Letters to the editor for Saturday, May 11

NRA is speaking out of both sides of its mouth

A question for Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association: You say that you want to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and the mentally unstable, yet you are opposed to universal background checks. I wonder, are you planning to borrow a page from the Third Reich and require a tattoo for all those identified as such?

John O’Neill

Minden

Libraries are key to personal and community improvement

As a retired resident and homeowner of Lyon County, I would like to thank the commissioners of Lyon County for approval and support of our county libraries and trained staff. “There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the public library, where neither rank, office nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.” — Andrew Carnegie.

Community-budgeted staff libraries serve every segment of our communities, young and old, rich and poor, college graduates and high school dropouts. Libraries provide books, magazines, newspapers, databases, audio, video materials and computer access, all can be assisted by trained librarian and staff when needed to facilitate and understand usage. Community-budgeted and trained staff libraries serve individuals, families, start-up businesses and established businesses. Our community libraries and staff promote economic, personal development and growth skills.

When many of our young people mature they learn a library, as did most generations of Americans before them: “Is where most people frequently lower their voices and raise their minds.”

Linda Adams

Dayton