Letters for March 15: Guns, conservation and more

Locking and securing guns protects children from injury and worse

A national firearm survey conducted in 2015 indicated 4.6 million children live in a home with at least one loaded and unlocked gun. An article in the March 6 News-Leader reported a 4-year-old boy was shot by his 2-year old brother the previous Tuesday evening in Bolivar. The boys accessed a loaded, unsecured gun in the parents’ nightstand while the mother was preparing dinner. The child was airlifted to Springfield and ultimately St. Louis where he underwent surgery. The Bolivar police chief reported the child was considered in stable condition.

It doesn’t cost a penny to store guns unloaded or secure ammunition out of reach of children. Many police departments and even gun dealers offer free gun locks. Gunfire injuries to children in the home are preventable when parents, grandparents and other adults implement safe gun storage. When finding a gun, a curious child can pull the trigger. No one wants the mental anguish of knowing that inattention to safe gun storage lead to a serious injury or worse to an innocent child.

It’s not a matter of if but when someone else in our community will be injured again. Be SMART, ​a 20-minute program developed by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, can be scheduled for your PTA, civic group, church, etc. to review common sense steps to prevent these accidental shootings. For more information contact besmartforkids.org.

Sarah Muegge, MSN, Moms Demand Action volunteer, Springfield

Thank you, Sen. Blunt, for supporting America’s best conservation program

In these politically divided times, it’s understandable to think we as a country can’t agree on anything. But time and time again, we have seen the beauty and value of nature bring seemingly intractable sides together.

That’s why it’s commendable that Senator Blunt has cosponsored legislation to fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

For over 50 years, LWCF has been a critical tool for preserving our country’s natural wonders. It has provided funding to help protect some of Missouri’s most special places and ensure recreational access for hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. Missouri has received approximately $144 million in LWCF funding over the past five decades, protecting places such as the Mark Twain National Forest, Ozark National Scenic River, Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, and Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.

The bipartisan legislation Senator Blunt is cosponsoring would ensure LWCF receives the full $900 million authorized each year from federal offshore oil and gas revenues to conserve important landscapes for future generations.

Fully funding LWCF will not only be good for protecting Missouri’s natural spaces, it will help boost our economy, create jobs and increase tourism, all at no cost to the taxpayer. Senator Blunt deserves credit for working to make full funding for LWCF a reality.

Adam McLane, State Director of The Nature Conservancy in Missouri, St. Louis

Here in the Bible Belt, sermons too often fail to cover life's problems

Over 20 years ago, I came from Kansas City to be a teacher in the Bible Belt. I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Now I am about to move back to Kansas City. I met many wonderful students, teachers and adults during my time here. I am sure everyone’s experience is different, but if I am to be honest, my testimony of what I saw these past 20 years would have to be as follows:

I saw many beautiful churches. I never saw a sermon about how all are welcome in God’s house regardless of race, religion, creed, ethnicity or gender.

I saw many people carrying guns. I never saw a sermon about living in faith, not fear.

I saw pickup trucks flying the Confederate flag. I never saw a sermon about racism.

I saw people sleeping on the streets. I never saw a sermon about helping the poor living next to us in our community.

I saw newcomers to the area rejected as outsiders. I never saw a sermon on treating a stranger with respect and acceptance.

I saw people bullied. I never saw a sermon about speaking out against injustice.

I saw people die without health care. I never saw a sermon about sacrificing for the sick.

I saw students sexually abused by relatives. I never saw a sermon about incest.

I saw many suicide notes from students. I never saw a sermon about bringing hope to a hopeless generation.

I saw many people who loved what God did for them. I never saw a sermon on how we should stand up for the addicted, oppressed and lost.

I saw immigrant children on television taken from their parents and put into cages. I never saw a sermon on welcoming foreigners onto our land.

Just be nice to each other.

