An event to neither be celebrated nor mourned
Newton, N.J.: Political violence — actually, violence of any form — is abhorrent. I don’t condone what happened on Wednesday in Utah, but I will not mourn Charlie Kirk. I can’t bring myself in good conscience to express sympathy for the demise of a hate-mongering, racist, misogynistic, homophobic bigot who spewed a gospel of hate and intolerance everywhere he went.
I can’t grieve the loss of someone who said it was acceptable for children to die in order to uphold the Second Amendment. Nor can I mourn a bigot who opposed equal rights for LGBTQ people, who once said transgender individuals had no right to exist, who believed climate change was a Democratic hoax, and supported a Christian theocracy for the governance of the United States.
Those who believed Kirk was the second coming of the Messiah are, of course, entitled to their opinion, misguided as it is. But when right-wing lunatics like Rep. Nancy Mace proclaim with no evidence that the Democrats “own” Kirk’s death, it is as disgusting as the shooting. Fat Hitler has announced that he will posthumously bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom on this bigot. Well, that’s certainly on-brand for him, considering he’s also going to give the award to his compadre Rudy Giuliani. You remember him — he was disbarred for criminal behavior as President Trump’s attorney.
The only people deserving of sympathy are Kirk’s children. They didn’t ask to have a hate-filled bigot for a father. To those who would elevate this evil person to martyred sainthood, I leave you with the words of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor: “I dissent.” Michael Schnackenberg
Stolen potential
Brooklyn: When Charlie Kirk was assassinated, it hit home for many. For me, it was a sad reminder of how violent some people in society can become. To shoot and kill a young man (31) who only wanted to help motivate people and keep others safe — sadly, someone felt it necessary to eliminate him. I sadly did not know, until my son told me, how great a person he was. If only we kept people like Charlie alive, it would keep this country strong and together. May the memories of happier times give his family and friends strength. To memorialize him, we should take a page from his book. When he spoke, if someone tried to speak over him, he kept his cool. My thoughts and prayers are for those who missed his lessons. Sharon Cesario
Leaders needed
Brooklyn: The killing of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy. Unfortunately, political violence has been commonplace. The attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband, the attack on the Capitol and the attempted assassinations of Trump are just a few examples of the disease spreading throughout America. Hateful rhetoric is the leading cause. Calling people you disagree with fascist, communist or subhuman clearly leads to violence. The rhetoric must stop. Calling for the jailing of your political opponents is what Vladimir Putin does. Yet, this is what our president does. It was therefore refreshing to see the governor of Utah, a real Republican, condemn the rhetoric coming from both sides. Kash Patel is purging the FBI of people who did their jobs but who Trump didn’t like. We need competent people, not loyalists. Alan Podhaizer
Do not descend
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: To all who may want to take revenge over the assassination of Charlie Kirk, do what Jesus said: “You have heard it was said to love your neighbor and hate your enemies. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who hate you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44). Prayer has far more power to prevent these kinds of things from happening than “getting even.” Jim Black
Dishonored
Chicago: Someone please tell me what value is left in the Presidential Medal of Freedom when troublemakers like Rush Limbaugh, Devin Nunes, Jim Jordan and now Kirk are recipients of the once-prestigious award. I now live in dread that Jeffrey Epstein or Harvey Weinstein might be next for their invaluable contributions to the study of female sexuality. Bob Ory
From one Dem to another
Hackensack, N.J.: To all those claiming that Trump’s birthday card to Epstein is a Democratic hoax: Not only does his signature match from other documents he signed during that timeframe, but what about the timeframe itself? This card has been in the Epstein estate since 2003, when Trump was a Democrat! And does anyone seriously believe that any Democrat was prescient enough to know that 13 years after he sent this card, he was going to run for president as a Republican? I know the narrative in the fever-swamps of the right often borders on delusional and deranged when it comes to their beloved President Pedo, but even they will have a tough time explaining away the timeline. If Fox News, OAN, Newsmax and nearly the entire GOP Congress want to claim this card is a hoax based on a laughably false narrative regarding his signature, fine — but please explain the timeline. Ken Byrnes
Worth clearing up
Brooklyn: Voicer Steven Fromewick completely distorts and misrepresents what I said. He says I suggest “we all carry guns.” I never said or suggested such a thing. He says about me, “I wonder how many dead and injured schoolchildren Greenberger finds acceptable.” This is the opposite of what I’m driving at. If teachers and principals had guns and cut down a mass shooter, it would, in many cases, reduce the number of children killed and even discourage some would-be shooters from entering school buildings. Fromewick says I am not “the least bit concerned about stopping the shootings entirely.” Stopping them entirely is an immature, utopian notion that’s never going to happen. The best we can do is something practical, like reduce the number of casualties. Josh Greenberger
Always at work
Bradley Beach, N.J.: As a longtime Daily News reader and retired NYPD detective, it befuddles me that the NYPD gets no respect for the great job it does. Day after day, I read in The News how arrests are made in major crime cases by the uniformed members and the greatest detectives of New York’s Finest. Everyday heroes, thank you. Patrick Freeman
Unfit for release
Astoria: While working as an officer on Rikers Island for 20 years, I would observe a slew of inmates who had serious mental issues. On each tour of duty, I would watch them having conversations with themselves, looking for cigarette butts and going weeks without bathing. They were equivalent to ticking time bombs ready to explode at any moment. It’s one thing to have them confined behind bars compared to roaming the streets, subways or residential neighborhoods. These politicians and judges who let them loose need to be held responsible and be sent for a mental evaluation. The line “common sense is not so common” definitely applies to these so-called trusted officials who are putting the public’s safety at risk. Aris Sakellaridis
Early deadline
Brooklyn: It seems that the Daily News was in a rush to publish its Wednesday edition. It failed to include a single Major League Baseball score in the Metro Final edition, labeling the games “Late.” Perhaps New York’s favorite tabloid’s motto should be “Some of the News That’s On Time to Print.” Neil S. Friedman
Official misjudgment
Flushing: There’ve been 48,579 cancer cases among 9/11 responders and exposed workers, residents and students, and 8,215 people with 9/11-related illnesses have died. How and why did this happen? Then-EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman stood there and declared there was nothing wrong with the quality of the air. FEMA began handing out N95 masks. They would turn black in an hour. Whitman has insisted that her statements were based on the best data available at the time and that workers were advised to wear respirators. Why, you might ask, didn’t the firefighters’ supervisors conduct their own investigation into air quality? The answer seems to be that there wasn’t enough time. The magnitude of the disaster and the toxic cloud of pulverized concrete, asbestos and jet fuel were unprecedented. There was no playbook for handling long-term consequences of such a catastrophe and decision-makers were operating in a highly chaotic environment. Al Musaffi
