Letters to the Editor | July 18, 2024

It is ironic that supporters of former President Donald Trump — whose lies and vitriol have led to threats of harm and death to doctors, scientists, researchers, election officials, poll workers, lawmakers, FBI officials, judges, and prosecutors — have the gall to blame Democratic rhetoric for Trump’s attempted assassination. What almost happened to him may also happen to others, who live under constant fear due to Trump’s venomous speech. Thank God he is safe. Our prayers are with the former president, the other victims, and for no further violence on either side of the aisle.

Gerald Koren, Exton

On July 13, a raised fist and calls to “fight” were Donald Trump’s immediate response after being attacked. Meanwhile, others in his orbit blamed Democrats who have dared to call Trump out on his rhetoric. But it was his own repeated and angry calls for violence that resulted in the chaos at his Saturday rally in Butler, Pa.; chaos that followed him like a plague and resulted in death and injury to bystanders. The image of Trump defiant will be used by the MAGA GOP to promote a campaign whose very premise is attacking the very institutions on which they depend to protect their hero, but who will protect his followers from the collateral damage of his words? The image will thrill the faithful and further solidify their support. Will it convince other voters? That remains to be seen. I, for one, have not given up on America quite yet.

Joe Sundeen, Yardley

How about this: President Joe Biden agrees to take a cognitive test and Donald Trump agrees to take a polygraph test, and then both results are made public.

Stefan Keller, Huntingdon Valley

In the wake of the many shootings in this country, the first inquiry is usually to consider and define the killer’s motive. This is misplaced. With the proliferation of guns, combined with chronic youth disillusionment, a shooting can happen suddenly and absent apparent motive. Often, the shooting is the manifestation of a killer’s distorted mental state, but the killer does not have to be diagnosed with any serious psychological condition. A young person with almost no worldly experience can obtain a weapon so quickly that usually there is no time for a motive or reason to kill to develop. The spark inside the killer’s mind to commit carnage becomes the reason itself. In today’s society of mass-produced guns and mass-produced negativity, of gloom and doom through social media, the motive to kill is no longer relevant.

Dimitri Karapelou, Media, karapelou@gmail.com

I find it ironic that the party that continues to misinterpret the Second Amendment got upset when someone used his legally purchased gun to shoot at the president. For some reason, the first clause of this amendment (“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State”) is generally ignored when, in fact, it gives the reason why “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

In other words, gun ownership was permitted in the first place because, in colonial times, no standing army or police force existed to protect the citizens of the new country. Today, the U.S. has several branches of the military, and most municipalities have their own police force. It makes sense to let trained soldiers and officers of the law protect us rather than having to carry our own weapons to protect ourselves. Clearly, the country would be much safer for everyone if lawmakers started using common sense and stopped, in effect, allowing anyone who wants a gun to own as many lethal weapons as he or she wants.

Michele Harbison, Glenside

The Inquirer left someone out in its coverage of the “winners and losers” of the new state budget: kids in Pennsylvania’s low-achieving schools. Once again, these students got the short end of the fiscal stick. For years, these students and families have pleaded for educational alternatives to their underperforming, violent district schools — and lawmakers failed to deliver, again. One such option — Lifeline Scholarships — was notably absent from the budget. This program, also known as the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success, would provide low-income students with the financial assistance they need to attend a better school.

For the second consecutive year, Gov. Josh Shapiro broke his promise of Lifeline Scholarships. Though he claimed to champion the program, the governor vetoed it from last year’s budget. This year, he didn’t even lift a finger to advocate for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable kids. Shapiro’s betrayal flies in the face of the program’s popularity. Three-fourths of Pennsylvanians (including a large majority of Black and Hispanic voters) support Lifeline Scholarships. Certainly, voters lose when elected officials refuse to deliver on their promises. But it’s even worse when they force low-income students to endure another year in their failing school.

David Hardy, president, Girard College

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