Readers Write (Oct. 16): Minnesota Lynx, Hillary Clinton, national politics, guns, zombies

It was great to see the front-page splash for the Minnesota Lynx on Oct. 15 after they won their third championship in five years, but would the Star Tribune give them more coverage the rest of the season?

I enjoy all of the Minnesota sports teams, but the Lynx are the greatest local professional sports team in my lifetime.

Give them more love, all season.

The grudging editorial "Clinton rebounds, but Biden bides time" (Oct 15) stands in contrast to most assessments of Hillary Rodham Clinton's debate performance this week. That's fine. But what is not fine is the denigration by insinuation in the editorial. It speaks of "doubts about her honesty," "an e-mail scandal," and "ethical issues that have dogged her campaign and career."

How is her use of personal e-mail a "scandal?" A mistake? She and the president say yes. A misjudgment? Probably. But where is the scandal? What was the malfeasance? Where were the larceny or nepotism or slander?

Enduring "ethical issues?" What are these? Are they cited? Are we back to Whitewater, a poor investment on which she lost money?

Doubts about her honesty? I may doubt the editorial's honesty, thinking it just another example of the media's obsession with "balance."

I disagree with the Oct. 15 letter writer who says that the president would be the one shutting down the government if he vetoes a bill that defunds Planned Parenthood.

Although I am not a fan of Planned Parenthood by any means, the Republican Party is the one forcing this issue, which does not have to be resolved now. It is irresponsible to bring this country to the brink over this one issue.

I do agree that the president should not veto the bill if it comes to his desk with that provision.

The truth is that both sides would share responsibility for a shutdown, but I think the GOP should just withdraw the defunding provision for now. The Planned Parenthood controversy can be addressed separately at a less-urgent time. If there is a shutdown, it will wind up being tabled anyway, so let's do so beforehand and get down to the business of running this nation.

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America prides itself on its form of democracy. We try to spread it throughout the world by democratizing other countries, yet at home, we do very little to participate in the very own democracy we created. During the Democratic presidential debate on Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders brought up the lack of voter turnout. Yes, Sanders is correct to say that America has one of the lowest voter turnouts. We should be grateful for having a participatory voice within our government while many other countries only hope to have a voice in their government one day. The American people should know what is going on in their government, but also what is going on in the world.

However, informing the public should not require the presidential race falling to a low level of entertainment. The rash comments made during the debates make our presidential race look like a joke to other countries. I wouldn't consider this to be informing the public about the government's policy but keeping Americans content with smiles.

Are we seriously going to force another country to build its own wall? Do we want to make jokes about other foreign leaders and destroy relations with foreign countries in order to amass votes? This race should not be a skit or act that you come up with to keep viewers coming back.

Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau misspoke when she said that "women aren't out in the streets resolving conflicts with guns; men are the ones resolving conflicts with guns" ("Violent crime edges up in Mpls.," Oct. 15).

Nobody resolves conflict with guns. Guns are the ultimate "shut up."

Chief Harteau needs to find another verb — "maximizing conflicts with guns" "participating in conflicts with guns" or "resorting to the use of guns in conflicts." Anything but "resolving."

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I read that some municipalities are considering paying armed guards to be in our schools. How would you pick these people? What is their skill set and training?

A suggestion: Contact the local American Legion, VFW and other veterans' organizations. There are almost 370,000 veterans in Minnesota.

We know the proper way to use a weapon. We've had months of training.

When we are released, a DD form 214 goes on file.

The DD 214 is a single sheet of paper showing our entire military record: How many commendations we received and for what. Were we honorably discharged or booted out? What training did we receive? Our government has done the background check.

I have four grandchildren still in school. You wouldn't have to pay me to watch over them, and many veterans feel the same. Most of us would consider protecting our children to be as much a privilege and an honor as we all took in serving our country.

Where do I sign up?

I've never understood the fascination with the grisly fantasy of zombies that, like its subjects, will seemingly not die ("Dead reckonings," Oct. 15). Don't we have enough trouble with the living to not need the endless repetition of this "we're dead — you can't kill us — and, oh, we'd like to eat your brain" shtick?