Readers Write: Feb. 21

Kristof’s straw man argument fails

Nicholas D. Kristof deploys an army of straw men — and risky straw husbands, ladders, bathtubs, and stairs — in his attack on President Trump and guns and in supporting refugees coming to our country. His (“In terms of risk, husbands are deadlier than terrorists,” Opinion, Feb. 16) warns “let’s not be diverted by shiny things and furious tweets” of Trump. Meanwhile, he throws out as many shiny objects as he can in 500-plus words to distract attention from the fact that people voluntarily have husbands and use ladders, bathtubs, and stairs, but few would volunteer to be blown up by a terrorist wearing a suicide vest. If those like Kristof are going to fight President Trump’s attempts to assure foreigners coming here wish us no harm, perhaps Americans’ legal access to guns is more crucial now than ever.

GREGORY MARSHALL, MARIETTA

Where is senators’ response on security?

I am gravely concerned about our national security, but Georgia’s senators doesn’t seem to take these issues seriously.

In the past week, credible news services reported that Trump had open discussions in a restaurant at Mar-a-Lago about North Korea which other diners recorded and photographed. Michael Flynn resigned as national security advisor for what may be treasonous communications with Russia which were known by others in the government for weeks, if not months. Recently, several media sources are reporting that the Pentagon might propose ground troops to Syria, which would likely escalate wars in the Middle East.

In the face of these issues, Georgia senators have no credible response. These issues of national security are neither Republican nor Democrat. They are American. Trump’s pledge was to make America great. Instead, he’s jeopardizing our security. Tragically, our senators watch passively from the sidelines.

THE REV. LOU KAVAR, ATLANTA