I read your article of Jan. 27 ("Some seniors upset about switch to electronic Social Security checks," news story) about seniors upset about the switch to electronic Social Security checks.

I am a senior citizen, not by choice, but by age. I am tired of the government pushing electronic and digital uses on me and other seniors trying to keep our heads above water.

Now, the government thinks every senior has money to buy and operate a computer. I can't afford a computer and don't want one. They have caused so much sin in the world. Why do young people and old put their life history on computers for all to see? Whatever happened to privacy?

I really don't see where computers are saving paper. I have sometimes gotten three or four more papers related to some transaction.

Please let us seniors have a say-so in these matters. After all, we have paid government workers' salaries for years. There's one word in the dictionary I would like to see thrown out: digital.

LOIS DEZELICH
BEDFORD

'Military-grade' isn't available to civilians

In Leonard Pitts' screed in his Feb. 7 column ("'Gun nuts' fantasies vs. real world tragedies"), he indicated he desired a "serious conversation" about gun control. Then in the middle of his column was this gem, "If we cannot restrict civilian ownership of military-grade weapons - the most controversial of the gun control policies advocated by the White House - can we restrict civilian ownership of Stinger missiles or tanks?"

Someone who knows as much as Pitts says he does surely knows "military-grade weapons" indicates "fully automatic weapons," which means that rounds are fired continuously until the trigger is released. He also must know fully automatic weapons have been banned from civilian ownership since 1934.

AR-15 rifles sold legally to civilians today are semi-automatic, meaning only one round is fired with each pull of the trigger. Whatever an AR-15 may look like, it cannot spray bullets a la John Rambo.

Pitts either is being intentionally deceptive or he is colossally ignorant. Either way, it is impossible to have a serious conversation with such an individual.

JON R. HARRIS
ROANOKE

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3 hours ago