Jackson deserves Blago-length sentence
Letters to the Editor February 18, 2013 6:32PM
In this frame grab from video, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio takes a sip of water during his Republican response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo)
Updated: March 20, 2013 6:22AM
It will be interesting to see what form of justice is handed to Jesse Jackson Jr. following the deal he worked out with the feds. With hard evidence that he misappropriated campaign funds to the tune of $750,000 to support a lavish lifestyle for himself and his spouse, his sentence should be no less than 14 years. Ex-governor Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years though his crime involved no money changing hands.
I still have a hard time understanding how Blagojevich got 14 years when his predecessor, George Ryan, who surely won the political corruption race, got only six years. A high deree of subjectivity comes into play in determining sentences. Maybe Rod made one too many television appearances and taunted federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald one too many times.
John F. Livaich, Oak Lawn
Guns plague every neighborhood
Those of us who live in the “better” areas of Chicago may be appalled at the gun violence that kills young people on other streets, but we feel somewhat secure in our neighborhoods. However, I read in the Sun-Times about an armed robbery early Monday at a Subway in the Loop. The article mentioned recent armed robberies in Lincoln Park and River North. Any one of those could have ended in death. There are too many guns on all our streets and they are not acquired here. Laws in nearby states are not strict and weapons purchased by unqualified people are brought here.
I ask my fellow citizens to call on our Congress to pass federal universal background checks so that no criminal can drive across the border to buy a gun that he brings back here to commit crimes. Now is the time to enact and enforce laws that make use safe.
Eileen G. Soderstrom,
West Rogers Park
Roger Simon on Saturday took up an entire page to write about Senator Marco Rubio taking a drink of water during his response to President Obama’s State of the Union Address, Simon stated “was this a supremely trivial event? — Absolutely!” And I’d add that the column, filling a whole page, was “supremely trivial.”
Donald J. Lazo, Gage Park
