In the aftermath of the terrible tragedy in Connecticut the usual cry by the politicians for more gun control laws is not unexpected and their shameless use of such horrific incidents is disgusting. The issue is not gun control, it is control.

The idea that laws could have prevented this tragedy is ludicrous. I suppose there may be well-meaning people who believe the nonsense but choose to ignore the real causes.

Among these is the complete moral breakdown of a society that chooses to reject religion, allow abortion, support of unnatural behavior and encouraging high birth rates by teenage unwed mothers.

Jimmy Wayne Cosby

Rogersville

I am surprised at the animosity exhibited by otherwise rational folks when it comes to the subject of health insurance and food stamps. The most common remark is, “Why don’t these people get jobs and buy their own groceries or health insurance?”

Are these people for real?

Most folks who receive food stamps are already working. If anything, they need more food assistance. And, a family health care policy is pretty darned expensive. Check it out.

Here in the South our jobs pay a lot less than they would farther north. So, let’s say you make $12 an hour. That’s a lot more than a lot of people here make. On a 40-hour week you make $480.

Taxes may take $80. Leaves you $400. Monthly roughly $1,600. A family health care policy with a medium deductible will cost about $1,100-$1200 monthly. What’s left? I think even with the state of our education in Alabama most of you can figure that one out.

And, now our Republican governor, along with several other Republican governors, has decided that even though they want less government in our lives they won’t set up health care exchanges, and are leaving it up to the federal government to do so. More intrusion by the federal government invited in by the state government. Go figure.

More competition usually lowers prices. And, when there is a virtual heath care provider monopoly in the state who would be better off with less competition?

Rodney Osbirn

Florence