While Comer investigates assassination attempt, he should also examine our gun culture | Opinion

Assassination hearings

U.S. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) plans to hold hearings on the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. I agree, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered.

But Comer is part of the problem. In 2022, he voted against a ban on the sale of the military-style assault weapon used by the shooter, an AR-15. So did the rest of Kentucky’s Republican delegation, including U.S. Reps. Andy Barr, Thomas Massie, Brett Guthrie and Hal Rogers. All of them voted against HR 1808. Republicans’ insane obstinance on banning assault weapons continues to endanger the American public, from school children in Uvalde, Texas to their own beloved Trump.

Military-style assault weapons have no legitimate civilian use such as hunting. They are horrible, ugly weapons designed for soldiers in battle, and it is critical for our public safety that they be banned permanently.

Dave Cooper, Lexington

Cannon dismissal

U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon just dismissed the case against former President Donald Trump over allegations he kept classified government documents. Well, this country has just fallen down another rung of the ladder to total chaos.

This is outrageous. It is a slap in the face of our democracy. Is it any wonder that the American people have lost faith in our own country? If Trump, a convicted felon, a known rapist, a known liar, a man who cheats on his wives, a man who bows down to dictators and doesn’t pay his taxes, a man who bullies and calls people names can be the Republican nominee, is there any hope we can ever recover from the mess he has made?

Stop rationalizing his horrific behavior and see him for what he is and what he wants to be. This is a democracy. Let’s try to hold on to any vestige of dignity and decency we have left and vote as if our lives and our children’s lives depend on it.

Catherine Ferguson, Lexington

Project 2025

The Project 2025 plan under a Donald Trump administration should be alarming due to its concentration of power under the executive branch and replacing civil service expertise with personal loyalty.

The plan explicitly proposes cuts to veteran benefits, including disability pay, and as well as Medicare. It aims to end no-fault divorce, and considers withdrawal from NATO, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. It calls to override local prosecutors’ discretion, and would dismantle government programs addressing climate change, including sustainable food production. Project 2025 also guts the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Education, while eliminating the Federal Election Commission’s independence. It even calls for cuts to farm insurance and crop subsidies.

Despite Trump’s current denials of supporting or even knowing about Project 2025, his own aides helped craft the plan, and his campaign press secretary endorsed it in promotional materials.

The Washington Post describes this plan as a target on “pluralistic democracy itself.”

That is what is at stake in this election.

Timothy Rich, Lexington

Biden must run

I am somewhat amazed by the demand that President Joe Biden must step down as a presidential candidate because of his debate performance. Debate performance has zero relationship to an individual being able to structure a government. Zero. The Biden administration has been amazingly successful and is well structured and competent.

Yes, Biden had at least one senior moment in the debate. Former President Donald Trump has had more than several senior moments during this campaign season. The Biden team should string together Trump’s senior moments to equalize the interpretation of Biden’s debate performance.

Four years ago, I believed U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) was a better candidate than Biden. People voted for Biden because he offered a return to normalcy. He has done as much as anyone could to return the country to normalcy despite the fact that the great disrupter — Donald Trump — will not go away.

Back in the 50s, President Ike Eisenhower had several health issues, however most people understood that 50 percent of Ike was better than 100 percent of the next available replacement. I believe most intelligent decent people understand that 50 percent of Biden is better than 100 percent of Trump. Biden must run.

K. A. Owens, Louisville

‘Vile’ Trump

This is a response to the letter by John M Fox, M.D.

He articulated well about aging and knowing when to retire. However, I did not understand his last statement calling Donald Trump “unfit & vile.”

First, I wouldn’t have expected that type of hate speech to come from a doctor who is obviously educated and should know better. Secondly, does Dr. Fox personally know Donald Trump to make those assessments or is he playing off something he has been told to believe about a man, whether right or wrong?

After the assassination attempt, President Joe Biden said there is no place in politics for this type of hate speech and asked the American people to tone it down. I think that would be good advice, Dr Fox. To say something like that about a previous President of the United States reveals not your academia level but the condition of your heart.

Pat Bullock, Salvisa

Charter schools

Gary Houchens’ Op Ed on school choice boils down to “choice good” period. Charter schools do not have a stellar record, a subject he avoids. Just because other states have them, doesn’t mean they work.

Amendment 2, if passed, would deprive public school of funds, including federal funds. Our public schools have been underfunded for decades. Our current Republican legislators would defund them even more if they could.

If we want better outcomes for our children, we need more teachers. More teachers plus fewer students per teacher would equal more time for individual attention. And those teachers should be paid commensurate with the important job they are doing. Teaching our children is more important than the job the legislature does.

There is room for innovation in public schools, but our legislators don’t want innovation. They want the 3 Rs only. They don’t want our students to learn critical thinking — they might realize how many of our laws work against them and seek change when they’re old enough to vote… assuming they’re allowed to vote.

Glenna Brouse, Lexington

Compiled by Liz Carey