Letters to the Editor - February 23, 2023

Keeping our children and families safe

 

I am a grandparent, support Second Amendment rights and a concealed weapons permit holder. Yet, I am against the permitless carry of firearms. While our children are practicing intruder drills at school, our state legislature is working to pass legislation that would allow an individual to carry a firearm openly and without any criminal background check, no mental health check, no training or permit of any kind. So many individuals who should not and can not possess a firearm legally get around a background check by purchasing at a gun show, private sale or stolen out of unlocked vehicles. Permitless carry would enable these individuals to openly carry their firearms where we all work, play, shop and go to school. Do we really think this reckless legislation improves our safety? This bill H3594, is in the SC House right now; co-sponsored by our representative Mark Smith. Tell the SC House to vote no on permitless carry.

 

Peter Zalka

Daniel Island

 

Banning children’s books

 

I am writing to point out that in the school censorship debate, your inclusion of the ACLU opinion piece only serves the “progressive” viewpoint. I would like to offer some alternative thoughts. 

 

Forty percent of DI News readers opined that books should never be banned, overlooking those aimed at subverting young children, while 38% recognized the need to ban them. Some opinions related that we should trust schools, thereby showing a lack of awareness of the many attempts to prod children to question their identity.

 

This is a horrific infringement on parental rights. Others said kids will find what they want on the internet, but that does not consider that making them available in the library is giving tacit consent to the material. Too, the question of pornography versus sex education arises. We need to be mindful of parental rights and of the destructive influences of pornography as this has become a pandemic ruining lives, marriages and families.

 

Walter Ruzek

Daniel Island 

 

Editor’s Note: Visit scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/3594.htm to read the South Carolina General Assembly’s Bill 3594 on Constitutional Carry. Visit scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/3728.htm to read the South Carolina General Assembly’s Bill 3728 on Transparency and Integrity in Education Act.