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Letter: NFL’s no-kneeling rule is the most sensible solution

FILE - In this Oct. 29, 2017, file photo, Houston Texans players kneel and stand during the singing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, in Seattle. NFL owners have approved a new policy aimed at addressing the firestorm over national anthem protests, permitting players to stay in the locker room during the "The Star-Spangled Banner" but requiring them to stand if they come to the field. The decision was announced Wednesday, May 23, 2018, by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during the league's spring meeting in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Although there is no comparison with the tragic Las Vegas shooting and the current problem with NFL games, there are some similarities. They both involve large crowds of people who are only trying to enjoy a few hours of the good life. One involves the First Amendment and the other involves the Second Amendment.

The NFL protests happened because of police brutality and racial inequality, which are basically only symptoms of problems in our society. To delve deeper into the cause of these problems, one must examine other topics such as not obeying and respecting the law, drugs, gun laws, gangs, poor education and counseling, and weak family structure in oppressed neighborhoods. Making improvements in these areas would provide a proper pathway to more positive changes in our society.

As for the NFL games, I personally believe the problems of the world should stay outside the stadium walls. Politics and sports never have mixed very well.

I just discovered the new NFL ruling bans all kneeling for anyone on the field. Hooray for the NFL! This is the most common-sense solution. I hope any penalties do not punish the whole team but only the individuals, like ejection from the game with no pay. The recent kneeling actions were lazy attempts to gain notoriety and publicity plus feed false egos. If they really wanted to help society with these problems, the NFL players and retirees should take their millions of dollars in pay and spend some time with some struggling families in these oppressed neighborhoods and determine the best places to put their money. This would feed their souls more than any amount of kneeling or scoring touchdowns would.

Chuck Davison, Washington