Allow military to carry weapons

After the Fort Hood shootings in 2009 and the shooting deaths last week of three National Guard members in Carson City, Nev., I advocate that active-duty military in uniform be allowed to carry loaded weapons at all times. On active duty in foreign lands. they may defend themselves. So be it on Main Street USA.

Contrary to what some believe about concealed-carry permits, these permit holders help keep peace and civil order because the criminal element knows that an unknown number of people around them are armed at any given time and that they might get shot. It’s a different world from what it was prior to 9/11. We must change with it because the enemy walks among us, and we do not always know who they are.

William K. Arrington, McGregor

The sad side of unemployment

Today’s unemployment rate is 9.1 percent — that’s 14 million Americans without jobs. Yet we seem to become so complacent with these numbers that we sometimes forget what it means to be out of a job. We hear the political rhetoric, we see the stock market tumble, we are inundated with news coverage of how bad things are, and yet we don’t really get it sometimes.

As a young teen, I once asked my dad to explain the difference between a recession and a depression. His answer was what you might expect from a working man making $1.50 an hour: “A recession is when your neighbor is out of a job; a depression is when you are out of a job.”

I remember being out of a job with a young family, bills and limited savings. If you haven’t been there, you may not truly understand. Realize the tremendous impact that the millions who are out of work have on this country. Millions of car notes are going unpaid; millions of credit cards are not paid and accumulating millions of dollars in late fees and penalties, and millions of home mortgages are in default.

The little we have left is forcing folks to priorities. They buy food, shelter and medicines — the bare essentials. That’s millions of people spending less on groceries, entertainment, utilities and new clothing.

I once spent our last few dollars to buy a new shirt so that I could make a good impression on a job interview. Until you have to make those hard decisions, you’ll never know what it’s like to be out of a job.

We, as a united nation, must get the greatest economic engine in the history of the world started again and get these 14 million people back to work.

John Dalrymple, China Spring

Employee goes above, beyond

Too often. we don’t get or take the opportunity to recognize the good works of our employees. I want to ensure that the efforts of Gordon L. Johnston, who served as the coordinator for the Feds Feed Families program, in addition to his regular duties at the Waco VA Regional Office, are recognized.  Johnston coordinated two collection programs during August that resulted in delivery of 3,891 pounds of food, hygiene products and diapers to the Waco Salvation Army. These supplies will be distributed to families in need in McLennan County. Waco VA employees were very generous in their donations, and Johnston was the key to making this effort a success. Congratulations to everyone for stepping up during this time of need.

Carl E. Lowe II, director, Waco VA Regional Office