#Letters to the Editor — April 24, 2021

The Issue: The shooting of Ma’khia Bryant by a Columbus, Ohio, cop as she tried to stab another girl.

No matter what action police officers take, the matter is scrutinized, suggesting alternate actions to resolve the situation. The Ohio incident is a case in point (“Cop kills teen ‘stabber,’ ” April 21).

The second-guessing continues unabated. No doubt the perpetrator’s intent to inflict serious bodily harm is evident in the photographs taken at the scene showing the perp lunging forward with a knife. The police arrive and must take action with no time to spare.

John Gargiulo

Whitestone

I can’t believe in this country people are claiming that the police should have stood back and allowed teens to have their knife fight, as if it’s a part of growing up.

What kind of topsy-turvy world are we living in? I don’t want to live in a neighborhood where police can’t protect us from violent, armed individuals.

It’s interesting that the left is trying to ban rifles while chastising police for breaking up knife fights, even though way more people are killed by knives than rifles in this country.

Steve Preziosa

Deptford, NJ

LeBron James interjected racism when he posted an irresponsible, dangerous tweet to his millions of followers on Twitter before he had all the facts (“Lebron hits backlash,” April 23).

James identified the ­officer involved in the Columbus, Ohio, police shooting with the officer’s image, saying, “YOU’RE NEXT #ACCOUNTABILITY.”

James incited violence against the police officer.

It was clear the officer protected a young lady from getting stabbed. Anyone who thinks this police officer wanted to shoot the young lady wielding the knife is crazy.

Would the young lady being assaulted be alive today if not for the cop’s action?

LeBron, if this was one of your kids, what would you want the cop to do?

Michael Hart

Kokomo, Ind.

Ma’Khia Bryant’s death was a tragedy for everyone involved. But she put herself in that position when she decided to carry a knife.

She stopped being 16 years old when she pulled a knife and tried to stab the girl in the pink outfit. At that point, she became an armed felon committing a violent crime.

This is what the officer saw when he responded to the scene. He had to stop Bryant from stabbing the other girl. He should not be demonized for saving the other girl.

Gary Acerra

Staten Island

LeBron James’ only talent is bouncing a ball. His opinion on real-life events is worthless and irrelevant to any educated person. Unfortunately, his ignorant and racist opinions on matters seem to hold sway with a substantial number of people.

His latest tweet included a photograph of the Columbus police officer (whose quick, heroic actions saved the life of a young black girl) and the caption read: “YOU’RE NEXT,” an insinuation the cop should be locked up for murder. James’ stupidity and racism clearly have no bounds

Thomas Urban

Wantagh

We don’t need lefty Marxists dictating what the state of policing is and should be. To think that any fair-minded person would have a problem with a cop shooting a perpetrator who had knife in hand, about to lunge at another person, is beyond belief.

Saul J. Mishaan

Brooklyn

Words, like behavior and actions, have consequences, something James is a bit slow to comprehend.

If you need a ball to sink a basket, LeBron is your man. If you are looking for logical, rational, fact-based thinking, best look elsewhere. LeBron is missing shots.

Theresa Caso-O’Brien

Melville