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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 9, 2008

Pay Attention In Class

Regarding "Poor Students Of History" (Letters, July 2):

The writer was incorrect when he stated that "the only purpose of the Second Amendment was to be prepared against another British attack."

According to Wikipedia: "The Second Amendment is a part of the Bill of Rights that protects the pre-existing individual right to possess and carry weapons (i.e. keep and bear arms) in case of confrontation. Codification of the right to keep and bear arms into the Bill of Rights was influenced by a fear that the federal government would disarm the people in order to impose rule through a standing army or select militia, since history had shown that a tyrant's ability to suppress political opponents was accomplished by simply taking away the people's arms."

It appears the writer, as well as others who share this opinion of the Second Amendment, needs to go back to school - and this time stay awake and pay attention in American history class.

GREGORY A. ENGEL

Tampa

Fear Of Our Government?

Regarding "Basic Rights Upheld" (Letters, July 5):

The letter writer wrote: "The Second Amendment was intended to ensure the citizens' rights to self defense from their own governments, should it become too oppressive."

Is he inferring that the American people may have to eventually use their guns against our government should it become too oppressive?

This is what I read when I perused his letter.

TERESA WILLOUGHBY

Tampa

Legalization Needed

Thanks for publishing the thoughtful letter "Decriminalize Drugs" (July 3). However, the letter writer did not advocate for the decriminalization of all drugs; he advocated for the full legalization of all drugs.

Only legal products can be regulated, controlled and taxed by any government agency.

When we legalize all drugs so they can be sold in licensed businesses for pennies per dose, the term "drug-related crime" will become obsolete.

KIRK MUSE

Mesa, Ariz.

Stop The Insanity

Regarding "Not A Victimless Crime" (Letters, July 3):

I, too, believe that drugs, or rather the way we treat the drug problem, is the problem. Picture this: all booze becomes illegal and all of a sudden we have bootleggers everywhere. The feds are taking down all illegal stills and breweries. And we see kids buying all kinds of booze from "street dealers."

I would "demand" that our worthless government do its job and get control, regulate, tax and stop the insanity.

If we are truly concerned about "drugs," why continue a policy that has constantly failed. If we continue to do the same thing over and over expecting different results, we are insane.

J.D. LAPE

Monticello, Ark.

We're Losing Drug War

All of the "straw man" arguments supporting the drug war do not remove the fact it is not working and is costing more in money, lives and civil liberties each year.

Steve Johnson is wrong in his July 3 letter "Not A Victimless Crime." We need look no further than Prohibition to find the reason why those addicted females turned to prostitution or gangsters shoot it out.

The real truth of the internecine relationship of guns, money and drugs worldwide may be that they can only be reined in through drug regulation and treatment no matter what testimony the drug abuse-law enforcement-prison industrial complex provides our elected or drug war cheerleaders to spout.

PETER CHRISTOPHER

Hurdle Mills, N.C.

Negative Leaning

Regarding "Columnist's Bias Showing" (Letters, July 5):

I agree 100 percent with the letter writer's comments that FOX News has leaned over backward to say more about Barack Obama than John McCain - unfortunately, most of it negative.

On the other hand, perhaps we do not hear McCain's name as often on the other channels because they adhere to the adage, "if you can't say anything nice, say nothing at all."

J.M. OLSON

Valrico

A Dangerous Policy

Regarding "Obama Looking To Boost Faith-Based Partnerships" (Nation/World, July 2):

The new practice of including special funding by the Congress for religions is a violation of the Constitution. The wording is clear: "The Congress shall make no laws respecting religion." The word respecting was used in the context of "regarding."

For the current president to have been allowed to direct funding by the Congress to be given to religious groups for "faith-based initiatives" was not legal. The Democratic candidate has now included his intentions to do the same.

ROBERT DOYLE

N. Redington Beach

Give Congress An Agenda

If your boss gave you a project and you made no improvements and showed no gain for 40 years, would you still have your job? You would if you were a U.S. senator.

We have known of the energy crisis for 40 years and what have they done? Nothing. Why? They are more interested in getting re-elected than making strong decisions and solving the issues.

We as voters and taxpayers should hold these elected officials accountable for their performance. We must give them an agenda and let them know what is expected of them. If not, remove them from office, period.

D. KEYS

Tampa

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