12/5 Letters: Net neutrality repeal would be ‘highway robbery’

Regarding “Net neutrality and the FCC – why you should care” (Nov. 22): Imagine a world where you must pay your utilities per piece in your household. Paying for water access to each sink, toilet and laundry machine. Electricity access per room. This is what allowing net neutrality to die will allow, giving major communication companies the ability to serve the internet to Americans piecemeal and charge for it.

This goes directly against our values of open and free communication of ideas. Everyone should be concerned as this power will one day be used against consumers. Imagine if constituents could not access a representative’s website because his or her opponents paid the providers to block it. Or if ISPs refuse to add a name to Google searches without payment first.

This is highway robbery to the highest degree and cannot be allowed to happen. This may be one of the most important issues in our time as it will shape the entire future of our booming technological industries. Choose wisely.

Stop gun carnage

I was moved by “A nurse asks: When does gun carnage become too much?” (Nov. 30). The author has cared for gun violence victims and fears for her children’s safety. She describes Australia’s April 1996 response to the Port Arthur gun massacre of 35 citizens: stricter licensing and registration, banning automatic/semi-automatic weapons, and buyback of illegal weapons. Australia has never had another mass shooting. In March 1996, 16 Dunblane, Scotland first-graders and their teacher were murdered. Public outcry led the British government to ban private ownership of automatic weapons and handguns. Since then, there has been only one other British gun massacre.

How can Americans tolerate repeated gun massacres such as Columbine, Sandy Hook and Las Vegas? Or mass shootings – at least four deaths at one time – averaging seven times a week? Polls show most Americans favor stricter gun regulation, yet Congress fails to pass any needed laws and is now considering allowing nationwide concealed-carry permits. Second Amendment writers who gave individuals the right to have guns for “a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State” did not envision individuals carrying semi-automatic guns free to murder other citizens.

‘No Sam Ervin’?

Regarding “In Russia probe, Richard Burr is no Sam Ervin” (Dec. 3): Richard Burr is no Sam Ervin? You’re right. Sam Ervin had a crime to investigate. Richard Burr has no crime to investigate.

Cheer up. Given unlimited time, unlimited money and a cadre of Democrat donors to help him, Robert Mueller will dig until he finds a crime. Mueller’s been shown the man and he’ll find the crime.

This story was originally published December 4, 2017 at 6:00 PM with the headline "12/5 Letters: Net neutrality repeal would be ‘highway robbery’."