Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 08.24.15

No true justice in Kerrick case

There is no truth or justice to be had in the Wes Kerrick trial; the only person who could have told the other side of the story was shot 10 times.

One online commenter who said he was a former law enforcement officer wrote Wednesday in response to Keith Larson’s opinion piece: “better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.”

Where is Jonathan Ferrell’s judgment by 12?

Ferrell was killed without a trial. The only thing that is certain in all of this is that his story will never be heard.

Let’s support our police officers

In her closing arguments in the Kerrick trial, the prosecutor said: “The defense called the police officers warriors. We are not at war.” She would not have a job if it were not a constant struggle for justice, which is de facto war.

She probably has never done a ride along with a police officer and has no idea what their job entails, or the life and death situations they face constantly.

Hats off to the Charlotte police officers. Do not let someone half as smart as you control your emotions or job performance.

Now’s time to wean U.S. off fossil fuels

Forum writer C.G. Kilburn is right about the EPA being responsible for the work at the Colorado gold mine even though a private contractor did the actual work.

Corporations covet money and power, and often show no regard for the common good!

We need to wean ourselves off fossil fuels, as global warming could eventually render Earth uninhabitable!

Water woes trump Planned Parenthood

Once again our inept Congress can not seem to do the work for which they were elected.

Congress is focused on Planned Parenthood while the San Joaquin Valley, which produces 12.8 percent of the U.S. agricultural production, is being all but ignored.

Three water-related federal positions remain unfilled because of the Republicans. The president and Democrats are not without blame in this crisis.

If we are ‘one’ people and ‘one’ America we need to check our egos at the door and come together on this.

We must stop Planned Parenthood

Many Americans wouldn’t stand for federal funding of an organization that ripped pre-born puppy or kitten body parts from a pregnant cat or dog for scientific study.

Sad to say, more people would be filled with outrage if Planned Parenthood did this to animals.

One solution for the voter ID problem

There is an easy way to decrease fraud in government assistance programs and solve the imagined voter ID problem. Simply provide every citizen that receives Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, student loans, etc. with a government-issued photo ID.

Problem solved, unless the problem Republicans are trying to solve is the above mentioned groups of people actually voting.

Stronger action needed on drones

I am amazed at the government’s foot-dragging on this issue. I can almost guarantee some action will be taken only when a commercial airliner collides with a drone and people are killed.

New aid-in-dying laws needed in N.C.

The recent sad diagnosis that President Carter’s cancer has spread to his brain reminds us that life has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

He has chosen to have treatment. However, other people at his age and with his condition sometimes opt for palliative care and down the road, if possible, assisted suicide.

We all ought to have a choice of how and when we die when we are terminally ill. It is high time North Carolina passes compassionate aid-in-dying laws.

This story was originally published August 23, 2015 at 1:22 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 08.24.15."