t benefit from lower prices...

Our Westmoreland County commissioners let us down when covid-19 hit. Instead of helping to deal with the virus, they followed the Republican Party lead and politicized a public health issue, not encouraging us to wear masks even though doing so saves lives. It has been reported that had we had...

President Biden says “America is back.” How true. America is now back to giving billions to countries that hate us and want to destroy us. We will go back to being energy dependent. While we are going “green,” other countries, our enemies who don’t care about emissions, will be ramping...

To all you liberals out there, I hope you see what is happening to our country after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Democrats were going to “change America.” There have been so many changes in only two months of President Biden’s four-year term. They are putting illegal immigrants...

As a longtime subscriber to the Trib, I am concerned that it has veered far left in just the last few years. I don’t consider the Associated Press a journalistic news organization any longer, and think the Trib’s relationship to it should be terminated. AP’s use of inflammatory and unproven...

With current numbers of undocumented immigrants already surpassing last year’s total, calling President Biden’s immigration policy a debacle is certainly a fitting term. On his first day in office, Biden stopped the border wall construction and discarded the Migrant Protection Protocols agreed to by Mexico’s president that kept would-be migrants...