Mailbag: Readers weigh in on gun control, police unions and Trump

July 2, 2016 6:40 PM PT

Is Trump trending downward?

Donald Trump is another Bernie — Bernie Madoff, that is. Just like Madoff, Trump is a con man, a downright crook (think Trump University), but he’s even more than Madoff. Trump is an egotistical madman who cannot stand up to scrutiny. And that is what will be his downfall.

I believe that Trump is on the verge of imploding after Hillary Clinton threw back in his face all his crazy rants and ravings he’s been spouting the last few months. Twenty-four hours passed after Clinton’s “gotcha” and the Donald had really nothing to hit back with on Twitter except to lamely protest that she isn’t presidential.

It wouldn’t even surprise me if the man has a complete meltdown and suffers a nervous breakdown.

Molly Shore
Burbank

Aim for better gun laws

There have been recent opinion pieces by Ray Richmond and Rep. Adam Schiff about gun control after the Orlando massacre by shooter Omar Mateen.

The gentlemen’s ideas about denying gun purchases to people on the TSA No-Fly List make for great headlines and seem to make sense, but they are anathema to those with an understanding of our Constitution.

We need to start legislating where it will help. There is real change that can be done. In California, you can’t buy a gun at a gun show without going through a background check, but you can in some other states. This should be changed. Congress also needs to provide funding so that the criminal database used to conduct background checks is complete.

Everyone (including the NRA) has a vested interest in criminals and the mentally ill not acquiring guns. It is simply good policy to have common-sense laws that protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to have a firearm if they so choose, and keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.

Robert Carlborg
Burbank

Other things need control

Rep. Adam Schiff offers a simplistic solution to gun violence in his op-ed “Congress must stand up to the NRA.” In his op-ed he barely mentions mental illness but heaps blame on the NRA. The common thread in most of the recent mass shootings is the shooter was mentally ill. In most cases a young person committing suicide is mentally disturbed and in several mass shootings the killers commit suicide.

Now we’re seeing a new threat, homegrown terrorists committing mass murder in the U.S. An article in the L.A. Times of Sunday, June 26, “Diary of terror,” tells about the month of April worldwide including, 180 incidents, 1,385 injuries and 858 killed. “Bombs — worn in vests, planted by roads, concealed in cars and motorcycles — were the weapons of choice, though some victims died by the gun, the knife or the machete.”

More gun control laws will not make us safer. We need more control of dangerous mental patients and terrorists.

Tim Elliott
Burbank

In defense of In Theory

I have been a resident of Burbank for 51 years. I enjoy reading the Burbank Leader and in particular the “In Theory” column. For some time it was not printed, and I sent an email to that effect and it was restored. At this moment it seems to appear off and on. Some weeks only the question is posed and the reader has to go to the Leader’s website and try to find the responses. Well, that is fine for those who have computers, but useless to those who do not.

Many residents enjoy reading the In Theory article. It gives them the opportunity to measure the traditional-values pulse of our community. I would therefore ask that it be in the Burbank Leader on a consistent basis. If for some reason it can’t fit due to a space problem, then drop some other worthless article, but not In Theory.

John Janssen
Burbank

Survey betrays union stance

As a former police commissioner in Burbank and a retired LAPD commander, it distresses me to see the attack by the Burbank police union on the upper staff of the department. Let’s cut through all of the phony issues stated by the union and get to the crux of their complaints: For the first time they are not in a position of trying to manage the department.

Their opposition to predictive policing is contrary to the direction taken by every major professional department. Their wish to go back to undirected policing would lead to an upswing in crime. Their opposition to the promotion process comes from the fact that in the past promotions were given by seniority, not qualification, with the union having great sway on the process. Their opposition to fair, objective investigations of accusations of police misconduct is contrary to their expressed desire to serve the community.

The current chief and his staff are on the right track in leading the department in a cultural change that would hire a more diversified force, shift the department into a professional model and reduce crime and increase safety for the community. The police union has opposed the new chief since the first day of his hiring and this phony survey is nothing more than an attempt to force his removal. They would be better served by cooperating with the chief in his quest to make Burbank Police a better department. If they can’t do that, it might be better for them to resign so that more professional officers can take their place.

Joseph Gunn
Burbank

Fourth loses its origin story

I took it upon myself to walk around the Burbank mall and talk to folks about the real meaning of the Fourth of July. Bottom line, if they cannot drive it or drink it, or wear it or smoke it, it has no real meaning! For most, it is a three- or four-day holiday from work and a chance to party. If they have to work, they want overtime. One interesting gentleman gave me a full lecture. It is the wrong day, he claimed. It should be July 2 that we celebrate, not July 4. July 4 was the first day they could get all the parties together to sign off on what they had agreed to on July 2.

I was depleted when I decided to end my personal survey — depleted and sad! The Fourth of July means very little to most: BBQ steaks and good wine and beer and time off from work. I might add, the younger the people I spoke to, the less they knew about the real meaning of this date. How utterly tragic, and to look deeper, it is obvious that it is not going to get any better the older the country gets. If we care so less after just 240 years, imagine what it will be like when we hit 300 years. If you really want to know what is wrong with America, it is us, “we the people.” We have met the enemy and it is us!

Joseph Di Sante
Burbank