Letters

SPOKANE MATTERS

Commissioners take it on faith, period

Well, isn’t it nice to see yet another moral victory for the Christian faith! Now that the local Christian community has successfully influenced the county commissioners to pass a law that dictates the moral behavior of both employees and customers in local adult entertainment clubs, I’m sure Spokane will be a better place.

There is only one problem with this new ordinance: the Constitution! Does separation of church and state ring a bell with anyone?

I didn’t think that it was legal to pass a law in this country based on the moral or ethical notions of any religious organization. If this new law is allowed to go into effect, one needs to wonder what comes next, mandatory church attendance and tithing our salaries?

By choice, I have absolutely no religious affiliation. I find it deeply disturbing that my personal morals, ethics and actions are in jeopardy of being dictated to me by the state and, even more disturbingly, by the church.

Christians have no more right to influence adult entertainment laws than Deja Vu does to dictate church policy. If Christians don’t like how close dancers get to customers or where tips can are received at strip clubs, maybe they should stay out of them and concentrate more on matters of their church.

And to those who insist this country was founded on Christianity: Do your homework and read the 1797 treaty of Tripoli. Richard T. Morton Spokane

Council upset about wrong things

‘Naysayer” becomes lost in the news when use of the word applies to council members.

John J. Talbott spoke about a level playing field in Spokane. But immediately after the election, hysteria among council members is evident. The council should have exhibited this trepidation at the loan request of $2.66 million for street repairs. Where was the bona fide method of repayment?

This action alone underscores the need for an independent auditor. Edward Thomas, Jr. Spokane

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Spokane drivers have California’s beat

Re: “Rude, too-aggressive drivers the norm,” Letters, Oct. 6.

After reading Marjorie F. Greer’s letter, I was relieved to finally hear someone else express views similar to my own about Spokane drivers.

Being from California, I am no stranger to rude, aggressive drivers. But they can’t hold a candle to those that I have experienced in Spokane. Everyone seems so impatient and so angry. Why is this? Are they late for an appointment or for work? If they are, is that anyone’s fault but their own?

I, too, drive a child to school and back every day. For every week, I can recall at least two or three reckless and unbelievably inconsiderate drivers.

The other day, while driving at a steady 35 mph, I was tailgated by a young female driver. She wanted to go faster but, because there was no way for her to pass, she just got closer and closer to my car. When the school bus in front of me slowed to make a stop, I looked in my mirror and saw that the driver behind me was furious and may have been mystified as to why I was stopping. She came even closer, so that I was afraid she was going to slam into me.

I pulled over on the shoulder and watched her barrel past me and the school bus - with its red lights flashing. She just kept right on going.

It’s a good thing that a child wasn’t coming around the front of that bus.

Spokane drivers need to wise up, wake up and think of others for a change. Laura A. Cunanan Spokane

FIREARMS

Guns useful for killing or protecting

Re: M.P. McHugh’s “Guns are for one thing: killing,” Idaho Roundtable, Nov. 5.

As a teacher, I wish to respond. McHugh’s premise is a gross oversimplification. Guns are designed to shoot a projectile. Many guns were designed primarily to shoot animals and people. However, many guns were made specifically to shoot holes in paper or other inanimate objects.

We decide what and when we shoot, not the gun.

McHugh goes on to state, “Guns and people who use them have the potential to hurt, injure, and destroy.”

Why, yes, we do. Therein lies the other utility of a firearm. Sometimes people need to be shot. Why do you think that we have justifiable homicide statutes? A violent felon would not be deterred if there were not a potential to kill or injure them.

Sometimes a citizen or cop is forced to actually employ the countervailing use of deadly force to save an innocent person’s life. In essence, they shoot to live, not to kill.

A knife may be used to do the same thing. While there are many knife designs with specific uses in mind, they are primarily made to cut. Whether a steak, tomato or a person is cut is solely up to the user. So it is with a gun.

Lumping police officers and law-abiding gun owners in with gang members and maniacs is like saying Julia Child and Jeffrey Dahmer are similar because they both use knives.

I hope this, too, is food for thought. Robert B. Smith Post Falls

Gun safety not a matter for laws

Re: the Nov. 6 political cartoon. It should’ve depicted the woman searching for the key to unlock her gun so she could protect herself from the burglar who was preparing to injure her in order to rob her.

We don’t need government to legislate right and wrong. Use some common sense. We shouldn’t need a law telling us what we should be able to figure out for ourselves. Children need to be taught that guns are not toys and to keep their hands off. They need to be taught proper gun safety. Parents need to keep their guns in a place that’s off limits to the children. Children should learn that no means no.

It’s sad that we live in a society where we feel the need to keep a gun for protection from career criminals. People want the government to stay out of their lives, yet they turn to the government to make laws to handle petty things that anyone with basic common sense already knows. Bruce G. Osso Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Help make abortions unnecessary

Though nonviolent protest through marches and political action is necessary to keep the issue of abortion in front of people, more is needed from us to change the hearts of women who are considering abortion.

If we hope to make any real difference in the abortion disaster, each one of us must provide one-on-one care for the fearful, lonely pregnant women. There are many excellent service programs already in place.

Birthright, providing compassionate service to desperate women, always welcomes volunteers to help with various projects. Or consider Project Rachel. This organization helps bring healing to women suffering the anguish of post-abortion grief.

Another wonderful program is the church-based Stephen ministers. Volunteers are trained to work with people in all kinds of crisis situations which may include unplanned or difficult pregnancies and single parenting.

You don’t have to be a professional or have a college degree to help. A caring, nonjudgmental heart is the best qualification. Do you know a woman in a crisis pregnancy? Is there a neighbor, a relative, a girl down the street who could use your friendship?

If every pro-life person made a commitment to help one woman bring her baby to term, or to help a woman heal from a past abortion, or to provide emotional support to a single parent, imagine what an impact we would make on the world.

Jesus changes the world one heart at a time. He asks the same of us. Sheryl J. Gamble Post Falls

Don’t mistake nature for fantasy

Re: Gene K. Ealy’s Oct. 28 letter, “Global warming is a fantasy”:

People who believe in global warming theory are expressing an educated opinion. If man is adding 5 percent of the CO2 released into the atmosphere, that is making a big difference. I don’t know if anyone paid attention in science or math class, but for every action there is a reaction. (Five percent of $1 million is enough to please me.) Mother Nature calls the shots. We can learn from and not repeat past mistakes so we’ll have a future. (I think that was part of history class.) Natalie L. Conner Deer Park, Wash.