Thoughts and prayers are clearly still not enough

I’ve heard several prominent Americans, including a former president, say, “This isn’t who we are”, regarding the shooting of Charlie Kirk (“US facing a bitter reckoning as police search for Utah assassin”, September 12). However, sadly, it is who they are. Like Australia, America was founded on violence. Their continued obsession with guns is perhaps the national trait they are most associated with. Kirk was a divisive character. It will, however, be his assertion that “some gun deaths are worth it … it’s the price we pay for liberty” that will possibly resonate the longest. I wonder which proportion of 40,000 deaths annually is worth it, and why so many Americans feel that owning a gun, rather than adherence to, and faith in, their much-heralded democratic institutions, will safeguard their “liberties”. Craig Jory, Albury

Clearly “thoughts and prayers” are not working. Perhaps the Americans should seriously consider some gun control legislation. They could even send a delegation to Australia to see how that works here, but their president would be very unlikely to admit that another country just might do it better. Stephanie Edwards, Leichhardt

Charlie Kirk was a vocal advocate for the right to bear arms. He previously claimed shooting deaths are the price the US has to pay to retain the Second Amendment. A high price to pay indeed. Charles Hargrave, Elizabeth Bay

In a society desensitised to the real-world effects of gun violence by computer games and films, the graphic vision of Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting brings home the horrific damage inflicted by gunshots on the human body. As a parent, it breaks my heart to imagine the abject horror, fear and physical pain experienced by so many young children who are victims of the all-too-frequent school shootings in America. Nick Andrews, Bellevue Hill

It is indeed sad Charlie Kirk is dead, but on the same day how many other Americans were shot? Trump will only advocate for retribution and localised gun control when it comes to one of his close friends. Gun ownership and misuse appears to be beyond control in the USA. Katriona Herborn, Blackheath

Charlie Kirk’s death should put the spotlight on Chris Minns’ new gun laws. Kirk’s regular spiel was to tell people that guns don’t kill people, people do. Discussing gun control when he was shot, they may have even been his last words. It turns out people with guns kill people, which Kirk didn’t get to learn as he never regained consciousness. We can’t tolerate slow learners like Minns and Kirk in Australia. Paul Davies, Crows Nest

The death of Charlie Kirk was a result of the agenda he pushed. He viewed the deaths from mass shootings, including of schoolchildren, as “worth it” so that the right to bear arms was protected. Sadly, the death toll from shootings will continue due to the refusal to address gun reform. John Cotterill, Kingsford

The tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk in Utah is less about gun control and more about the polarisation of the American polity. In 2021 Trump encouraged his supporters to invade Capitol Hill to overturn the election result, and even suggested his vice president could be lynched. Such radicalisation of supporters cuts both ways in a world where you’re either with us or against us. Sadly, Americans are reaping what they have sown. Gordon Lambert, Kiama Downs

I am in Nevada, visiting my son and his wife, and it has been fascinating viewing the news coverage of the Charlie Kirk shooting. Sketchy head-talking on anything from whether it is political or not, retired “experts” on rifles, shootings, angles and warp sounds from the amphitheatre area. People’s personal reactions and the two now-released persons of interest. The best coverage came from the BBC, which held some clarity. The US media coverage was confused, divergent and extremist in reaction. Only the Utah governor called the American people to stop and think about coming together for a way forward. No wonder that many American people, too, are confused, anxious and afraid. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

I am not a huge fan of Charlie Kirk but appreciated his on-campus appearances allowing youngsters to debate with him, though the power dynamics of having an appreciative fan base in the crowd, and use of ridicule, were not lost on many. Australia needs to be careful because copycats might be lurking in our midst; also because such acts and their coverage are contagious for disillusioned people. Life is full of stories where we have dug holes in the ground for other people, but in the darkness created by our hatred, unable to sight these very holes, we fall into them. We do need to give love another chance. Manbir Singh Kohli, Pemulwuy

Yes, Michael Koziol, it can, and it will with Trump in charge (“Surely, American life just cannot carry on like this”, September 12). The voters elected a person who spews hatred and greed in a thin disguise of patriotism and ambition. Trump is not the cause of the USA’s troubles, he’s the result. Andrew Scott, Pymble

