Who Needs An Assault Rifle?

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I beg to differ with your assertion in the editorial, "Despair," that gun control would not have prevented the death of Tahliek Taliaferro. Reasonable gun-control measures just might have prevented this tragedy.

It has been reported that Taliaferro was killed by shots from an AK-47 assault rifle or one similar to an AK-47. The recent Supreme Court ruling acknowledged an individual's right to bear arms. It did nor recognize an individual's right to bear assault weapons.

I challenge anyone to tell me any legitimate reason for personal possession of an AK-47 or any other assault-type weapon. Better yet, tell it to the mother of Tahliek Taliaferro.

Kevin M. McGowan. Chesterfield.

Pols Must Increase The Gas Tax

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

No one disputes the need for more and better roads and expanded mass transit systems. We just can't seem to muster the political will to pay for them.

The General Assembly should have approved the gas tax proposal that cleared the Senate. This approach charges the cost of transportation to those who use it, in direct proportion to their use. What could be fairer?

Our political leaders can find their way to vote for the gas tax by remembering these points:

--Roads, like education and public safety, are clearly the responsibility of government. The public understands this -- and the need to pay for it.

--Since revenues from the gas tax flow directly into the Supplemental Highway Maintenance and Mass Transit Fund, it cannot be diverted to other uses.

-- The added six cents represents a 34 percent increase over the current 17.5 cent rate. But the price we pay for a gallon of gas is up 300-400 percent.

--The proposed 6-cent (over six years) increase in the Senate's bill pales when compared to the 10-cent per week run-up in gas prices.

The gas tax will certainly be campaign fodder. But a word for politicians: Don't be afraid. With food, clothes, and everything else going up because of skyrocketing oil prices, we will not hold it against you for a modest tax boost to pay for our roads.

O. Randolph Rollins. Richmond.

Global Warming Is A Plot to Control Us

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

In response to Noah Sachs' letter, "Climate Group Must Address Coming Crisis," I am wondering what crisis Sachs is addressing. Climate change is a natural phenomenon that is not caused by anything done by mankind. Trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist is futile.

Yes, the Earth has been warming, but this trend began more than 400 years ago -- after a cooling period called the Little Ice Age and before SUVs and coal-fired power plants. The foolish notion that CO2

is altering the climate is just that: foolish. At less than 4 percent of the atmosphere, CO 2 has no effect on the climate. The main greenhouse gas is water vapor, which, along with clouds, makes up 90 percent of the greenhouse effect. It is pure ignorance of how the climate works that causes people to believe whatever the environmental extremists and some fool politicians say.

It is the precipitation cycle that regulates the Earth's temperature. Warm air rises and condenses into clouds that then precipitate moisture in the form of rain or snow that cools the Earth. Water vapor and rain are the major climate control, not CO2 -- which, by the way, is heavier than air.

Of the gases in the atmosphere, nitrogen makes up 65 percent, oxygen 21 percent, and the remaining 10 percent are trace gases, of which CO2 makes up 40 percent.

The warming proponents are simply trying to control what we do, what we drive, where we live, and they want to make us feel guilty so they can tax us more.

Emmet Dene. Mechanicsville.

Payday Loan Act Isn't a Wise Compromise

Editor, Times-Dispatch

Regarding your editorial, "884," I would hardly call the compromise on payday lending wise, since it still allows lenders to charge outrageous amounts of interest (more than 300 percent) to their customers. Despite the best efforts of state Sen. Donald McEachin, Del. John O'Bannon, and several others, the legislature gave the payday lenders the weak reform they were hoping for.

The editorial on the 884 changes to the Virginia Code leads one to believe the changes to the Payday Loan Act took effect on July 1. The new law will not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2009. Please don't confuse the public. The payday industry spends lots of money confusing the issue -- they don't need any help.

Dana Wiggins. Richmond.