Unjust release
President Joe Biden’s commutation of murderer Leonard Peltier’s life sentence is a stab in the back to every law enforcement officer in the country. In 1975, FBI agents Ron Williams and Jack Coler were engaged in a fugitive search at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota when ambushed by Peltier and others. Both agents were wounded and Peltier executed them at point-blank range. A jury found Peltier guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced him to two consecutive life terms. He escaped from Lompoc Penitentiary in 1979, during which he assaulted a corrections officer and then committed an armed robbery. He subsequently received an additional seven-year sentence.
Activists have tried for years to get Peltier pardoned but every president, Democrat and Republican, refused to do so. The U.S. Parole Commission has repeatedly denied his parole requests. In December, 36 congressional lawmakers signed a letter to Biden, urging him to grant clemency to Peltier. Fifty years after the fact, they questioned the evidence in the case. These lawmakers speak of mercy, fairness and compassion, yet not a word about Williams and Coler or their families. What was not included speaks volumes: The life of a murderer is more important than that of two FBI agents and their families.
Peltier is a ruthless murderer who has shown a complete lack of remorse for his crimes. It’s an injustice to commute his sentence.
Shame on Biden. How many times has he said, let’s thank our brave law enforcement, first responders and military men and women? Let’s hope future presidents and lawmakers show some backbone and actually support our law enforcement community. They can start by not releasing remorseless killers.
Larry Torrence, former special agent in charge, FBI Norfolk Division, Virginia Beach
Safe storage
Children in the United States die by gun death more than disease. It is a stunning statistic. Suicides are the highest percentage, followed by accidental deaths — an unintended consequence of owning a gun. The most helpful way to curb this statistic is to store our firearms safely. Safely means unloaded and locked in a secure safety box or locker.
The consequences of unsafe storage are many and painful. Children who shoot and kill friends or family members are marked tragically for the rest of their lives. No one wants to have their families experience such a tragedy.
Steve Dowdy, owner of Bob’s Gun Shop in Norfolk, is initiating a safe storage program called “Pause To Protect.” With support from gun shops and gun owners, we can protect our families to change these tragic statistics with intentional protection, safety and great relief.
Sara Miller, Norfolk
America’s first king
With the pardon of the 1,600 criminals who stormed the U.S. Capitol, President Donald Trump and his handler Elon Musk clearly believe he is a king. Let him be known as Eldon the First. Truly a sad day for democracy.
Julian Facenda, Norfolk
Government spies
I just learned from former coworkers in the federal government that they are being asked to spy on their coworkers. A letter was sent to each informing them of the death of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs and their responsibility to report all DEI activities by coworkers. The letter says, “… failure to report this information within 10 days may result in adverse consequences.”
This is not Stasi-era East Germany. This is completely un-American and must be stopped immediately before it morphs into something worse or becomes ingrained. The American people do not rat on each other for any king, dictator or political party.
George H. Fleming, Williamsburg