Wrong again
The tragic shooting at Florida State University conveys a valuable message. Pay attention, Don and Tom Homan. Some criminals were born here. Not all are from Mexico. Or Venezuela. Or Colombia. Is the next step to deport all children of law enforcement officers?
Kenneth Haber
Northwest side
Two people were killed and six others were wounded Thursday when the 20-year-old son of a sheriff’s deputy opened fire at Florida State University with his mother’s former service weapon, investigators said.
Support for free speech
Apparently, some forms of free speech are more acceptable to this administration than others. The use of ‘Gulf of Mexico’ by the Associated Press requires retaliation from Trump and public scolding from multiple Republicans in Congress. But Russian propaganda is okayed for distribution, causing the State Department to shut down its office that dealt with misinformation and disinformation spread by Russia.
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Barbara Hall
Midtown
What hypocrisy
That staunch defender of the First Amendment, Marco Rubio, closed down the office trying to deal with false news on account of it interfered with the right to free speech. (“Rubio closes office that handled misinformation,” Star 4/17)
Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues its assault on the First Amendment at every turn, including denying funds to universities, banning news outlets which don’t support Trump from the White House, and deporting people for their tattoos.
Little Marco actually had the temerity to claim that it is the responsibility of every government official to protect free speech rights.
Do these guys think everyone in this country is a complete ignoramus who don’t pay attention to these events? They obviously think that of their supporters, who clap and cheer at the sheer nonsense of it all.
Larry Fleischman
North side
Where does Ciscomani stand?
I call upon Rep. Juan Ciscomani to honor his oath to uphold the Constitution in the face of egregious overreach by the Trump administration. President Trump’s defiance of the courts, imposition of erratic tariffs, purging of the federal workforce, cuts to scientific research and threats to law firms and universities are not good-faith governmental policies. These actions are brazen attempts to expand executive power. President Trump’s executive orders are ill-considered, damaging and vindictive.
Rep. Ciscomani should make clear whether he supports chaos and dysfunction or sound governance. Does he support billionaires or everyday Americans? Does he support the rule of law or the vengeful impulses of one man? These should be simple questions for a Congressman who has the best interests of his constituents at heart. I eagerly anticipate Rep. Ciscomani’s announcement of an in-person town hall where I can ask these questions directly.
Ann Faith
Foothills
Tesla wrath
I am deeply disturbed by the news that Tesla owners are finding their cars “keyed.”
I can understand how many people are upset by Elon Musk’s behavior and political views. But do they realize that most owners bought their Tesla because it was electric and fun to drive and probably had a tax refund incentive? A majority of Tesla buyers over the years were environmentally-conscious people and probably more Democrat than Republican.
I can only speak for myself. I bought a Tesla Y with my wife’s support 2 years ago because it was environmentally friendly. We had installed a 28-panel solar system on our roof 10 years ago. It generates more electricity than we use. So, having an electric car makes economic sense. I went and test drove a Tesla Y and fell in love with it. I have owned about 30 cars over the years and the Y is best performing, best handling, best braking system car of them all. Yes, I have degrees in engineering.
George Workman
Marana
A shocking admission
Thank you to LTE writer Jennifer Prileson for putting into words my incredulous amazement and disgust at witnessing the El Salvadorian President and the (self-declared) most powerful President in the history of the World, Trump, declare that they are unable to return a legal USA resident to the USA. Neither have the power? It’s a shocking admission by Trump, considering all the other powers that our President is claiming to possess.
Christie Cummins
Midtown
Religious counselors in public schools
Recent articles in the Daily Star describe a proposal in the Legislature to establish “religious counseling” in Arizona public schools. As public elementary schoolboy in Illinois about 80 years ago, I was subjected to a system of weekly released time for religious instruction. The current proposals do not seem to me to represent any improvement in use of education time or of tax revenues.