Tom Krause, Nixa

Trump's coronavirus response reflects his chaotic presidency

The machinations of the Trump regime in dealing with the coronavirus are illustrative of his entire presidency. Apparently oblivious to Trump himself, he has been reduced to a prop by those who manage the image and message of the administration, just like he was a prop for his series, The Apprentice, when he was paid by NBC as an actor and his scripts were carefully crafted by reality TV show writers. Except this time, the reality was real, a real global pandemic. However in this case, the White House writers, like Kellyanne Conway, had to face things called facts. That necessitated that they include real health care experts in publicly staged events. That is when things started to go awry. Trump, clad in his golfing attire, appeared on the same stage with real scientists and looked as uncomfortable as a stray cat in a dog pound. You could see in his face, words and actions that he was outside his realm. Being the omnipotent and omniscient narcissist that he is, he got off script and claimed to know more than the experts and even claimed that he should have been a doctor. He could not wait to escape to Mar-a-Lago, where taxpayers pay $3,000,000 for each weekend he stays there, much of that going directly into Trump’s pockets.

But the lesson here is this: When Jeb Bush said that Trump would be known as the “chaos president,” he was spot on. No presidency has been more chaotic and with an absence of focus and direction. Trump’s attention span is that of a child, measured in minutes, not weeks or months. We see this in innumerable aspects, such as his lack of a health care plan, no drug pricing plan, no infrastructure plan, no comprehensive immigration policy, exploding deficits when he promised to pay down the national debt. All his actions are focused upon benefiting himself, not on advancing national priorities. His stump speeches have become vacuous stand-up comedy routines devoid of substance on the real issues facing the country and no communication of a national direction. The Trump presidency has become a derelict ship drifting in a vast ocean of reality. Unfortunately, there are American citizens on that ship.

James Fossard, Springfield

Money talks

What it says is heard loud and clear. Renaming JQH Arena will likely go to the highest bidder. Bring on representative Billy Long. There's an auction going on. A winning bid will likely eventually place a familiar corporate name on the arena with little if any earned recognition. Similar to when faculty member and football coach Briggs was plastered into the background with decision-making deserving of a personal foul penalty when the football stadium name was sold to the deepest pockets, checks and balances are about to become completely one-sided again in favor of dollar signs.

     From a solely financial point of view, Ebenezer Scrooge would be proud of a Smart decision. In addition to millions more in annual state funding recently approved by the state legislature for Missouri State that was overdue and deserved, another annual check will apparently be deposited, but at what cost? John Q. Hammons is next in line to get the boot. Gone and soon to be forgotten is the fact that without Mr. Hammons' generosity there would be no arena. A thank you note that reads balance due ignores an I owe you debt of gratitude financially well-intentioned Missouri State leadership has chosen to ignore going out of bounds.

     Those with vested interests may offer a defense that a money talks policy is commonplace. Everybody does it. While to a degree that may be true, majority greed won't ever change the fact that two wrongs don't make a right. Do the right thing! If there is to be a name change, name this arena for someone that deserves for her name to be seen by all and remembered for actual contributions. No one is more deserving than a former student-athlete. Bring forth Jackie Stiles Arena.

Mike George, Springfield

A taste of Democrat socialism

The coronavirus. It seems it’s giving us a taste of what America will be like under Democrat rule. The grocery store shelves are being emptied of basic goods like toilet paper, bottled water, milk, soup, canned vegetables — just like Socialist/Communist Russia, Venezuela, North Korea, Cuba, etc. All the Democrat presidential hopefuls are promoting socialism. You want a Democrat president? A Democrat Congress? This is what they praise as being a model for the U.S. Get used to living without the basics. This is only a taste of what’s to come. Also get ready for the gulags that all the Democrat presidential hopefuls promise will be created immediately upon being sworn into office.

Michael Dobony, Springfield

Investing in science will help combat COVID-19

COVID-19 has forced politicians to put Democratic Socialist principles into action in order to protect their benefactor's pocketbooks!

Bernie is right. A free scientific education should be for those who work and serve in public health. The study concerning the functions of the human body are very complex and time consuming. Not all will work to pass the grade. However an investment of this nature will be very profitable for everyone.

