Readers sound off on gun control, zoning for housing and the National Anthem

Swarthmore, Pa.: With more than 130 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, we are on pace to record a staggering 500-plus mass shooting events in 2023. In fact, firearms are now the leading cause of death for young people in this country.

When people talk about American exceptionalism, gun violence isn’t what they have in mind, yet it is one of our most exceptional features. Not trying to combat and counter this is sheer madness, yet Congress refuses to enact gun control favored by most Americans.

More than two-thirds of adults polled favor banning military-style assault weapons and also banning high-capacity gun magazines. The Constitution does guarantee us the right to bear arms, but it clearly does not prohibit the passage of gun control regulations.

Opponents claim that such bans would only be the beginning and would proceed until guns in private possession are banned in their entirety. This argument is a red herring, intended to distract from the rationale to enact a ban and to obfuscate the issue.

It is time to make common-sense gun regulation a central issue in our elections, to vote out of Congress the recalcitrant members who refuse to abide by the will of the people and pass legislation that can help to end, or at least minimize, the carnage caused by these mass shootings. Ken Derow

Ozone Park: Lauren Boebert certainly “owned the libs” with her gun-filled Christmas greetings. But she also owns the deaths of those beautiful 9-year-olds. Show her and everyone else the bullet-ridden bodies of all the children who died from her weapons of war. It is time for extreme measures. John Landers

Rockaway Beach: Yes, I am an American. Yes, I am happy to live here. Rightfully, we condemn the horrors of the Holocaust and current worldwide aggressions and atrocities. How, then, do we overlook and permit the unrelenting slaughter of our schoolchildren and other innocents? Congress, step up! Uphold human integrity by barring deadly weapons! Legislate against the shameful NRA, which could do something but has done nothing to alleviate a terrible ongoing situation. This used to be the land of the free. Not anymore. We are all being held hostage to gun violence. Both sides, do something! Maureen McNelis

Long Island City: Pat Lynch complains on March 27 that giving the public access to body-worn camera footage will cause police to “face the prospect of boundless surveillance by an activist CCRB hunting for minor infractions” (“The City Council needs to support NYC’s police,” op-ed). What is the failed drug war besides police mercilessly targeting civilians for minor infractions? What of the thousands of innocent stop-and-frisk victims targeted by police? Was that not boundless surveillance? Lynch believes police should face none of what they dish out daily. I see no reason why government employees making six figures shouldn’t be subject to workplace surveillance like every other person with a job. Luke J. Cole

Bayside: Re “End systemic racism in housing” (op-ed, March 27) by Britny J. McKenzie: I’m not sure where you live, but I’ve been in northeast Queens for more than 50 years and due to one-story houses being turned into three-story houses, the traffic here in the last 10 years has been horrific and rapidly getting worse by the day. This area cannot withstand the amount of housing near the LIRR stations that you and the governor want to add. Keep in mind that the majority of infrastructure has not been changed and is severely overburdened. I advise you to go check with the man who rezoned the area a few years back and you’ll see he is against adding new housing. Sadly, there is just no room left to handle it! Karen Sabatini

Manhattan: As part of her crusade to protect wealthy Manhattanites, Assemblywoman Deborah Glick is trying to poison a state budget proposal aimed at creating more affordable housing. The issue at hand is Gov. Hochul’s proposal to lift the harmful, 1960s-era zoning law known as the floor area ratio cap, or FAR cap. In short, it’s not about making buildings taller. Lifting the FAR cap will increase housing density, particularly in parts of Manhattan, to add more of the apartments New Yorkers need. Glick said in The News that she now wants to rework the governor’s plan by making it impossible to lift the cap in all but a handful of cases. But what does that really mean? Catering to affluent NIMBYs who can’t accept their fair share of new housing, while telling outer-borough communities of color to keep fighting for scraps. Not a single lawmaker should buy Glick’s pitch. John Sanchez, executive director, 5 Borough Housing Movement

Bronx: I’m just writing to say that I enjoy the new comic strip “Grand Avenue.” I like its subtle, folksy humor. I hope it has a long run in the Daily News. Edward Stapleton

Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.: This past Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, the public address announcer invited all attendees who were “willing and able” to stand for the national anthem. Willing? How about if you are able-bodied, stand up and be thankful you live (for the moment) in a free country and salute the American flag? This country is truly upside down. Michael P. Devine

College Point: What is the matter with you, Daily News? Gridlock Sam was one of the best things in your paper to be of help to the people! What happened? I miss him in your paper! Readers, write in your feelings! Joan Kraft

Mamaroneck, N.Y.: How do I go about making a deal with the IRS? Paul Matthews

Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: The ex-president is on the edge of incitement. How dare he malign the office he once held by his treasonable behavior? Why is he given a pass? Any ordinary citizen would probably be arrested if they uttered the same words. Also, tell him to stop dying his hair! He looks ridiculous. Age should bring knowledge and show dignity but Trump only shows his unbelievably huge ego and desire to be a dictator. Renee Keane

Manhattan: It is abundantly clear, for many years now, that t’Rump is an evil man. He has lied and cheated his entire life. He has denigrated and tried very hard to weaken the very foundations of our great, still-evolving country, including a free press, our justice system, the rule of law, fair and certified elections and our allies, while praising dictators and tyrants. He has insulted and demonized women, minorities and fellow Americans, i.e. Democrats (all 81 million of us), and no, the vast majority of us are not far-left radicals. Yet another nasty lie, one of — at last count — 40,000! To his supporters, do you seriously believe t’Rump is a moral, honest person? How has your soul and mind become so warped to support such a person, regardless of your political beliefs? He is an enemy of everything good about America. He is a disgrace on our flawed, brilliant history. Jeff H. Woods

Manhattan: Voicer Arthur Hayek hit the nail on the head when he said Trump is in his Norma Desmond phase. That occurred to me when I viewed a “Trump 2024″ Facebook page and realized almost all the accounts were bizarre, fictitious, foreign names purporting to be overseas fans. One click and it was easy to determine they were nothing but trolling bots with hilarious, nonsensical, pigeon-English messages of love for the former president. It reminded me of Erich von Stroheim playing Max — the silent film director-turned-butler in “Sunset Boulevard” — when he confesses he writes fake fan letters to Desmond to placate her. I can only imagine Trump’s eventual ending might be the same as Norma’s. Sam Katz