Michael Pretti via AP This undated photo provided by Michael Pretti shows Alex J. Pretti, the man who was shot by a federal officer in Minneapolis on Jan. 24. (Michael Pretti via AP)
Bronx: The decision of Alex Pretti to bring a concealed firearm to a volatile confrontation with federal agents contributed greatly to his sad and tragic demise. The notion that he was there to simply document the events with his phone is undermined by video from a week and a half earlier that shows him aggressively inserting himself into a situation by cursing and spitting at the agents before kicking out the taillight of their vehicle as they’re attempting to depart.
He wasn’t protesting peacefully, he was agitating violently. He was advancing, not retreating as is required by Minnesota’s “Duty to Retreat” law. At the very least, it was highly irresponsible and made no legal or ethical sense, especially given his recent history, to bring a concealed firearm to an emotional conflict with law enforcement.
He should have been arrested and charged after the earlier encounter, which likely would have caused the revocation of his carry permit. Instead, he was identified as a threat during the later encounter because he was carrying the gun, which resulted in the use of deadly force against him by the agents.
At the same time, had local police been on the scene at these events to maintain order while ensuring that the protest remained peaceful, Pretti would likely still be alive today. But the mayor and governor deliberately withheld the local cops because the ensuing chaos drives their political agenda, which is why they ultimately bear responsibility for this entire tragic and senseless debacle. Charles T. Compton
Deer Park, L.I.: To Voicer Danette Lipten: You should get your facts straight. You used the term “peaceful opposition” in your letter. I saw a video of Pretti kicking out a taillight. That is not peaceful opposition in any way, shape or form. He should have been arrested and not killed. However, he used poor judgment bringing a licensed firearm to a demonstration. Larry Nekola
Howard Beach: File this under “Did he really say that?” President Trump said Pretti could be considered an insurrectionist because he kicked the taillight of an ICE agents car. Trump called the rioters on Jan. 6 patriots and heroes after they attacked and beat up Capitol Police officers. Hard not to believe that this man is not mentally ill. Barbara Berg
Far Rockaway: To Voicer Tom Ascher: How dare you disparage the memory of the victims: Renee Good, Keith Porter Jr. and Alex Pretti. These people were killed by ICE and Border Patrol agents who were inadequately trained and should not have been hired in the first place. The “left’s hatred of Trump” did not cause their deaths. My condolences to their families, since you are not man enough to say it. Ora Reed
Dover, Del.: Voicer Tom Ascher failed to mention that President Barack Obama did deport folks using ICE, but they used proper procedures. Never did they randomly stop American citizens requesting papers! Each and every person was served with papers, and the court system was used to deport those with criminal convictions never shooting folks after terrorizing entire neighborhoods. They never just grabbed families and those going through the process of becoming citizens. Chalky White
Manalapan, N.J.: If you’ve ever watched an old war movie, perhaps Gregory Bovino’s uniform looks familiar. Black shirt, shiny leather Sam Browne belt, silver trim. If he asks for your papers, listen for a faint German accent. Joe Fontanelli
Peters Township, Pa.: It is bitterly disappointing that the alleged killer of young husband and father Brian Thompson will not suffer execution , the ultimate penalty for what was a cold-blooded, vicious, targeted assassination. If that’s not first-degree murder, which qualifies one to be forced to sacrifice their life, I do not know what would be. God help us if murderous vigilantism becomes the norm in this country; that when we do not like someone or how their company has acted, we gun them down. An example should have been set, an execution to take place in close proximity to conviction rather than 20, 30 or 40 years later. Oren Spiegler
Merion Station, Pa.: Theres only one word to describe the reduction of child molester Nechemya Webermans 50-year sentence to 18 : “shanda,” a Yiddish word meaning disgrace. Obviously, this word applies to Weberman, but it also applies to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and Assistant DA Joseph Alexis, who initially considered letting Weberman go free after he had served only 15 years. Shanda also applies to members of the Satmar community who continue to support Webermans release despite his admission in court that he molested an underage girl. A sentence of 18 years further adds to the victims pain, as 18, meaning life in Hebrew, symbolizes the pain that Webermans crimes will continue inflicting on her for the remainder of her life. Paul L. Newman
Bellerose: Homeless people died from the freezing cold during Winter Storm Fern. The homeless are people too! Mayor Mamdani understands that only too well and seeks to do more to help them, but more must be done. I understand what they’re going through because I’ve been in that situation. I was homeless in 1975 after my service in the U.S. Navy ended after the Vietnam War. I had no one who could help me. It was February. I was cold and had sores on my body from not bathing. I was alone and depressed. But a stranger named Cyril offered a place to stay and a chance to get on my feet. We have veterans and people with mental health issues and drug problems who don’t get the help they need. Our government has a responsibility to help these homeless people in the bitter cold or they will surely die. Frederick Robert Bedell Jr.