Robert Hackley, Republic

Governors and mayors should lead in testing to keep ahead of COVID-19

Since our president is focused on supporting businesses and the financial impact of the pandemic, our mayors and governors need to take the lead in being proactive against the virus. County health departments should be testing cohorts around known cases, not wasting time trying to identify and trace contacts the ill person had for the previous two weeks. That cat has been out of the bag for a month or more. By the time a person has symptoms, he has been spreading the virus for one to two weeks! Testing needs to be done on a wide scale to find out where the virus is. If carriers can be identified and isolated, then maybe we can treat them and others when the virus is infecting the upper respiratory tract before it reaches the lungs and becomes fatal. Maybe even test everyone over 80. Testing is a way to get ahead of this pandemic, versus waiting for people to have symptoms and then trying to play catch-up. Governors and mayors, please get involved proactively with testing.

Ellen Duvall, Springfield

Trump’s incompetence comes home to roost

I remember pre-election debates with friends and colleagues in 2016 about whether or not Trump was qualified to be president. I tried to convince folks that his lack of governing experience, his disdain for experts, his self-centered personality and his lack of curiosity would make for a lousy president. I was told not to worry, that little the president does would have any effect outside Washington. We needed someone to shake things up, reduce the size of government, and regardless of his management style, anybody was better than Clinton. Who cares who he appoints as Surgeon General. Who cares that he disbands a pandemic council. Who cares if he proposes to shrink the CDC budget. That will never affect us, right? Well, after ignoring a global pandemic for two months, Trump’s incompetence is now shining through and threatening our daily lives. Instead of using that time to build testing capability and track the virus, he has repeatedly downplayed the impact of the coronavirus, refusing to accept the seriousness of the epidemic. It will go away when it gets hot. The flu causes more deaths. The fake news and Democrats are using this as a plot against the president. It’s China’s fault. It’s Europe’s fault. Presidential rallies do not need to be postponed. He knows all about the virus because his uncle taught at MIT. Anyone who wants a test can get a test. The governor of Washington is a snake. In Trump’s world, any statement or fact that does not make him look perfect is a threat. Trump has tried to address this crisis like he handles any other personal political attack. Use Twitter to attack critics, create a smoke screen of disinformation using the conservative media, and try to change the subject. Unfortunately for him, the virus is not a political enemy. It needs more than just a reflexive response. Fortunately for us, there are a few brave scientists and doctors in the administration that continue to tell us the truth. There is also SiriusXM radio channel 121, which is broadcasting discussions between doctors about the virus. The experts tell us this is a serious event, but it does not warrant hoarding, fear or panic. A reasonable increase in personal hygiene and social distancing for a few months will help slow the spread. The threat is a rapid spread of the disease that overwhelms our medical system, which has very little surge capacity. What is really needed is more testing. It is unbelievable that two months into this crisis, the U.S. has tested less than 10,000 people, while South Korea can test more than 10,000 a day. Leadership in a crisis matters. Attacking a problem quickly with all government resources is more effective than blaming others. This is happening on your watch, Mr. Trump. Prove me wrong. Show us you are a leader. Don’t let your only legacy be the president who was in office when the bull market ended.

Bill McNeill, Springfield

Democrats go out of their way to attack and bring down Trump

Nowhere in the annals of American political history will you find evidence of a more dedicated and devout movement by an opposing political party to bring down a duly elected sitting president than we are witnessing at this time. The fervent and hell-bent drive by the Democratic party to unseat President Trump is unprecedented.

The frantic scrambling to find some reason to condemn, criticize, accuse and even impeach him is compounded by the fact that they, in essence, have been unsuccessful. This unbounded effort is so blatant that it supports the premise that if he personally found a cure for cancer, they would find some way to turn it into a negative; e.g., he didn't do it soon enough, he did it only for his personal glorification, he did it because he will benefit financially or politically from it, etc.

I long for those times when the loser in a political campaign, at whatever level or by whichever party, would go before the microphones and congratulate the winner and pledge his or her support and even offer to assist in any program or policy that would benefit the American people. But i am convinced we will not witness such a scene in the very near future. The rotten apple of political divisiveness has contaminated the whole barrel. These are troubling times for America to be sure. Historians will have no choice but to record it as such.

Bob W. Rush, Mansfield