I suggest that there is better guidance from Thomas Jefferson, who wrote in 1800 that, “I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”
Nathaniel Grossman
Northwest side
Ciscomani’s support for Medicaid
“I am committed to protecting Medicaid coverage for our vulnerable populations and ensuring the program remains a lifeline for those who need it most.” I’ve extracted the previous sentence from today’s email communication from Representative Juan Ciscomani. He repeats the term “vulnerable population” several times, never defining it. Am I overly suspicious in thinking the message is a pretty good example of waffling? And I’ll offer a definition of waffle from the Cambridge English Dictionary: “to talk or write a lot without giving any useful information or any clear answers.”
Frank Bergen
Northwest side
Gaslighting again
Yet again, Jeffrey McConnell is gaslighting us. He avers that Democrats support activities usually attributed to the Ku Klux Klan. This was true in the 1950s. But following the Civil Rights Act of 1964, they moved over to the Republican party, where they were enthusiastically welcomed by Nixon and Reagan. They are all now wearing MAGA hats. And I’m sure Mr. McConnell is old enough to know this.
He also implies that Democrats support the vandalism of Teslas. He, of course, provides no evidence since there is none. Unlike the Republicans who actively support the January 6 insurrectionists, there are no Democrats who condone this vandalism.
Mr. McConnell used to make fact-based arguments. It appears that ended on Jan. 20.
Steven Brown
Midtown
Opposition to DEI
If a person is against diversity, equity, and inclusion, does that mean that they are in favor of sameness, inequality, and exclusion? How completely un-American! I’m going to give those who rage against DEI the benefit of the doubt, and assume that they really don’t understand what DEI means. The base upon which the American experiment was built is acceptance of difference, a level playing field for all, and inclusion of everyone. The DEI initiatives in all spheres of society are attempts to achieve those lofty goals more fully. Surely we can all support that.
Bob Gordon
Northeast side
It’s time
Thank you, Larry Peters, for your mad as hell op-ed in the April 17 paper). I’m not only mad as hell about Trump destroying our democracy, I’m madder at the GOP, especially those taking up space in Congress, not doing a thing to stop him. He’s not their boss! And thank you, Ray Bynum, for your op-ed, also April 17, encouraging us to “meet in the middle.” Trump will never meet in the middle, but yes, it’s time we meet in the middle to impeach him now, before he completely destroys what’s left of our democracy. He’s not above the law...not yet.
Maybe I wouldn’t be so angry if Trump were smart, but he’s not. When someone who knows his stuff like Jerome Powell, head of the Federal Reserve, tells Trump the truth about what his tariffs will possibly do to our economy, did Trump thank him? No. He plans to fire him. So, yes, I’m mad as hell! Are you?
Ginia Desmond
Downtown
What Tucson tells me
Tucson is a city that murmurs through gentle sounds, uneven pavement cracks, aged signage, and cacti that harbor tales only the breeze understands. We reside beneath mountains that appear near, yet never truly connect. There’s a cadence present in the buzz of the desert and in the pulse of the city. We coexist with the sun, the dust, and the neglected.
Yet occasionally, we neglect to hear what Tucson is communicating to us. It’s not only the heat, the urban spread, and the congestion. It’s a place where the sky and land conceal mysteries, one breath from enchantment, one step from narrative.
Let’s recall what makes Tucson unique to us. Let’s celebrate its oddities, its grime, and its chaotic beauty under the moonlight. There’s charm in the wilderness and something unique in what we frequently ignore.
Drakovi Bloodrose
Midtown
The market
The stock market has collapsed due to Trump’s tariffs. All people holding IRAs have been wiped out and prosperous retirement in now unattainable. The entire economic structure of the United States is in peril. To illustrate, the Dow Jones average was 37,775.38 on April 18, 2024, during the Biden reign. The Dow Jones average was 39,142.23 on April, 17, 2025, under the evil Trump reign. Obviously, the collapse of the financial system and financial security of its citizens are eminent.
Loyal M Johnson Jr
Oro Valley
