reader letters Should We Do More? In response to the editor’s letter regarding the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting, “Should We Do More?” [December]: Absolutely! We should do much more. But I think you’re wrong in measuring what we should “do” in terms of monetary compensation to victims by the public. According to published reports, thousands of Americans—almost 200 of them children— have been killed in the United States by firearms since the tragedy in Newtown. Americans should demand and demand and demand action in the form of legislation by their elected officials. Criminal background safety checks and vigorous prosecution of illegal gun trafficking threaten no Second Amendment rights and should be enacted immediately. Polls indicate that large majorities of the American public support this action. In your editorial, you conclude that every victim of a crime that takes place in a public institution should not be compensated, but that those of Newtown should be. I disagree. As horrific as Newtown was, I believe that it was unique only in the scale of the tragedy—the number of victims in one place at one time. But was the loss of each victim more of a loss, more tragic, more “deserving” of compensation than others? I don’t believe you’ve made that case. As far as Penn State is concerned, there is strong evidence that the criminal behavior was ongoing over an extended period of time that was known by individuals in the employ of the university who failed to act in the defense of children who were brutally victimized—I believe that justifies the compensation awards. Comparisons with Newtown are not valid. The best memorial to the children and teachers of Newtown would be the enactment of measures to try to assure that such a tragedy never happens again. Richard Bowen via email Campaign Cash In response to the story on political campaign finance [“PAC and Play,” December], it’s stated, “Rose agrees, adding that post elections have been won and lost on television, and that will continue to be the case.” What races? McMahon vs. Murphy? No. Foley vs. Malloy? No. Did TV make the difference in the Esty-Roraback race? Has TV make a difference in any congressional or statewide race in Connecticut recently? Kenny Charles via connecticutmag.com