Bronx: First, Optimum cable no longer aired Spectrum NY1 News last year. Then their NBA contract expired. Now Optimum’s MLB contract is also not available. So in essence, subscribers have less and less. I’m wondering what will be taken away next. I don’t think Verizon is available in my neighborhood. Maybe Spectrum. Eric Cummings Jr.
Brooklyn: When I heard that Catherine O’Hara died at 71 , I felt sad. I remember going to see “Home Alone” and “Beetlejuice” with my sons. Both of them loved those movies. My son Patrick is now in Heaven since 2007. Frankie and he used to tease me and say I was a lot like the mother in “Home Alone.” A compliment, not a dig, as Catherine put real authenticity into her role. She was the same age as I am. I still see her on the commercials with Kevin Hart. Her performance was heavenly. The two sons she raised should take pride in knowing how many lives she touched. Now Heaven is a little fuller, yet Earth is emptier because we lost a true mother figure. May she rest in peace, and may the memories shared with her give strength to her family and friends. Sharon Cesario
New Windsor, N.Y.: To Voicer Gina Touissant: I had tears in my eyes when I read your letter about your father. There’s a Yiddish word we use for people like him, and that word is “mensch.” He sounds like the kind we’d love to have conversation and coffee with. The very best to your father, and many more. Happy birthday, Mr. Touissant, and welcome to the centenarian club, my friend (I’m only 40 years away). God bless. Todd Schuster
布朗克斯区：亚历克斯·普雷蒂（Alex Pretti）在与联邦探员发生激烈冲突时携带隐蔽枪支的决定，很大程度上导致了他可悲且悲惨的死亡。他声称自己只是用手机记录事件的这一说法，被一周半前的视频所驳斥。视频显示，他曾以辱骂和向探员吐口水的方式强行介入事态，并在探员试图离开时踢坏了他们车辆的尾灯。
他并非在进行和平抗议，而是在煽动暴力。他非但没有按照明尼苏达州“退避义务”法的要求后退，反而不断向前逼近。考虑到他近期的不良记录，在情绪激动的执法冲突中携带隐蔽枪支，这种行为至少是极不负责任的，既不符合法律也不符合道德准则。
在早先的冲突后，他就应该被逮捕并起诉，这很可能会导致他的持枪许可证被吊销。然而，在随后的冲突中，他因携带枪支被认定为威胁，导致特工对他使用了致命武力。
与此同时，倘若当地警方当时在场维持秩序，并确保抗议活动保持和平，普雷蒂（Pretti）或许至今仍在人世。然而市长和州长却故意不派出当地警察，因为随之而来的混乱正符合他们的政治意图——这也正是他们最终要为这场彻头彻尾的悲剧性闹剧承担责任的原因。查尔斯·T·康普顿（Charles T. Compton）
纽约鹿园镇致信丹妮特·利普顿：你应当弄清事实。你在信中使用了“和平反对”一词。但我看过普雷蒂踢碎车尾灯的录像，这无论如何都称不上是和平反对。他本应被逮捕而非击毙。然而，他持合法枪支参加示威活动确实判断失误。 ——拉里·内科拉
