Lawmakers can take steps toward gun safety
As the Legislature opens its 2025 session, I am hopeful that at least one positive step on gun safety will be taken with the passage of the proposed tax credit for safe gun storage.
Two steps would be even better, especially in the wake of a recent school shooting in our state. DeKalb District Attorney Sherry Boston penned an effective advocacy piece for the so-called “red flag” law many states have passed. I find it hard to see how such a common sense, safety-oriented law can be seen as a “barrier” to lawful gun ownership. Evidently, it is seen that way by a majority of our state legislators, even though it is very much in line with strengthened provisions around mental health. I am told the resistance is not rational, but I cannot give up the belief that legislating has to be rational.
House Speaker Jon Burns appears to be a reasonable individual who cares about people of all ages. I am hoping he can lead the House to take two constructive steps toward gun safety in our state, which ranks so low on the issue nationally.
ALIDA C. SILVERMAN, ATLANTA
Taxes on gambling? Let’s add marijuana, too.
I read that the Georgia Legislature is going to consider allowing gambling to raise money for state tax income, addiction treatment for gambling abuses and education. The intent is to compete with offshore gambling and illegal or online gambling that is revenue neutral for Georgia.
So what about legalizing marijuana sales for personal use to raise state income revenue, reducing, if not eliminating, illegal sales and the physical crime that it causes? Again, some money raised could address addiction and mental health treatments. Other states have been successful in doing so, and adopting their processes could shorten the time to implement, unlike the huge delay in legalizing medical marijuana.
So if the state can justify gambling because people want it, to regulate the rules and for the revenue, how is that different from legalizing marijuana for the revenue, to control its properties and to supply needed health care? Polls support legalization. It would also reduce or eliminate petty crimes and reduce policing and the cost of incarcerations.
JOE PALLADI, BROOKHAVEN
Second terms usually don’t end well
Before my Trump friends become too optimistic about a second Trump term, they might do well to study the history of second terms. Nearly all fall far short of inaugural confidence. That’s particularly true of Republican presidents. One need only remember the Great Recession at the end of George W. Bush’s second term, in addition to the consequences of his state-building in Iraq and Afghanistan.
President-elect Donald Trump is not Bush. He might well be worse. Be careful what you hope for in a second Trump term. You are not likely to see it, and it might be much worse than you imagine.
FRANK RUECHEL, KENNESAW
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