Wow, a cartoonist actually compared guns to Planned Parenthood? [View all]

[alp227]

I don't read the print version of my local paper but subscribe to the RSS feeds of the local news and letters to the editor sections. I noticed several letters complaining about a particular cartoon. So I ran a google search and what do I know...



(In fact my paper endorsed Obama for president and generally supports the liberal side of most issues but also publishes people like Charles Krauthammer or Victor Davis Hanson as well. And toons from hacks like Benson. Oh, not to mention that the Washington Post Writers Group employs both Krauthammer and Benson!)

One letter to be published Sunday says:

The artist equates women who make private decisions about their lives and their health (Planned Parenthood) with mass murderers who have picked up weapons to kill people in public spaces (gun violence). There is no comparison here, just vicious stupidity and ignorance.

Planned Parenthood has a long history of supporting women's health and choices, of which only a part is reproductive health. I have no doubt that without Planned Parenthood we would have a much higher abortion rate.

And Monday's LTTE section had two differing views. Decide for yourself which one was more rational.

The cartoon on the editorial page (Opinion, Jan. 11) was worth more than a thousand words to put into perspective the headlines of the day regarding lives lost to gun violence. Too many of course, but where is the public and government hysteria about the many more lives tossed through abortion which never receive media coverage, national mourning, or even acknowledgment of existence?

I was appalled at the Lisa Benson editorial cartoon (Opinion, Jan. 11). It is not only tasteless, but it is also divisive and vindictive. It continues the contention that Planned Parenthood is primarily an abortion provider when its primary focus is to provide health care for women of all ages in the areas of breast health, family planning and other health needs. Comparing gun violence to Planned Parenthood is a cop out. Please discontinue printing Lisa Benson's cartoons.