Letters to the Editor

In response to the recent announcement of building townhomes in close proximity to the downtown area, and also with the latest news of the Plaza Tower transformation, I think it’s time for plans for a grocery store in the downtown.

Nancy L. Rhodes

Tyler

Can we agree on what Second Amendment means?

There are many heated arguments concerning the right to bear arms.

The Second Amendment reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

One could argue that the amendment addresses the right to have armed militias. Judicial review expanded this right to nonmilitia citizens as well.

So, what is an arm? It goes beyond the muskets existing at the time of writing the amendment, but how far? Fifty-caliber machine guns that can tear a house in half? Shoulder-mounted missiles that can bring down an airliner? Hand grenade? The issue is not whether the constitutional right exists but what reasonable application we should use.

My suggestion is that reasonable use of weapons for hunting and home protection should be the only rights of citizens not in the military or militia. Do others really want to argue for missiles?

Blake Bailey

Tyler

TJC program made my career possible

I am a legally blind student at TJC taking the HVAC degree. I have been very fortunate to have such great instructors and classmates who help me and are understanding.

Most of my fellow students are helpful and my instructors are very patient and accommodate my inability to see. It is very frustrating when I miss something due to my eyes and I struggle, but I am adapting and just wanted to say TJC and the HVAC program are in my opinion the best in Texas.

If I can do it, anyone no matter what the disability can succeed at TJC in whatever they seek and love to do. I have been a part of air conditioning over 20 years off and on and have a great passion for it. Now I have a chance to make it my career after receiving my degree at Tyler Junior College HVAC program.

Thomas Hammon

Tyler

Mailbox mayhem

Recently, we placed mail in the outside USPS box in the Rice Road Brookshire’s parking lot. There are two Postal Service boxes and a Tyler water bill box at the location. On Sunday morning, I swung back by to drop off a water bill at the same location.

I was surprised to find that the back door to the first USPS box had been pried open with a crowbar and was lying flat on the ground! I took the small handful of letters left inside and placed them in the other USPS box.

I then tried to reclose the damaged box to no avail. Like all good East Texas rednecks, I am never without a roll of duct tape in the truck, so I taped over the first box slot so no one else would deposit mail into it.

I alerted the police and they said they would get in touch with the Postal Service. While I am no lawyer (although I would like to play one on TV sometime!), this theft appears to be a federal offense to me.

BTW, our mail never arrived at its intended locations. We are in the season where lots of cash and gift cards are being mailed, so think about that before you deposit mail in an outside box UNLESS IT IS TO BE PICKED UP THAT SAME DAY.

Under no circumstances will I ever leave mail in an outside USPS box overnight again. USPS box mail and Salvation Army red kettle thefts — what’s next, kidnapping the Easter Bunny?

Billy Higginbotham

Tyler

Movie shows dangers of out-of-control FBI

“Richard Jewell” is a great must-see Clint Eastwood movie. It shows how biased, unfair and destructive a few misguided FBI agents can be in destroying innocent people and anyone’s rights under our Constitution.

This movie is especially timely due to the current corruption of a few top FBI personnel over the past three years.

The liberal media has destroyed the opening of this movie, which is very interesting and holds your attention and frankly makes one angry to see little people abused by the FBI’s unchecked power — just like today!

We could each become an innocent victim like Jewell, doing nothing wrong or illegal. Thanks, Clint, for a must-see movie that liberal Democrats are trying to keep from view.

Harry Bergman

Tyler

Columnist wrong: Trump obstructed

Marc Thiessen’s article in Tuesday’s Telegraph is false in at least one way.

Mr. Thiessen states that “[Democrats] do not get the last word when a president invokes executive privilege.”

While this statement is true, it implies a falsehood because the president DID NOT invoke executive privilege, he simply ordered administration officials to not follow the legal subpoenas issued to individuals.

Stated differently, he ordered people working under him to break the law!

In addition, arguing that Congress does not have the right to various documents and testimony is laughable — can anyone believe that our Founding Fathers meant to say that “Congress can impeach and remove the president but only if he/she allows this?”

How anyone can say these actions were not attempts by the president to obstruct Congress is beyond me.

James Vasil

Tyler

Gohmert, Trump embarrassments

Again, Louie Gohmert has shown he does not deserve to serve as our representative nor receive lifetime insurance and other benefits from being elected to the House.

When did it become normal to spout Russian propaganda and falsehoods from that beautiful leather chair he gets to sit in up in Washington?

I haven’t heard him yet, but I will not be surprised when he states it’s OK to ask foreign governments to interfere in our elections. This guy and his president are becoming such embarrassments to our country and the rest of the world. It will take years for the U.S. to regain our leadership status on the world stage. Unfortunately, our allies and enemies know that these guys can’t be trusted. That the U.S. has just become so much hot air and nothing else.

Stan Lynch

Center