Like your correspondent (Letters, September 12) and Cathy Wilcox’s excellent cartoon, I, too, feel politicians’ words about there being no place for violence, hatred, antisemitism etc in our society are meaningless. White Australians marched recently, aided by neo-Nazis, and women are suffering domestic abuse and murder. This undercurrent of selfish disrespect runs deeply through our society. Just look at how our Indigenous people get treated. Perhaps racism and intolerance begin at home, and it is too late when children get to school to change this underlying problem. Dermot Perry, Mount Keira

Right wrong for Libs

If the Liberals want to get back into government then moving to the Right faction is the wrong move (“Ley to promote Right faction MPs”, September,12). Ley was right in putting Jacinta Nampijinpa Price on the backbench but the party must accept climate change and be positive by accepting renewables as the best plan, now that it has already started. Promote home battery storage and produce a plan to show the Liberal Party can finish the work efficiently, get new investment and meet all targets. Forget those impossible nuclear targets and those climate deniers and make our nation a world standard in achieving net zero with renewables. Don’t bow down to the Right faction or the voters will leave the Coalition in the wilderness. Ken Pares, Forster

Shadow home affairs minister Andrew Hastie has said there is no move to replace Sussan Ley as opposition leader. To translate that into everyday speech: “She’s done and I’m throwing my hat in the ring.” Patrick McGrath, Potts Point

Dogs’ owners need the training

As an older dog owner I know how important off leash exercise areas are (“Barking mad: Off-leash dog zones divide residents”, September 12). Loneliness is a major issue facing a growing number of older Australians, which can then lead to adverse health effects. Dog ownership is an important way to alleviate this problem. There are other important benefits not mentioned in the article. Well exercised and well socialised dogs are far less likely to become a nuisance either through barking or even attacking other dogs or children. As we get older our ability to walk our dogs enough on leash reduces, hence our greater reliance on off-leash areas where dogs can run freely and get the exercise they need. Nevertheless, dog ownership comes with responsibilities that ensure dogs are under control and that droppings are always picked up. Penalties for a failure to observe these must be severe. Public parks are available for general use 24 hours a day. Setting aside two or three hours for dogs is not an unreasonable request. Bridget Sant, Hyams Beach

It matters not whether a dog is on- or off-leash, I wish dog owners would control their pets so they didn’t encroach on my personal space. If adherence to that simple rule of respect for this basic entitlement of others’ were observed, there would be a lot more peace in our neighbourhoods. Penelope Layton-Caisley, Marrickville

The dogs are not the problem, it’s the owners. Off-leash areas are the worst because the majority don’t understand their responsibility and think because it’s off-leash, my dog can do anything. Owners need to be trained. Jenny Greenwood, Hunters Hill

Sadly, too many people in NSW think it’s good fun to have dog breeds that are inherently dangerous or have been trained to be dangerous. In regard to off-leash areas, most people don’t know that the dog control act [Companion Animals Act] requires a dog to be under an owner’s control at all times – on or off the leash and on a beach. Of course a dog can be hundreds of metres away from its owner and clearly not under their control. Peter Thornton, Killara

A grid would make sense

Labor MPs were no doubt pleased when the Coalition decided to build Metro West through core Labor territory (Letters, September 12). Liberal MP Mark Coure’s key priority has long been a Kogarah to Parramatta line. Narrow political thinking delivers poor results. NSW did far better when new rail lines and main roads were a recommendation of parliament (before World War II). Committees of geographically distributed MPs give the community a real say and produce far better strategies than centralised ministers and public servants. Enhancing the pre-World War II radial main road network to make a grid structure allows Sydney to function. We need to do similar to our railways – create a three-by-three metropolitan grid for the capacity, efficiency and robustness it will give the network. Also, the stressful long waits for passengers standing on stranded Metro trains show a key advantage of the double-deckers with their high density seating. Peter Egan, Fairview Park (SA)

