Andy Balaskovitz (City Pulse, Jan 26, Guns, Violence and Politics) has researched the number of people with Concealed Pistol Licenses in the state and in Ingham County. He points out that in recent years there were thirty-four persons in the county who were victims of homicide by gunfire and fifty-eight who committed suicide with a gun.

1)"Anyone that’s got a suggestion on what gun law would have stopped him (Loughner), have them write into your paper." Fair enough. It is my understanding of the incident that Mr Loughner was finally stopped, by unarmed bystanders, during a point where he had to reload.

I was very angered by the article written by Gretchen Cochran in last week’s City Pulse (Will it take Superman to Fix Lansing’s Schools?). I am a teacher in the Lansing school district and, unlike some of the administrators and board members, I live in the city of Lansing.

A casino in downtown Lansing is a terrible idea (“Casino Lansing?” 1/5/11). The casino revenue generated to the tribes is only taxed at a federal level — nothing at either a state or local level.

The Waverly Road project is sorely needed for safe biking and walking. It is not a “path to nowhere,” as Senator Jones proclaims. This should be evident by the well worn “desire path” in the grass.

In your paper’s delightful Newsmaker’s of 2010 interviews - which highlighted the arts so clearly and wonderfully as being newsworthy - Chad Badgero’s interview with James Sanford highlighted, with ironical twists, the issues that were brought up in “An Artist’s Nightmare” at the Renegade Theatre Festival in 2010.

The article "Pause to reflect" (12/22/10) by Lawrence Cosentino did not make me pause and reflect; instead it pumped me up with enthusiasm. The issue of speech therapy gets a short shrift in the media, so I was heartened that the article talked so much about the great work being done at MSU’s Communicative Sciences and Disorders Department.

The State Police came to the correct conclusion: this was not a racist issue ("DWB ’unfounded’" 12/15/10). Let us once again review the facts: Quinney was speeding, and driving in an unsafe manner. The police officer passed him, a sort of non-verbal warning. Ungrateful, and anxious to get to an event, Quinney continued speeding.

Attendance and elections Obviously, Ms. Yorko believes she knows what’s best for Lansing, and that things around here are fine ("Yorko’s absences making her a political target?" 12/8/10). How else could you explain her 50% attendance at our City Council Meetings and continually voting against public hearings??? Apparently she thinks she was elected to collect a paycheck rather than actually listening to and representing the people of the 4th Ward.— Karen Carter

I was moved, as well as disgusted by Councilwoman Wood’s recent statements, "I guess that’s his [Mayor Bernero’s] idea of regionalism," adding that she has been asked by "regional study groups" to follow their lead with a moratorium.” (“Just Say No,” 12/1/10) Perhaps Councilwoman Wood has forgotten who she works for. She should keep in mind that she has no allegiance to any “regional study groups.” Rather, she answers to the citizens of Lansing, who obviously need to relieve her of her duties.