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Abbott forgets legal career

Re: Abbott, Leave Verdict Alone Seeking pardon for convicted murderer undermines Texas judicial system and plays to social media mobs, April 16 editorial.

This editorial asking for Gov. Greg Abbott to let Daniel Perrys verdict stand was a breath of fresh air. As you wrote, with all the governors previous experience as a Texas attorney general and Texas Supreme Court justice, one would think he has more respect for the role that the judges and juries play in our legal system.

Apparently, Abbott decided to forget all that once now-former Fox News host Tucker Carlson spewed his nightly vitriol. Now that Carlson is gone, will Abbott change his mind?

Hans Voorn, Frisco

Well said was the statement in this editorial that Gov. Greg Abbotts decision is a dangerous step away from justice.

The state government of Texas has been gutting local government for a long time, and this latest premature announcement of a proposed pardon by Abbott is simply another nail in the coffin.

Aram Azadpour, Grapevine

Lets look at why Gov. Greg Abbott is so eager to pardon Daniel Perry. If Abbott had not changed our laws to allow for anyone to carry any firearm in a public place, would this murder have taken place? When Abbott enacted the open carry law, many police chiefs across the state reacted with there is no way to know the good guys from the bad guys because anyone can walk around with a publicly displayed weapon.

So the facts are: 1. If military-style weapons were banned, this would not have happened. And 2. If open carry of any weapon was not a right in the state of Texas, this would not have happened.

Lets place the blame on where this all started, with Abbott passing laws that the majority of Texans do not support.

Lynette Goodson, Longview

I was hoping for balanced coverage from The Dallas Morning News, but in this case thats apparently not going to occur. Recently you published four letters opposing Gov. Greg Abbotts proposed pardon of Sgt. Daniel Perry, and also an editorial in the same vein. I waited for two days, hoping that a letter or an editorial with an opposing viewpoint would be published.

To summarize: a belligerent individual, openly carrying a firearm, blocking streets, approached a vehicle containing Perry. This individual reportedly refused to leave after he was asked to do so. The issue escalated directly because of the behavior of the protester and Perry fired on him.

Nothing else is relevant. If that protester had been acting alone, attacking Perrys vehicle, there would be no doubt that this was a hostile and belligerent act of aggression. Being a participant in a protest/riot does not change this. I am appalled and disgusted that Perry was convicted in spite of the circumstances.

I fully and completely support Abbotts decision to pardon Perry, who should never have been convicted in the first place.

Olan Knight, Murphy

Re: Killers racist rants detailed Man convicted of shooting armed protester had history of posts targeted at Black people, April 15 Metro & Business story.

After the new information came out about Daniel Perry, the convicted murderer of a Black Lives Matter protester, regarding his racist memes and social media messages, I am even more outraged by Gov. Greg Abbotts quick decision to pardon him. It is clear from this pardon that our governor is not a leader but instead is a follower who cannot stand up to the pressure of Tucker Carlson and other far-right pundits. I certainly did not vote for Carlson to be running Texas.

I think a Texas jurys decision deserves far more weight from the governor than Carlsons opinion.

Richard Bach, Garland

What is wrong with our governor? How can he consider pardoning a murderer such as Daniel Perry?

Shouldnt he have been aware that Perry intended to cause trouble when he went to the peaceful march? Perry made it known on social media.

To be clear, it was Perry, an army sergeant, who broke the law by running a red light and driving into a Black Lives Matter march. If only for that, he should go to jail.

I know when I have nearly been hit in a parking lot, I stopped the person and asked him to slow down. Should I have shot him instead? Was he in his right to shoot me? Common sense seems to have gone out the window along with Perrys rounds from his loaded rifle.

Meanwhile the jury, a group of people empowered to make findings of fact and render a verdict, found Perry guilty of murder. While the rest of our country is worried about gun control and the availability of semi-automatic rifles, our governor plans to take our state another step into the Middle Ages.

As Clarence Darrow once said, I have not the infinite wisdom that can fathom it, neither has any other human brain.

Barry Rothschild, Dallas

Re: Abbott wasnt in courtroom, by John R. Krystinik, April 14 Letters.

Krystinik summarized well Gov. Greg Abbotts demand for a pardon of a man convicted of murder. My question is what evidence, or sworn testimony was withheld by the prosecution or the defense and shared with Abbott that allowed him to immediately conclude that this man was wrongly convicted?

Paul Sokal, Dallas/Preston Hollow

I support Gov. Greg Abbotts proposed pardon. Why? The Constitution gives the right to bear arms. At the time the Constitution was written, it was necessary to carry a gun for protection. Its even more necessary in the times we live in now.

Zane Ray Smith, Okmulgee County, Okla.

I should never be surprised at anything Gov. Greg Abbott decides to do, but promising to pardon a murderer before he is even sentenced is beyond what I could have imagined. Open carry legislation was passed under Abbotts tenure, so he is at least partially responsible for the inevitability of someone being shot simply because he was armed.

This opens up a new avenue for murderers to get out of jail free and trials may now become moot. The jury wasted its time listening to evidence before making a decision.

When, oh when, will we have leaders who do what is best for their state/country instead of prioritizing their political ambitions?

Vivian Bush, Ovilla

Re: High court lets Texas death row inmate pursue DNA suit Justices reverse ruling that said he waited too long to file request, April 20 news story.

What do Rodney Reed and Daniel Perry have in common? Both would like to be pardoned by Gov. Greg Abbott. What is the difference? Reed is a Black man who was convicted of a murder that, apparently, he did not commit. His case received immense scrutiny, and most fair analyses concluded that he did not commit the murder.

Abbott wouldnt even grant a temporary stay of execution for this apparently innocent man who has been in jail for years. Fortunately, the courts stepped in and granted such a stay. But he is still in prison and still fighting for his freedom.

Perry is white and drove his car straight into a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters. He saw a protester raise a rifle, pulled out a gun and shot the protester five times. He was convicted of murder, but Abbott wants to grant a full pardon. Abbott cites the Stand Your Ground law, but ignores the fact as the jury did not that the law voids ones right to use such force while the perpetrator is in the process of committing a crime, as Perry was.

If Perry is pardoned, then I expect that he will be tried for his first crime several counts of assault with a deadly weapon or even attempted murder.

Scott Nason, Dallas

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Letters to the Editor Readers weigh in on Gov. Abbotts plan to pardon Daniel Perry - The Dallas Morning News