The rail/metro route that needs building is Sydney Airport – Bankstown – Liverpool – Western Sydney Airport – Penrith – Richmond. It would connect the two airports and provide a huge swathe of trainless Western Sydney with fast public transport.Steven Lee, Faulconbridge

Look to Norway

Charlotte Mortlock’s article (“Babies need a rebrand. C’mon, we could all do with a laugh”, September 12) is spot-on: modern Australia needs to value babies and re-discover the joy of parenthood. A generous, taxpayer-funded paid parental leave program – as in Norway – would enable Australia to have the best of all worlds: a healthy “replacement-level” birthrate, the joy of parenthood for those who want it, a safe at-home environment for very young babies and, critically, happy babies who are pre-school ready and will grow into future cohorts of well-adjusted global citizens. Rigorous research from the mid-20th century has shown the importance of secure attachment between a parent – the primary caregiver – and their babies, for the development of confident, resilient and happy individuals. Particularly in the critical period from birth to about two years of age, when very young brains are being “hard-wired” for relationships throughout their life. And the paid parental leave program in Norway is a proved model, offering parent entitlements of 49 weeks at 100 per cent of their earnings, plus other entitlements including a paternal quota for the father (or co-mother). Paid parental leave should be coupled with a parenting training program, giving parents the confidence to read the primary needs of their babies, enabling bonding/attachment. Maybe the government needs to claw back a fair return from our fossil fuel exports, as happens in Norway. However they fund it, the potential long-term return from such a parental-leave program is enormous, including mental health outcomes for children and the wider Australian community, less crime, domestic violence and incarceration, and, hopefully, fewer incidents of abuse within the early childcare system. Rob Firth, Red Hill (ACT)

Where would the bees be?

The bees are in my garden (Letters, September 12). I planted a number of varieties so that there is usually something in flower. Try some lavender, and prune it every time it’s finished flowering. Other useful plants are lilly pilly, callistemon, camellia, paperbark, dwarf prunus, and May bush. You could also apply to become an apiarist and keep your own bees. Peter Butler, Wyongah

Earlwood is not the only neighbourhood where bees seem absent. They are also missing in action in this neck of the woods, where back-lane fences smothered with the massed blooms of orange trumpet vines and jasmine have failed to attract the usual winter and spring swarm of pollen gatherers. Phil Rodwell, Redfern

Maybe the bees cannot afford Sydney’s eye-watering real estate prices either and have moved further out? That said, there was buzzing a-plenty when I strolled along the Spring Walk in the Botanical Gardens this week. John Swanton, Coogee

POSTSCRIPT

Most of the letters pages this week were taken up with the comings and goings of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. There wasn’t much discussion, as such, most writers seem annoyed or exasperated by her and what they see as her posturing to try to make herself as important as they think she thinks she is. There was some sympathy for Sussan Ley as she tried to tamp down the trouble Price caused with her migration claims, and most writers agreed that demoting her was really the only answer.
However, there was little sympathy for Ley as she tried to juggle, nudge and fudge a new Coalition energy policy, jumping between the Scylla and Charybdis of an electorate that voted against nuclear and the part of the Coalition that still wants it, no matter what the cost.
At the beginning of the week, there was great horror and dismay at the revelation of how deeply the Exclusive Brethren religious group had been involved with the Coalition at the last federal election. There were many letters about how rude and aggressive these ″⁣helpers″⁣ had been at polling booths, and a general feeling that they did more harm than good to the Coalition.
Writers were also horrified by the treatment of Afghan women after the earthquake with reports that male rescuers, religiously speaking, could not touch non-relative women, so left them to die. This lead to a tangential discussion about why Australian women aren’t given CPR as often as men are.
Towards the end of the week, the shooting of MAGA activist Charlie Kirk shocked people here, although perhaps not all that much. There were many letters of the ″⁣live by the sword, die by the sword″⁣ variety, although still with sadness that American politics should have come to this, again.
The happiest news of the week, unanimously applauded by letter writers, was that the Great Koala National Park was finally being established, an election promise made good, although there were a few questions about what will happen to the timber workers whose jobs will go, or be transferred into promised sustainable forestry.

Harriet Veitch, Acting letters editor

• To submit a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.
• The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform. Sign up here.