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Vote out politicians
owned by the NRA
Re. “18 kids killed in school shooting,” Page A1, May 25:
The finger points at a teenager for the murder of 19 children and two teachers yesterday in Uvalde, Texas.
It also must point at every politician in Washington who votes against gun control. Each one is complicit in these murders. These politicians supposedly stand behind the Constitution, but do so to protect their own positions, their party’s power and gun lobbyists’ wishes.
The Constitution is a living document that can change with the times to continue to offer the founders’ original concept of “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” to all citizens. These children, and the victims in Buffalo and across the country, are now denied this right to life, liberty and happiness. Above all other considerations, politicians who facilitate murder must be cast out of office.
Jerry Epps
San Jose
Senate must pass
HR 8 to protect kids
Re. “Kerr gives impassioned plea after Texas school shooting,” Page 4C, May 25:
Kudos to Warriors Coach Steve Kerr for blasting recalcitrant Republican senators on Tuesday evening. The Senate should pass HR 8.
The Second Amendment of the Constitution states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” What “well regulated Militia” do these gun nuts belong to? What endangered states are they protecting?
I am not opposed to target shooting or hunting when they actually eat the game they shoot, but there is no reason for any general citizen to have a heavy weapon with multiple shot capability in metropolitan areas.
These idiots use guns to shoot unarmed, innocent people: children, people who are just attending church, school, a celebration, etc. What the shooters really are, are cowards. Who else but a coward would attack unarmed, unsuspecting people that way?
Martha Allshouse Hull
Santa Clara
Vote for candidates
who will act on guns
Re. “18 kids killed in school shooting,” Page A1, May 25:
It is heart-wrenching that young kids in first through third grades were murdered by an evil 18-year-old.
It is a shame on our nation and the Republicans that an 18-year-old could legally buy assault weapons. The Republican Party is also to blame for being in the clutches of the NRA and repeatedly blocking sensible gun control legislation.
I pledge to vote only for candidates that support strict gun control and keeping our schools safe.
Rameysh Ramdas
San Jose
Vote for Khan for
Santa Clara DA
Our criminal justice system is broken, yet we continue to try to fix crime by the same methods over and over again.
I voted for Sajid A. Khan for district attorney because after meeting him at a small question and answer gathering, I was energized by his fresh ideas. I was impressed by his extensive knowledge about law and criminality, his experience and his dedication as a public defender, as well as his familiarity with tools and resources in Santa Clara County and California that are not being fully utilized as alternatives to the current ways in which we deal with crime.
He answered every difficult question thoughtfully and thoroughly. Khan is clearly progressive and grounded at the same time, and would play an important role in reforming our dysfunctional criminal justice system. Sajid Khan will dare to challenge the status quo.
Danielle Mewes
Palo Alto
Newsom, Legislature
do nothing on water
Gov. Gavin Newsom has done nothing to address the current and future water needs of our state. Climate change will leave California without enough winter rain and snow for decades, as our normal winter storms are pushed north into Oregon and Washington.
Newsom has failed to use the $7.5 billion water bond to get the Sites Reservoir built. Locally, we are told the new Anderson Dam will take nine more years, but no reasons are given. No new laws have passed restricting agriculture’s water use to a maximum amount per acre, and agriculture uses 80% of our water. We 40 million residents get only 20%. Yet Newsom and our Legislature do nothing.
We voters are fools. Consider a water pipeline from the mouth of the Columbia River to the Shasta and Oroville Reservoirs.
Brian McCormick
San Jose
5-star experience
at Valley Medical Center
Outstanding hotels receive five-star ratings for their services. The Santa Clara Valley Medical Center deserves a five-star rating as well.
Having just spent four days and receiving outstanding help and service enables me to state: VMC is a five-star facility from the top to the bottom, all employees included.
We are fortunate to have such a fine institution in our valley.
Ralph Onstead
San Jose
You need not fill out
your whole ballot
There is one aspect of voting that does not get much attention: You do not need to make a selection for every item on the ballot.
If there is an issue you are not familiar with, have no strong opinion about or do not have time to fully research (State Board of Equalization comes to mind), just leave it blank and move on.
Yes, you can take advice from numerous organizations as to how to vote, but each is pushing its own agenda. Just leave the item blank.
Tom Darby
San Jose
Source: www.mercurynews.com