In her letter in the Sept. 24 issue of The Sun, a distressed mother denounces Public Safety for making a "disturbing" show of force against her l4-year-old son and the other apparently law-abiding youngsters who were enjoying themselves at their downtown youth club.

We learn that Public Safety was heavily armed for the occasion yet had the courtesy to restrain their attack dogs while their vehicles were creeping in a parade around the area to arrest everyone's attention.

Not to worry, Mom. They haven't shot anybody dead for a long time, and surely they had no intention of spoiling that record. Consider also the possibility that Public Safety's surprise appearance may have been their way of doing "youth outreach."

Cops were youngsters once.

—Robert Thoen, Sunnyvale


If Lockheed Martin wins, what about protesting?

Stalin would have loved the Lockheed Martin ploy of charging protesters for security.

Hey! How about First Amendment zones to keep legitimate protesters out of sight.

Ashcroft, Bush are on a roll.

—JB Lee, St. Paul, MN