Warning labels are vital safety features

In his June 24 commentary, “Warning labels making Americans stupider,” John Stossel laments that there are so many warnings on consumer products that he “rarely bothers to read” them anymore.

But Mr. Stossel should look at the bright side. The presence of warnings on products “empowers” him with a choice he otherwise would not have: He can either read the warnings or ignore them at his peril.

Despite Mr. Stossel’s protestations, warnings (including seemingly unnecessary ones) are intended primarily to help prevent injuries and illnesses to those using consumer products. In turn, warnings secondarily help minimize product liability lawsuits against manufacturers.

Instead of ridiculing warnings, Mr. Stossel might consider that not everyone has his degree of education nor almost 70 years of life lessons that might make warnings on some products seem unnecessary.

For that reason, it is particularly irresponsible for Mr. Stossel to ridicule a warning on a child’s toy. However obvious the danger may be to a seasoned adult such as Mr. Stossel, such warnings could help educate and prevent injury to a less-experienced youngster playing with the toy.

Steve Danning

Las Vegas

Gun free?

The FBI defines “mass shooting” as any incident in which at least four people are murdered with a gun. Everytown for Gun Safety conducted a comprehensive analysis of every mass shooting between January 2009 and July 2015, through FBI and media reports.

The group found that 71 percent (94 of 133 incidents) took place wholly in private residences. Of the 38 incidents in public spaces, at least 21 took place wholly or in part where concealed guns could be lawfully carried. No more than 17 of the shootings (13 percent) took place in public spaces that were so-called “gun-free zones.”

By the way, have you noticed that there was an armed security guard at the club in Orlando? How does that work out for you, radical gun lovers?

Donald Silverman

Las Vegas

Nation of laws

In response to the June 24 story by the Review-Journal’s Alexander S. Corey, “Supreme Court tie vote blocks Obama immigration plan”:

Let’s tell the truth about what Mr. Obama and Democrats are trying to do. They are trying to add another 20 million registered Democrat voters. Mr. Corey’s last paragraph says it all when he quotes someone here illegally who says he’s “out there registering people to vote.”

Our government is divided into three branches: executive, judicial and legislative. The Constitution clearly spells out the powers of each branch. Mr. Obama broke the law by issuing executive orders overstepping his authority. If he were a Republican president, and Democrats had control of the House and Senate, he would have been impeached.

This is a country of laws. And if we the people don’t stand up for all of the laws, we will have chaos and revolution.

Gerald W. Mazur

Las Vegas

Ralston fan

In response to your Wednesday story, “Finances among reasons for Ralston’s firing”:

Jon Ralston is not “the new guy in town” and wasn’t when Vegas PBS hired him. Station officials knew exactly who they were getting and how he worked.

I watched Mr. Ralston interview three Democratic candidates recently. They all must have the same script writer and financial supporter. They knew nothing about the candidate they were trying to defeat, but they could all could say ugly things about him. Their script was either incomplete or they didn’t read it all.

When Mr. Ralston asked them about a bill their opponent had introduced and passed with bipartisan support, they were clueless. They are not intelligent people. They are puppets.

It’s important that you learn about and listen to all the candidates. Be very careful whom you vote for. Jon Ralston did his job.

Station General Manager Tom Axtell should be fired, because he is not telling the people the truth. I hope Jon Ralston stays in our state, and keeps stirring the pot.

Joyce Sorensen

Henderson