The war is not on fracking. Environmental concerns are real and need to be addressed, as well as taxes to pay for services for us all: schools, roads, police, fire.
The war is not on guns. It is on the reckless use of guns. I, too, want to be able to have a weapon so that when the far right gets further out of control, I can protect myself against "an oppressive government." However, the unrestricted ability to purchase assault weapons and handguns does no one any good except the criminal element.
I'm a Republican trying to reform the party's move to oblivion. But some are driving it there because of an overwhelming misunderstanding of what the American people really think.
Rod Bankes, Kennett Square
Must reduce domestic violence
Early in my administration, I met with several people from Women Against Abuse to assure them I would continue to support their tireless efforts to end the unconscionable violence inflicted on women. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It's designated as such so we never forget that every day in America, three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends. A woman is assaulted every nine seconds.
All sorts of societal stress can trigger abuse, even when a victim gets a protection order from the court. Sometimes, an abuser shows up at court to intimidate his victim, which is why we work with WAA to make sure the deputy sheriffs who guard the courts are always alert.
Domestic abuse also occurs in same-sex partnerships, and among all age ranges, ethnicities, and economic levels. Even heterosexual men can become victims of abuse.
With that in mind, please join me in making a personal commitment not only during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but at any time, to expose this type of violence and do whatever you can to help WAA, Women's Way, Women Organized Against Rape, and the many other groups striving to make domestic abuse rare.
Sheriff Jewell Williams, Philadelphia.
Helping to keep voters informed
The Inquirer unfairly picks on city government and Peco for mailings about the need for voters to show a photo ID at the polls on Nov. 6 ("Peco mailing also contains wrong news on voter-ID law," Wednesday).
The mailings, requested by the nonpartisan Committee of Seventy, were just one part of the tremendous efforts undertaken by the city and Peco to educate all voters about the state's voter-ID law. They wisely continued these efforts rather that sit tight and do nothing during the three months the challenge to the voter-ID law was making its way through the courts. For that they deserve thanks, not criticism.
I can assure you that no one will do more than the city and Peco between now and Nov. 6 to make certain that correct information is in voters' hands: Except for people voting for the first time, or for the first time in a new division, voters do not need to show any identification to vote on Nov. 6. Anyone with questions should call the Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).
Ellen Mattleman Kaplan, vice president and policy director, Committee of Seventy, Philadelphia, ekaplan@seventy.org
