The Politics of Hate in Mesquite Last week immediately following the massacre in Orlando, an elected public official in this community took an opportunity to write an article for the right wing Mesquite Local News to promote guns rights rather than mourn the victims. First, it says something disturbingly unfavorable about the mind of a person who would take the time to pen an article promoting his view on guns while not saying one single word of compassion about the appalling murder of these victims. In this Christian community of the Virgin Valley, when do we become so politically motivated, we cannot stop for a moment to grieve for the deaths of fellow Americans? When we become so bigoted and hateful that we see this tragedy as an opportunity to promote a political point of view, it is indeed very disturbing. Of course, everyone has the right to express their point of view and freedom of speech but perhaps, our American Christian values teach maybe in light of this slaughter, we can put politics aside and mourn for the deaths of innocent people instead of perpetuating intolerance. I do not intend this as a comment on gun rights one way or the other, I do intend to say that an elected public official who is so desensitized to human suffering and so indoctrinated in political thought should consider how he fuels hatred and indifference in his speech. We can do better in this community. Robert Bishop Mesquite [Editor’s note: The letter’s author is referring to an article written by MLN columnist Mike Young available online under the “Point of View” column. Young is an elected official on the Overton Power District Board of Trustees.]