WS Chronicle

Discussion about access to weapons, mental health is needed

To the Editor:

Our hearts and spirits are challenged again with innocent citizens being the victims of unimaginable violence. The root of violence begins with one person failing to see human value in another person and consciously plans to do harm.

The level of harm is directly paralleled to access to weapons. Why is there immediate denial of the link between mental health and weapons of mass destruction? Would the concert participants in Nevada or the people of faith in Texas been subjected to historically multiple deaths if the weapons had not been used? Can people of good will have an open discussion on the link between access to weapons and the state of mental health in our country without demonizing each other?

Perhaps the citizens of the States should take the lead in these discussions because the federal politicians seem unable or willing to even have a dialog on an issue that’s literally killing innocent people over and over again.

“We the people, in order to form a more perfect union ” must act.

Fleming El-Amin, Winston-Salem

Note: Fleming El-Amin is a Forsyth County commissioner.

Black on black crime hurts real people

To the Editor,

In 1979, I opened a small tavern and business was good and within a year I added space to accommodate the increase in customers.

Then things started happening. First a break-in by a black man, then two shootings by black men that ruined my business and caused me to sell out.

I received my CLD license to drive a school bus. During my 12 years of driving, I would give students money for making good grades, lunch and I gave a little girl an overcoat.

I also saved a kid’s life using the hymnal method.

Prince Ibraham Elementary School and Mt. Zion Church gave me a certificate for doing what I did.

Then my black supervisor accused me of talking on the cell phone while driving. I was dismissed. I never had a cell phone, not then and not now. Two years prior to me being dismissed, cell phones were issued to all bus drivers.

Then I was charged with a misdemeanor and hired a prominent black attorney and paid him in advance and he never showed up in my defense.

To quote my elementary school teacher, “We are like crabs in a barrel, when one is almost out, another one will pull it back in.”

Will we ever learn?

Alvin Little, Winston-Salem