Concerning “Editorial: It is time to get MADD about on a regular basis gun violence,” (Dec. 1): The Houston Chronicle editorial board is heading in the right direction when it compares gun violence to drunk driving, as each are preventable. However we are able to’t neglect that responding to a public well being disaster requires analysis.
The federal authorities has spent many years supporting analysis into the automotive insurance policies that may save lives, from seatbelt mandates to drunk driving legal guidelines and correct street design. Actually, the U.S. spends roughly $1,000 per motorcar dying finding out methods to make our streets safer. As compared, we solely spend $63 per firearm dying finding out methods to avoid wasting lives from gun violence. The issue stems from the 1996 Dickey Modification, wherein Congress successfully prohibited the federal authorities from researching firearm security insurance policies. That modified in 2019 when Congress allotted $25 million every to the CDC and NIH in annual appropriations to review efficient methods to forestall firearm accidents. Nevertheless, extra might be wanted to shut the two-decade analysis hole. A research by Arnold Ventures and the Joyce Basis estimated it is going to value $600 million over 5 years to reply probably the most urgent coverage questions and construct out the information infrastructure obligatory to gather goal details about weapons in america.
It isn’t sufficient to get mad about gun violence. Change begins with sufficient funding for analysis, or else policymakers could find yourself spending money and time on packages that merely don’t work.
Asheley Van Ness, director of prison justice, Arnold Ventures
We should always hope that state Sen. John Whitmire learn this editorial about gun violence. A current Chronicle evaluation confirmed a file variety of juvenile deaths by gun violence this 12 months. In Harris County, 88 % of the gun violence victims had been Black and Hispanic children.
In a metropolis whose majority inhabitants is individuals of colour we should always anticipate a Houston state senator with mayoral ambitions and with such a majority in his district to have a plan for public security as was promised within the marketing campaign kickoff story. And he’s effectively suited to take action given his chairmanship of the Senate Felony Justice Committee.
It ought to embody a measure to repeal the permitless gun carry legislation opposed by a lot of Houston-area legislation enforcement. So lengthy as now we have children killing children, we should always anticipate a invoice to boost the minimal age to purchase an assault weapon to 21. With 19 states and the District of Columbia utilizing crimson flag legal guidelines, Texas may additionally allow a decide to take away weapons from the fingers of individuals deemed harmful to themselves or others. Monetary incentives for such legal guidelines had been just lately offered by Congress within the final gun security laws handed with bipartisan assist. In fact Whitmire would wish to beat the opposition to such legal guidelines by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
If Whitmire demonstrates his dedication to public security in subsequent 12 months’s legislative session by addressing these points he might be a mayoral candidate worthy of assist.
David A. Jones, Houston
Concerning “Opinion: Accountable gun-owners have to advocate for gun security,” (Dec. 4): Julie Marinucci wrote that accountable gun homeowners have to advocate for gun security and be part of teams like Mothers Demand Motion for Gun Sense in America.
What must be realized is that Texas is a very Republican state that’s in lockstep with the NRA and that the very residents of Texas vote to maintain unfastened gun legal guidelines. Sadly, so long as the relative minority of gun worshippers preserve their affect in state elections, you’ll by no means see any change. Abbott, Patrick and Paxton have full management and it’s not going to alter. The one manner it is going to change is that if sufficient Democrats get tremendous concerned on the grassroots stage and work to extend their base. That’s the place it has to start out. Additionally unlucky is the truth that beginning on the backside means it is going to take a number of years earlier than we see the payoff. What number of extra mindless killings should occur within the meantime?
Connie Huch, Houston
Concerning “Pitts: Why is America like this?” (Dec. 4): I learn Mr. Pitts’ column. I attempt to learn his column each week though I don’t usually agree with him. On this case, I agree along with his level that we could by no means know the why of what he calls “knucklehead shootings.”
I used to be dismayed, nonetheless, by his delicate emphasis on race when he mentioned, the “motives are sometimes racial or cultural hatred” and “regardless of the motive is, whether or not it was that the french fries had been chilly or the shooter hated Black individuals…” I spent 10-minutes value of analysis on each instance he gave, from Atlanta to Tulsa. In all instances, the recognized shooter was Black. So why insinuate that these had been hate crimes? Why fan that flame?
Sandi Heysinger, Houston
Concerning “Essay: The burden of being younger and Chinese language,” (Dec. 4): The Chronicle editorial board did its readership nice service by juxtaposing Mr. Pitts’ commentary one web page earlier than an image of a protester being detained by authorities officers in China. Per Pitts’ mind-set: Standing your floor is a basis of the American delusion, so it’s laborious to overstate the attract that should carry for a sure kind of particular person. For them, to personal a gun is to personal swagger, to know that no person’s going to mess with you or transfer you off your spot.
The Founding Fathers felt that residents ought to be capable to defend themselves in opposition to the federal government and another menace to their wellbeing. The Second Modification granted residents that proper — giving them the power to defend themselves and their property.
China prohibits any unit or particular person from holding, manufacturing (together with altering, assembling), buying and selling, transporting, renting or lending firearms. Solely the state navy police, correctional and judicial organs may be outfitted with weapons.
I’m positive Chinese language protestors want they might defend themselves in opposition to their authorities’s abuse of their private freedom.
What do you assume, Leonard?
Thomas M. (Mickey) ONeal, Houston