霍华德海滩：这件事可以归类为“他真这么说了吗？”特朗普总统称普雷蒂可以被视为叛乱分子，因为他踢了一名移民与海关执法局（ICE）探员的车尾灯。而在1月6日暴乱者袭击并殴打国会警察后，特朗普却称这些暴徒为爱国者和英雄。很难不让人怀疑此人精神是否正常。——芭芭拉·伯格
远洛克威：致评论员汤姆·阿舍：你怎敢诋毁逝者雷妮·古德、小基思·波特和亚历克斯·普雷蒂的名誉？他们是被移民海关执法局及边境巡逻队未达标的警员杀害——这些人本就不该被录用。所谓“左派对特朗普的仇恨”与他们的死亡毫无关联。既然你没有勇气致哀，就由我向遇难者家属表达哀悼。奥拉·里德
特拉华州多佛市：评论员汤姆·阿舍（Tom Ascher）未提及的是，巴拉克·奥巴马（Barack Obama）总统确实通过移民海关执法局（ICE）实施了驱逐，但遵循了正当程序。他们从未随意拦截美国公民索要证件！所有被驱逐者均收到正式文书，且仅通过司法系统驱逐有刑事定罪记录者——而非在恐吓整个社区后开枪射杀民众。他们也从未粗暴抓捕家庭或正处于入籍程序中的人。 ——查基·怀特（Chalky White）
新泽西州马纳拉潘：如果你曾看过老战争片，格雷戈里·博维诺（Gregory Bovino）的制服或许会让你觉得眼熟。黑色衬衫、锃亮的皮革萨姆·布朗腰带、银色镶边。若他要求你出示证件，你还能听出一丝淡淡的德国口音。 ——乔·丰塔内利（Joe Fontanelli）
宾夕法尼亚州彼得斯镇：被指控杀害年轻丈夫和父亲布莱恩·汤普森（Brian Thompson）的凶手将不会面临死刑，这一结果令人极度失望。这起冷血、恶毒且有预谋的刺杀本应受到最严厉的惩处。如果这都不构成一级谋杀——足以让凶手付出生命代价的罪行，那我不知道还有什么能算得上。若杀人暴行在这个国家成为常态——仅仅因为不喜欢某人或其公司的行为就开枪射杀，愿上帝保佑我们。本应树立一个榜样，在定罪后尽快执行死刑，而非拖延20、30甚至40年。 ——奥伦·斯皮格勒（Oren Spiegler）
宾夕法尼亚州梅里恩站：对于儿童性侵犯者内赫米亚·韦伯曼（Nechemya Weberman）的刑期从50年减至18年，只有一个词可以形容——意第绪语中的“shanda”，意为耻辱。显然，这个词不仅适用于韦伯曼本人，也适用于布鲁克林地区检察官埃里克·冈萨雷斯（Eric Gonzalez）和助理检察官约瑟夫·亚历克西斯（Joseph Alexis），他们最初甚至考虑让韦伯曼仅服刑15年就获释。此外，那些在韦伯曼当庭承认性侵未成年少女后仍支持其获释的萨特马尔社区成员，同样配得上“shanda”一词。18年的刑期进一步加深了受害者的痛苦，因为在希伯来语中，18象征生命，这预示着韦伯曼的罪行将在她的余生中持续带来伤害。 ——保罗·L·纽曼（Paul L. Newman）
贝勒罗斯：在冬季风暴‘费恩’期间，无家可归者因严寒而丧生。无家可归者同样是人！市长曼达尼对此深有体会，并努力为他们提供更多帮助，但还需采取更多措施。我理解他们的处境，因为我曾亲身经历过。1975年越战结束后，我从美国海军退役后无家可归。当时无人能帮助我。那是二月，我浑身冰冷，因无法洗澡而满身疮痍。我孤独而绝望。但一位名叫西里尔的陌生人给了我栖身之所和重新站起来的机会。如今，我们还有退伍军人、心理健康问题患者和吸毒者得不到所需的帮助。政府有责任在严寒中救助这些无家可归者，否则他们必将丧命。小弗雷德里克·罗伯特·比德尔
布朗克斯区居民小埃里克·卡明斯反映：先是Optimum有线电视去年停播了Spectrum NY1新闻频道，随后其NBA赛事转播权到期，如今连MLB赛事合约也无法收看。用户享有的服务实质上正不断缩水，真不知道接下来还会失去什么。据我所知，附近区域并未覆盖Verizon服务，或许只能选择Spectrum。
布鲁克林：听闻凯瑟琳·欧哈拉以71岁高龄离世，我深感悲痛。记得曾与儿子们一同观看《小鬼当家》和《阴间大法师》，他们都对这两部电影喜爱有加。我的儿子帕特里克自2007年便已在天堂安息。他和弗兰基过去常打趣说我像极了《小鬼当家》里的母亲——这绝非调侃而是赞美，因为凯瑟琳将角色演绎得真实动人。她与我同龄，如今我仍能在凯文·哈特的广告中见到她的身影。她的表演宛若天使。她养育的两个儿子应当为母亲感动过无数生命而自豪。如今天堂多了份温暖，人间却因失去这位真正的母亲形象而愈发空寂。愿她安息，愿与她共度的回忆给予亲友力量。 ——莎伦·塞萨里奥
纽约州新温莎：致投稿人吉娜·图森特：读到您关于父亲的来信时，我热泪盈眶。意第绪语中有个词专用来形容他这样的人——"门施"（意为品德高尚之人）。他听起来正是那种我们会渴望与之畅谈共饮咖啡的长者。向您父亲致以最美好的祝福，愿他福寿绵长。图森特先生生日快乐，欢迎加入百岁俱乐部（我还差40年才能加入呢）。愿上帝保佑您。托德·舒斯特
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