Pastor’s comments, GOP silence, gun control

Is Sacramento known for hate?

Re “Preacher stirs outrage by praising massacre” (Local, June 15): What do we in Helsinki, Finland, 5,360 miles from Sacramento, learn from your city? Our headlines cite the sermon of Pastor Roger Jimenez about how righteous the massacre in Orlando, Fla., was, and how all gays should be wiped off from the face of the earth.

My parents experienced World War II, and Jimenez’s words hauntingly echo the propaganda of the attackers back then. Jimenez does not represent Christianity or mankind with his words.

To everybody in Sacramento, I hope you can keep your calm and humanity in these times – this much one can see from the other side of the world.

Pastor Jimenez is not a Christian

I am appalled. Pastor Roger Jimenez is an insult to all. He is certainly not a Christian.

Pastor Jimenez is an abomination

This pastor should remove himself from preaching to Christians right now, today. He is the abomination, and his beliefs are disgusting and criminal, exactly like ISIS.

The fact that he preaches this hate to children and families makes me as sick. Jimenez is simply not a Christian.

Awkward silence from GOP leaders

Re “President Obama stands up to Donald Trump’s hate” (Editorials, June 14): It is revealing that those who criticize President Barack Obama for rejecting calls to discriminate against a specific religion have no rebuttal of substance except for jeers from the gutter. Their attacks mirror the un-American behavior of Donald Trump, a person who chose not to stand with other citizens when the nation called to serve during a time of war.

It is far too cowardly to raise people’s anger when surrounded by Secret Service agents, to physically threaten others when exercising a First Amendment right, and encourage someone else “to take them out,” while he falsely claims to unite this country.

The silence from elected Republicans confirms their shame to be linked to Trump and his place on history’s list of bigots.

We must solve several problems

We have had three mass killings in America by extremists who are of the Muslim faith. We must put that in context of a bigger problem. The murderers who killed so many at Columbine High School, Sandy Hook Elementary School, Umpqua Community College, movie theaters, a South Carolina church and elsewhere were not Muslims.

We have a mental health problem, a gun problem and other social issues that must be dealt with. We were smart enough to send men to the moon, so we must put our minds together to solve these problems.

It will not be quick or easy, but blaming Muslims is not the answer.

Our society’s cost to bear arms

Are the killings of innocent people in Orlando, Fla.; San Bernardino; Roseburg, Ore.; and Newtown, Conn., the price the American people have to pay for the Second Amendment rights to bear arms, like assault rifles? There has to be a better way.

Logic comparing guns, cars flawed

Re “Gun control? But what about cars?” (Letters, June 15): Let us put an end once and for all to this flawed logic of comparing car deaths in accidents to deliberate killings by guns. The primary function of a car is to transport people and or goods from point A to point B. The primary function of a gun is to kill or destroy whatever it is employed against. Case closed.

I am a gun owner and a Vietnam combat veteran.

The weapons of our Founders

Re “Arms that take 10 minutes to load & fire” (Viewpoints cartoon, Jeff Stahler, June 14): In the interest of historical accuracy, a trained soldier of the Revolutionary era could fire a flintlock musket every 15 to 20 seconds.

This story was originally published June 16, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Pastor’s comments, GOP silence, gun control."