Gun law problems

Repeal the Second Amendment and Not so fast on changing gun laws | Letters, June 27

I believe the letter writer assigns himself a somewhat higher station than merited. He may be in the majority who do not own guns, but he does not represent a majority who have one goal: Repeal the Second Amendment. National surveys indicate that only 1 in 5 or 1 in 4 Americans favor repeal. He paints with a broad stroke implying that all gun owners are liars; this is no more true than that all non-owners want to abolish gun ownership. And, the idea that every gun owner is one bad day away from being the next mass murderer i.e., all gun owners are mentally ill really?

As to another letter writers contention that the federal background check requirement is manifestly sufficient, that could hardly be the case with the continued existence of the so-called gun show loophole.

Terry Roy, St, Petersburg

Barbara Tripp named first female fire chief in Tampa | June 26

I cant tell you how encouraged I was to see the picture of Mayor Jane Castor swearing in Barbara Tripp as the new Tampa fire chief. What was so encouraging is not that Tripp is Black, not that she is a woman, but that she is the most qualified person for the job. Needless to say, this speaks volumes about Mayor Castors perception of the job requirement. Further, I see this as a return to sanity none of the political posturing weve seen so much of recently. This was clearly the appointment of the most qualified person to serve in such a position. There is light at the end of the tunnel for future placements in critical positions.

Cindy Gamblin, Dunedin

Short-circuiting the legislative process | Column, June 28

David Schanzers column on the filibuster is the best article I have read explaining the consequences of continuing this undemocratic procedure. He states that since the filibuster can keep bills from the Senate floor, it limits discussions on a bill and halts bipartisan efforts to make changes. Schanzer has exposed the phoniness in Mitch McConnells and the Republican Partys mantra of bipartisanship. If they truly believed in bipartisanship, they would, at the very least, as Schanzer states, vote to end the filibuster on motions to proceed.

Ann Jamieson, St. Petersburg

Hillsborough Commissioner Stacy White vows to oppose transit spending | June 27

In Florida and elsewhere, we give names to the most destructive storms. Why dont we name traffic jams for the politicians who insist Floridians would rather be stuck in traffic than pay slightly more sales tax for transportation?

Charles Lehnert, Sun City Center

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Repealing the Second Amendment and closing the gun show loophole | Letters - Tampa Bay Times