Opinion Line (Oct. 10)

Scientists have discovered an extinct tree-climbing human who walked with a swagger. There is a Texas joke hiding in there somewhere.

In the wake of another school massacre, the Republicans claim a newfound interest in mental health as opposed to sensible regulation of firearms. Of course, they won’t lift a finger to make it available to those who need it, but they do have the concern.

If gun-free zones work, then why do most all the mass shootings occur in such places? If gun control works, then why does Chicago lead the nation in gun violence?

I must own the laziest gun in America. It never loads itself and never aims at anyone or pulls its own trigger, as the media suggest all guns can do.

Jimmy Fallon isn’t as funny as Jay Leno. Stephen Colbert isn’t as funny as David Letterman. Thank goodness we have the Republican Party to help fill the national comedy deficit.

Democratic socialism may work for people who have given up all hope. I’ll stick to the 1 percent who somehow manage to be successful.

Asked how to fix poverty, a Wichita billionaire recently called for criminal-justice reform and eliminating barriers to low-income people starting businesses or getting jobs. That is wrong. Absence of fathers in families is the main cause of poverty, poor performance in school, gangs and crime.

This hullabaloo about WSU’s chapel is shameful. God, please save me from Christians in name only.

WSU made a big mistake by removing the chapel pews. That was a direct insult to Christians. OK, so add a Muslim rug in the corner, but do not take out symbols of Christianity just to please pushy Muslims who continue to overtake our land and my personal Christian values.

I get removing the pews at Grace Chapel so that movable seating can be used interchangeably with Muslim prayer rugs. But there was no reason to remove the altar, and that should be reinstalled. Christians require that as their accommodation.

Where are the atheists and ACLU complaining about the Muslims praying at WSU?

Wait a minute – Gregg Marshall was supposed to increase exposure and attract new students to WSU. Enrollment is down. Maybe we should tie his contract to new students, not wins. After all, isn’t it about the education and not the wins?

Does anyone associated with the Prairie Fire Marathon understand what an inconvenience it is to downtown churches to run that race on a Sunday morning? The route makes it nearly impossible unless one parks several blocks away. Clergy, musicians and other staff can’t stay home. We have to be there.

This story was originally published October 9, 2015 at 7:03 PM with the headline "Opinion Line (Oct. 10)."