More Guns = More Security
Editor’s Note: The July 28-Aug. 3, 2016 Between the Lines “With Guns, Feelings of Safety Trump Actual Safety” attracted some comments on Facebook.
William G Petrone: So, you basically do not believe a home owner should have the right to use force against home invaders? Fortunately, you do not run the world.
Joshua David: Automatic clemency granted to police? What about all the police you and the BLM crowd deemed guilty before they were acquitted by a jury?
Wil King: All hippy love and sunshine aside, civilization has rested on those very assumptions — that it’s your right to defend your home and family against any and all intruders — for thousands of years, and will probably continue doing so for as long as there is history. You bleeding hearts act as though everyone is good and loving, but the truth is that we humans have a bent towards selfishness and evil — not good. Start with the assumption that everyone has the same Earthy-crunchy, good-vibes attitude you have, and you’ll end up deeply disappointed in this life, if not something far worse.
John Barrett: “… all are encouraged by a pervasive assumption that it is a man’s right to keep himself, the people he likes, and his property protected at all times regardless of the danger this poses to others.” Correct. I have the right to protect my family in this free country. If someone chooses to endanger my family then, yes I will pose a danger to them in kind. Please try getting out of the Happy Valley — out of this country whose rights you constantly call into question — and live in a country for about a 6-12 month deployment that does not believe in a person’s right to defend themselves or their family, then write an article on how you feel.
Write-in Cruz
We face a tough election choice. Donald Trump may be too unstable to trust with the nuclear trigger. Hillary Clinton seems to support the Iran deal that allows a 24-day waiting period before inspecting a suspected site — some experts say that’s not a problem, but other experts say it is. There is an alternative, though, and that is to write in Ted Cruz for president.
— Alex Sokolow
Santa Monica, California
Ban Dog Tethering
The German shepherd in Middleborough who chewed off part of his paw after reportedly being tethered for at least a day and becoming entangled is a reminder of the cruelty and danger of tethering and why it should be banned altogether.
Entanglement and neglect are just two of the many risks that chained dogs face. They are also exposed to weather extremes, parasites, heartworms, mange, and other maladies, and, when they hang themselves on fences, strangulation.
Chained dogs often go without food, water, shelter, veterinary care, and exercise.
Massachusetts should ban unattended tethering altogether or strengthen the existing law that limits tethering to 24 consecutive hours.
Dogs are pack animals — they need and deserve love, companionship, and a safe place to sleep. Please, keep your dog indoors and contact authorities right away if you see a chained dog in trouble. You can also urge elected officials to have chaining banned in your community.
— Craig Shapiro
PETA Foundation, Norfolk, Virginia
