Orlando massacre, assault weapons and declaring war

What’s happened to America?

Re “ ‘Brutal’ massacre kills scores” (Page 1A, June 13): America mourns yet another mass killing, this time in Orlando, Fla. The killer was a homophobic, racist religious radical. The hate and fear stirred up by ISIS, the Westboro Baptist Church and the GOP, as hijacked by the followers of Donald Trump, is all the same. Trump said, “There are thousands of people sick with hate” in this country. The trouble is Trump is the one fomenting much of this hate.

The GOP is no longer the party of Abraham Lincoln or Dwight Eisenhower; it is not even the party of Ronald Reagan. People who would destroy the best of America’s ideals have flocked to Trump and hijacked the GOP’s values. America simply cannot allow Trump and his followers in hatred and fear to take over our country.

Muslims are mourning Orlando

Muslims are saddened by the latest mass shooting in the Orlando nightclub. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. The killer may have a Muslim name, but he was no Muslim; he was just a thug and a criminal.

Killings of the innocent violate core Islamic principles and values, including sacredness of life, respect for all, mercy and peace. Muslims are committed to stop the expansion and spread of corrupt ideology of ISIS and al-Qaida. But it will take time. The wrongdoings of a few Muslims are often used to justify or encourage hatred of innocent Muslims or the religion of Islam. This must stop. We all need to work together to get rid of hate and violence from society whether the perpetrators are Muslims or non-Muslims.

It’s time to declare war on ISIS

The only difference between what happened on Dec. 7, 1941, and what happened on June 12, 2016, is a matter of scale. Both were unprovoked attacks on Americans by agents of a hostile state, and both are days that will live in infamy!

It is time to do as FDR did and declare war on ISIS. Not a reluctant war led by uncertain trumpets, but a full-scale World War II assault with overwhelming force and winning as the ultimate goal. The president should go to Congress and make them do their job and declare such a war.

Assign blame where it belongs

Re “Gun used is becoming mass shooters’ weapon of choice” (Page 6A, June 13): The assault rifle responsible for killing so many innocent people, once again, should be branded the AR-535. The 535 represents the number of legislators in the Congress who are responsible for the legislation that made possible the sale and ownership of such a firearm and its type. Of course, the NRA, through its generous contributions to Congress, is guilty and it continues to be just as guilty.

We should ban automatic weapons

Why aren’t automatic weapons banned for civilians? How did their acceptance ever come about? Why would anyone need an automatic weapon? Almost all of the shooting tragedies in recent years have involved their use.

Are lawmakers and their constituents ever going to have the common sense and courage to make selling or owning one of these weapons illegal? What does it take for this country to see the handwriting on the wall? This would be a realistic first step in gun control.

How many more tragedies will it take? How can we be called a progressive nation? Lobbies and politics have lost touch with reality.

Ban assault weapon possession

Gov. Jerry Brown should lead the Legislature in passing a law banning possession of assault weapons in California as of Jan. 1, 2017. After that date, anyone possessing or entering California with an assault weapon could have it confiscated and be arrested, jailed and fined.

This story was originally published June 14, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Orlando massacre, assault weapons and declaring war."