Euthanize dangerous dogs, fine owners | LETTERS

News-Journal (Daytona Beach, FL)

MTragedy for dogs

Patricio Balona's August 8 report struck a raw nerve. Last month, my daughter's beloved 13-year-old Jack Russell terrier was attacked and killed -- while being walked on a leash on her DeLand subdivision's sidewalk -- by two pit bulls that had been let loose by a neighbor.

[VIDEO: Pit bull attack in DeLand leads to 15 dogs being seized]

"Mabel" had several broken ribs and so many puncture wounds in her lungs that escaping air puffed up her skin as she tried to breath. A second dog, also on a leash, was badly maimed but survived. Miraculously, my daughter wasn't injured.

Pit bulls may have a place in society -- I even wanted one once -- but it's certainly not in the hands of irresponsible owners. Killer dogs should be euthanized and owner fines should be severe.

Don Littlefield, DeLand

A bigger concern

A recent writer alleged that the 9th Amendment doesn't preclude free health care for all because of the "certain rights" wording. What is stated is that certain rights enumerated in the Constitution "shall not be construed to deny or discourage others retained by the people."

The 9th Amendment was pivotal in cases involving privacy. And in Roe vs. Wade a woman's reproductive rights were protected, based on the 9th. It is a real stretch, however, to argue that free health care is in any way similar to extremely personal issues such as privacy and reproduction.

We are talking about leaving one's home to seek services, the fee for which must be paid by someone. To claim that the Founding Fathers, in their wildest dreams, would have provided for something as extensive and expensive as free medical care is beyond ridiculous. The Founding Fathers actually put checks and balances in the Constitution to rein in financial excesses.

Maybe instead of dwelling on additional expenses the federal government can take on, the writer should research and worry about our enormous annual deficit, now $1 trillion. And that is without trillions for government provided health care. Even at 2% interest, the annual debt payment on $1 trillion is $20 billion, which increases to $440 billion a year when one considers that the total national debt is now $22 trillion and growing. Without large tax increases, the bill for this reckless spending will come due -- and today's children will be the victims.

Sandra Flaherty, Edgewater

Part of the solution

An open letter to responsible gun owners:

You don't have a valid argument anymore. One weekend: At least 31 dead. Since Donald Trump became president: 254 dead and 607 injured from mass shootings -- defined as three or more killed indiscriminately in a public place in a single attack – according to a Mother Jones database corroborated by the FBI.

Compare: In Bush's eight years, 115 killed and 91 wounded; in Obama's eight years, 312 killed and 295 wounded.

Trump's political strategy of hatred and division, and his NRA-backed weakening of gun regulations, will almost certainly carry him to the top spot among modern presidents in four years. Over eight years, one can only imagine the "American carnage."

Gun owners can be part of the solution. This is not a slippery slope. The government is not going to blow down your front door and confiscate your guns. Only paranoid extremists believe that. Don't stand with them. Stand with decency and sanity.

Pew research shows that most gun owners want sane regulations: 89 percent want to block the mentally ill from buying a gun; 77 percent want background checks for gun show and private sales. Now take the next step: support banning assault rifles and high-capacity magazines except in the military and law enforcement.

Spineless Republican politicians are beholden to NRA money, not to a better America. Let them know you'll vote for them if they support responsible gun laws. And in 2020, tell Trump to go back where he came from.

Cal Massey, Flagler Beach

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