Sure, that will be safe
I guess if you believe that more guns will make you more safe, then more highway speed will be safer for you too. (I guess you must also forget the "speed kills" rule.) So now if you think being passed on the freeway by cars going 80+ is OK, just wait, soon they will be going 90+. Smart, real smart.
It also seems that many people like to push the limits of many other laws; speed is just the most common and accepted one. For example, every day you will see people running red lights, following too close, driving while talking on their phones, and they could be smoking and/or eating all at the same time. And how about safety issues such as one or more headlights or taillights out, lights not on when it's dark/foggy/rainy; very dark tinted windows; missing doors or other body parts; things added to the exterior of their vehicle; missing or taped-over windows; broken windshields and many other hazardous things; along with expired or fictitious tags.
Why do we allow all of these things to go on or ignore them? Then we add to the problems by increasing the speed limits even more.
But even worse was the ignorant and stupid bill that allows people to carry more guns to more places, almost everywhere and at any time. You can be sure that the NRA is more interested in your money and their profits than your safety, rights, or people's lives.
LARRY D. BINTLIFF
Bee Branch
Looks familiar to me
Couldn't help but notice the similarity of Donald Trump trying to convince Lester Holt that he was not under investigation by the FBI and Richard Nixon attempting to convince America that he was "not a crook."
Eerie ... and frightening.
JAMES DAVIS
Hot Springs
For renewable energy
I read that our senators and representatives in Washington unanimously oppose the Clean Line project to bring enough wind-generated electricity for 10 million households across northern Arkansas on to the TVA's power grid for distribution. This project would utilize glass insulators manufactured in West Memphis, steel from Van Buren, and cable from Malvern. There would be millions in payments to landowners and in tax payments to counties. The main objection given was the "violated rights of homeowners and the vast overreach of the Obama administration."
My question is: What is their position on oil and gas pipelines such as the Keystone XL and the Dakota Access? My guess is that they support them. Republicans in general and specifically this administration seem to oppose everything the Obama administration supported and anything which might affect the bottom line of the fossil fuel industry. This administration supports the use of coal, drilling offshore and in the Arctic, reversing national monument status to open public lands for drilling, and oil pipelines across aquifers and under rivers. At the same time they want to opt out of the Paris Climate Change Accord and reduce or eliminate environmental regulations and the EPA itself.
European countries, led by Germany, have policies to move to renewable energy. Japan, China, Sri Lanka and even India are working with Germany to expand their renewable programs. In the U.S., instead of leading through public policy and government support, we are moving backwards. Science, innovation and education should not be politicized. Both parties must work to move us away from fossil fuel to clean, renewable energy. There is nothing to lose except the stranglehold the oil industry has on our politicians and our economy. There is the potential for thousands of clean energy jobs and, who knows, it might save the planet.
SUSAN WESTON
Clinton
Willing to stand up?
I wanted to share my recent disheartening experience of trying to express my concerns to my senator. I truly believe that many others share these same concerns and likewise wish that our congressional leaders were willing to stand up and speak out. In my message to Sen. Tom Cotton, I passionately pleaded:
"In just a few short months, President Trump has: repeatedly told bold-faced lies to the American people; questioned the integrity of federal judges; questioned the integrity of the FBI and CIA; rankled many of our foreign allies; blurred the lines regarding conflict of interest and obstruction of justice; made unfounded and inflammatory claims against his predecessor; widened the gaps that divide us by gender, race, religion, and national origin; sent hundreds of unprofessional, misleading, and derogatory tweets; insulted and demeaned countless hardworking and well-intentioned career politicians; and has done his level best to cripple crucial federal departments (EPA, NEA, Energy, Education). Regardless of your political affiliation, it is abundantly clear that these are not actions and characteristics befitting the president of the United States of America. I ask you to put party politics aside and stand up for your constituents and all people of this great country by speaking out against this behavior. Now more than ever, we need our political leaders to stand up and say clearly what we all know, 'This is not right!'."
In response, I received a one-page stock response thanking me for expressing my concerns over the firing of James Comey. Clearly, no one is listening.
CHRIS BRANDOM
Little Rock
Reporting on 'leaks'
When reports of misdeeds are characterized as "leaked," and people in power rant against the news (the truth they wanted to hide), please help us discern if a leak represents the lesser evil. When as "whistle-blowing" it speaks truth to power. Then how we as concerned citizens should weigh our need to know--not to allow others to kill the messenger. After all, if such "leaking" gets stopped, it's a "cover-up."
Thank you; keep shining a light on powerful people's misdeeds, keep evaluating facts versus fakes, rejecting false labels and helping us hear an occasionally important whistle-blow!
WAYNE WAGGONER
Little Rock
Editorial on 05/17/2017