EPA reversing science, NYC shooting, flying the American flag

Does EPA care if it’s reversing science?

Lee Zeldin, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, wants to rescind the 2009 findings that carbon monoxide and greenhouse gases endanger the public health and welfare [“EPA plan raises concerns,” News, July 31]. The EPA seems to base its decisions on undoing everything previous presidents have accomplished.

This appears to be an act of ignorance. Is this what the Republican Party has become in its subservience to President Donald Trump?

Zeldin says, “There are people, who in the name of climate change, are willing to bankrupt the country.”

I say, “There are people in this country, who in the name of additional profit, are willing to destroy the world.”

The main argument of the right is that it costs money to save the planet and cuts into corporate profits. Corporations have built massive fortunes destroying the environment, but they apparently do not want to pay a small percentage of those profits to undo their damage. Meanwhile, a massive industry, creating new jobs, has grown up focusing on saving the planet.

All of the established science proves what is happening, but the Republicans simply do not seem to care. Their ignorance likely will kill us all.

— Robert Broder, Stony Brook

I feel like I’m in an episode of “The Twilight Zone.” We have a president who rules by whim and retribution and is attempting to ignore and overturn the Constitution that he has sworn to protect. We have a Republican Party that was once committed to reducing the cost and role of government and reducing taxes, but now seems to be massively increasing the deficit and attempting to control the education its citizens receive and the history they learn.

But the news that the EPA is attempting to revoke scientific data about the nature and causes of climate change is mind-boggling. That a government agency can simply wipe out scientific data with the stroke of a pen is, to me, the height of ignorance and arrogance.

They may try to deny the link between pollution and global warming, but the reality of the problem is unbearably high temperatures, spontaneous wildfires, and storms of the century that are becoming commonplace with destruction of life and property.

These events all demonstrate this illogical logic. When is enough enough?

— Karen Osterman, Port Washington

NYC shooting revives weapons-ban dispute

Another mass shooting with an assault weapon. NYPD Officer Didarul Islam was killed because of an AR-15, not a knife, not poison, not a car, not even a handgun [“Hochul calls for nat’l assault weapons ban,” News, July 30]. He was killed wearing his bulletproof vest because of the power of an AR-15.

Let’s try to prevent the next shooting. Yes, there will be a next one. Ban assault weapons now. For those who constantly claim we have sufficient laws, I note that this shooter wrote that he had a psychological illness, and he was even confined to a mental hospital, yet was still approved for a Concealed Carry Permit.

— Jim Kiernan, Holbrook

I am a former Vietnam combat veteran who used a similar weapon like the AR-15 except these weapons are far deadlier than the weapon I used in Vietnam.

I strongly believe in the Second Amendment. I also feel that civilians should never have access to military-style weapons. These weapons were designed for and only to be used by our military in combat situations and never to be used by American citizens to hurt or kill innocent men, women, and children on American soil.

— John Lannan, Wantagh

My heart goes out to the four victims. As usual, Democrats jumped on the bandwagon calling for an assault weapons ban they think will stop the shootings.

More than 24 million AR-15s and similar style rifles are already legally owned in the United States and in circulation, according to a 2022 estimate by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Our Democratic leaders and their party are continually making poor assumptions. An assault weapons ban to stop these shootings would be another one.

— Steven F. Cassidy, Franklin Square

I’m a veteran who says fly your flags

A reader is correct in expressing concern that people in her community are complaining about those who fly the American flag by their homes [“Flying the flag is truly patriotic,” Musings, July 28].

As a veteran and patriotic American, I feel strongly that our flag should fly on our land. I say that people who have a problem with that don’t belong here. To me, it is simple common sense.

— Kenneth P. Lebeck, Plainview