Second Amendment

Dear Editor: When a Congresswoman is shot in the head and nothing is done it reflects very poorly upon our priorities. I believe it's time to rewrite the Second Amendment so it reflects the thinking and capabilities of weaponry in 1789.

The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Arms are defined as single shot rifles or single action revolvers. Arms in 1789 were all single shot, and single action revolvers were just coming on the scene.

It would be hard for the NRA to object, especially as it clarifies the right to keep and bear arms. States could permit higher capacity weapons or not -- their choice. The only thing they could not restrict would be arms as defined by the amendment itself. Mental illness could be addressed by state law but I don't believe it has a place in our Constitution.

The militia is no longer relevant with our current National Guard.

James Thurber,

Mountain View

Avoid cow's milk



Consumption of dairy products -- laden with saturated fats, cholesterol, hormones and drugs -- elevates the risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. This is particularly critical during childhood years, when dietary flaws become lifelong addictions.






Peter Anatoli,

Palo Alto

Deadly delusions

Dear Editor: If further evidence were needed that President Barack Obama will lie to America virtually unhindered, the latest evidence is in. After famously saying "accountability" would occur for the Benghazi murder of four Americans, four State Department officials were fired or resigned. But it turns out none did. One shifted sideways to another State Department position and the others are on paid leave until they can be put into less visible jobs.

There is no limit to the number of Americans our State Department will sacrifice to keep their and any president's delusions intact. It now seems the death toll for these delusions includes State Department diplomats.

Norman P. Higby,

Menlo Park