Feb 9, 2003 3 min read

Accidental discharge needs punished Speaking from the viewpoint of a professional responsible for not only his weapon, but also of those weapons in the hands of young Americans fresh out of high school, it is my opinion that the recent shooting of a 12-year-old boy in the back by a trained, armed officer of the law should be far below society’s level of acceptability. In my profession there is zero tolerance.

Many times I have had the moral obligation to impose punishment on my young colleagues due to accidents with their weapons. When a weapon discharges unintentionally it is called an accidental discharge other wise known as an “AD.”

Punishment consisting of loss of pay and privileges, and confinement to their living quarters is often the case with AD incidents. Many times this is the course of action taken against the guilty even though the AD was nothing more then a blank round; as well no harm was done to another soul other than the embarrassment of being part of the same unit as the careless professional.

My disappointment does not lie in the justice system, though I cannot understand how it could possibly justify such gross negligence, nor the two involved. After all, as I understand, they say it was an accident.

What I truly question is the police department for not cleaning their own house and eliminating those in their own ranks that clearly show their inability to perform their duties to the point that a 12-year-old boy’s light has been doused, a family weeps, a state embarrassed.

SFC Clarence Brangard

Ernest

Abortion kills more than wars

I am writing regarding a woman’s right to nourish, control, honor and respect her body. So why doesn’t she? If she feels it is her choice alone to have sex with anyone and everyone, how can she feel any self-respect? How can she protect herself from AIDs and sexually transmitted diseases to begin with. That is a life-long commitment to disaster.

Why does she risk these things and an unwanted pregnancy? There are available condoms, diaphragms, birth control pills and, I understand, a body patch effective for five days. Of course there is abstinence, although that seems to be an almost extinct word.

A letter from one of your readers mentioned “kitchen-table” abortions. Why would that be necessary with all the above mentioned safety nets?

Surely anyone would want to avoid the discomfort of morning sickness, body changes, and surgical termination of a pregnancy, which I would guess costs several hundreds of dollars, compared to above mentioned options. Your reader also said our president was wanting to kill our soldiers. I would like for her and all others to know that, since Roe v. Wade, the fair women of our country have killed – murdered – more of our citizens than all soldiers killed in all wars according to several reports.

There will be a price to pay, a judgment day, which only you can get forgiveness from our Lord. Please do.

Wanda Krutch

Greensboro