I’m a gun owner, and I support sensible efforts to curb gun violence

In 1996, the Dickey Amendment was a rider to the U.S. omnibus spending bill. This limited federal spending on gun research and was heavily supported by the NRA. Reasonable gun owners should all welcome the recent passage of legislation championed by our own Congresswoman, Lauren Underwood. A total of $25 million dollars will be split between the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health for this research.

Our community has experienced a mass shooting, children routinely practice school active shooter drills, and police don’t know what they face in many interactions with the public. Enough is enough! Our residents and law enforcement officers deserve better.

As a gun owner, I appreciate Congresswoman Underwood’s leadership on combatting gun violence. This legislation is a small but crucial first step. Ms. Underwood needs to know that the community, including many gun owners, will support her and her peers as more sensible requirements to reduce gun violence are introduced. Sensible reforms can be accomplished without impacting our rights under the Second Amendment.

William Bachman, St. Charles

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Ethics, character and Trump’s impeachment

As the Senate prepares for President Trump’s impeachment trial, senators should consider some basic questions.

1) Will we, in this politically charged environment, be able to maintain a modicum of objectivity when considering the articles of impeachment presented by the House?

2) How important are ethics and character in our personal lives and in America’s cultural heritage?

3) Should the good acts the President has done nullify his bad acts if provable?

Doing what is right, in the face of losing prestige and power, is not easy. It requires courage and ethical commitment to do what is just, no matter the personal consequences.

Character has a price. On a personal level, each senator must choose between self-interest and the greater good.

When a verdict is reached, will each senator be able to look in the mirror and see a friend, or, will some be forced to look away and cover their faces in shame?

Robert Marciante, Glenview

Getting high, seeing coyotes?

I found the story on “the man who cried ‘coyote’ ” humorous. He reported that there was coyote at Belmont Harbor and the coyote actually turned out to be a statute used to scare off birds.

So seeing that recreational marijuana is now legal in Chicago, it appears it may be playing games with one’s mind over a statue of a coyote. Just like seeing a pink elephants after drinking...oops!

John Moravecek, Naperville