Two recent editorials were quite provocative. One on guns and the other on abortion. Both very volatile subjects and very much in the news lately. What disturbed me a little in both pieces was the extreme views of the editor without even a mention of the other side’s views.On guns, no mention about the easy access to weapons designed for warfare by individuals who shouldn’t have any weapon at all. Or the need for updated national background checks whereby violent criminals can now bypass one state’s stringent policy by obtaining weapons in another’s more open one.In the editor’s diatribe on abortion, he starts out with the inflammatory accusation that Gavin Newsom wants to “Kill the baby.” The editor has the right to believe that and print his opinion of course, but most people see abortion as much more nuanced with many gray areas, and not so black and white.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');It appears the editor might believe all abortions should be outlawed, as some do, with no consideration of rape, incest, and life of the mother. We on the pro-choice side should maybe call his views “Kill the mother”? Instead of pro-life maybe his side should be pro-forced-birth?The one place I will agree with the editor however, is Governor Newsom trying to dismantle the death penalty. While there are issues with capital punishment, it should still remain as a valid sentence for the most violent murderers.Rick McNamerSmith River Editor’s note: There are numerous circumstances where abortion is justified; the health of the mother is certainly at the top of the list. My issues with abortion outside of those circumstances are, 1) abortion destroys an innocent human life with barely a thought or concern, 2) the fear of getting pregnant – a powerful disincentive for irresponsible sex – has been mitigated, 3) the attraction of marriage to a young couple in love is less compelling, and 4) the commercialization of abortion reinforces the emerging cultural norms that “anything goes if there’s money to be made; if it feels good, do it; live for today; me and only me” without regard for future consequences or the impact on others who matter.Let’s healthy babies a chance at life and save the death penalty for the violent murderers who Governor Newsom has chosen to spare. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });