Letters To The Editor
WASHINGTON STATE
Do you really want to pay to jail me?
Do you want to dig deep into your pockets for money to keep me, and many old ladies like me (I’m 91), in prison because we have handguns for protection?
Years and years ago I learned how to handle a gun - and it didn’t take me eight hours.
I question the intelligence of anyone who would dream up such a stupid law.
My borrowed gun is securely away from any visitor - child or teenager. But if an unannounced visitor invades my bedroom in the night, he’ll leave the house in an ambulance.
Elizabeth Cole Chewelah, Wash.
Initiative 676 is not the best way
Gun owners need to stop fighting about their “rights” and start working with other people to curb the misuse of guns.
Instead of trying to pass Initiative 676, which doesn’t fix the problem, all of us should pass a law of responsibility.
A law of responsibility would prosecute any gun owner whose gun was used to hurt, maim or kill another human being, regardless of the age of the person using the gun. Example: a child or teenager takes your gun to look at and accidentally shoots another person. The gun owner should be prosecuted for manslaughter or murder. Your gun, your responsibility.
Safety comes first. A loaded gun in the home, car or wherever is not a safe gun.
I’m voting no on Initiative 676 - not because I believe everyone has a right to bear arms (I don’t), but I do think there is another way to stop or cut down on senseless injuries and deaths caused by careless gun owners. Y. Jody Hoffman Colville, Wash.
CCW permit holders, take note
People who live outside of Washington who possess Washington CCW (concealed carry) licenses, note Initiative 676, Sec. 14. You will be required to jump through the 676 hoops to obtain a hand gun safety license as soon as your license comes up for renewal.
Note also Sec. 19, where the signed application to purchase a handgun or handgun safety license will waive all privacy rights to your medical records.
Initiative 676 is only an end run around the Second Amendment and the right-to-carry laws that have been passed in recent years in 31 States.
The death of one child last year in Washington is one too many. But Draconian gun laws that obliterate our right to keep and bear arms are not the solution.
Any who are truly interested in safety should promote the Eddie Eagle program. It works.
For those who live in Idaho, as I do, or any others who have a CCW license from Washington, contact your friends in Washington and ask them to vote no on I-676.
Consider your wife home alone with your handgun. Will she be required to meet the requirements of this initiative or find herself liable for prosecution? Gary Tucker Oldtown, Idaho
Governor had a good time; how nice
“Waking up to the needs of the homeless” - what a great article in the Oct. 13 Spokesman-Review. In the same paper, “Locke gained much from trip” (but little immediate help for farmers, Boeing, etc.).
I’m ever so happy Gov. Gary Locke had a great time - at a cost of $45,000 to the taxpayers. There is really something wrong with this picture. Help me out if you can.
While you’re at it, include the nice fat pay increases our leaders gave themselves. My apologies, but I just didn’t know it cost them so much more to live than the average joe. Mary H. Schwab Spokane
SPOKANE MATTERS
Tell STA to not change bus routes
A great tragedy may be unfolding here in Spokane, one that may cost jobs and isolate a large segment of our population.
Spokane Transit Authority’s management team proposes elimination of 12 routes and to cut back many more to avoid pressure to contribute to road maintenance.
Who will be hurt the most? The elderly, the disabled and low-income residents will bear the brunt of this ridiculous power play.
The only public hearing on this action will take place at Lewis and Clark High School Oct. 22, after the regular meeting of the STA board, approximately 4 p.m.
Will the public sit idly by and let the transit management team walk all over the poor, the elderly and the disabled? Spokane, show that you care! We can win, if the people are willing to speak.
If you are concerned and want to get involved, call us at 484-4204. John K. Billington Save Our Buses, Spokane
Talbott will get our votes
After reading the letters to the editor On Oct. 15, I noticed that there were three letters against John Talbott for mayor and nothing criticizing Mayor Jack Geraghty. It is time for a pro-Talbott letter.
Not being involved in politics, I can only say what I know about Talbott as a friend of many years. My husband and I know he’s an honest and moral man. He wants to be the mayor of Spokane and has prepared for that position by attending classes and going through all the work that needs to be accomplished for a graduate degree.
He has a close family and he keeps them in good financial condition. He’s reliable in his word and has good intentions. If he seems to be sharp to some, he is passionate in his desire that right be accomplished. Is that wrong?
We will vote for Talbott because we know he has one objective: to do his best for our city. He will not fail due to lack of honesty and good ethics. E. Margaret Hansen Spokane
Talbott ahead by a lot of no’s
Candidate John Talbott says he is offended when people call him a “naysayer.” Let’s quickly review his record.
He said no to the Pacific Science Center, no to funding streets and no to downtown retailing.
His only yes that I am aware of was for the Lincoln Street Bridge. He voted unanimously with the citizens committee on that project.
I just have three questions for Talbott: Where is the vision? Where’s the plan? Where’s the leadership?
It’s one thing to be against everything and another to provide alternative solutions. My grandkids are still waiting for his great replacement for the science center. Anne E. Ashley Spokane
Plenty of reasons to re-elect Geraghty
Crime is down. Neighborhoods are safer. Streets are being fixed. The economy is stable. The new arena is making money. Our downtown is coming alive again.
Life in Spokane is good. Jack Geraghty is mayor. So, what’s the question? Audrey L. Ray Spokane
Around here, it’s all pay and no say
We were reared on the theory that we live under a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
I don’t see how anyone can vote for an incumbent for the City Council.
That was a dandy sales pitch Mayor Jack Geraghty made in the Oct. 12 Spokesman-Review (Perspective), but where are people mentioned?
They wouldn’t let us vote on the garbage plant, telling us the public is too stupid to be allowed to vote on such an issue.
Did you get to vote on giving Burlington Northern a million to redo its station?
Did you get to vote on giving a hundred million of our dollars to rebuild the downtown?
The public voted on the expense to redo the streets. We voted it down as too expensive but the City Council is doing it anyway.
Now they are working on a new city garage, costing a bunch of millions. Do you get to vote on that?
Whatever happened to government of the people, by the people, for the people? C.F. Brenton Spokane
OTHER TOPICS
Tell more about Denver’s efforts
John Denver left a legacy in the same way as Princess Diana and Mother Teresa. His causes were helping the environment and humanity.
The media are having a hard time writing about the good aspects of Denver’s life. He was one of the first founders of The Hunger Project. He co-founded Windstar Foundation, which deals with environmental issues. And he founded Plant-It 2000, which was to help plant a million trees by the year 2000. (It has planted more than 500,000 to date.)
Denver was active in the oceans, wildlife, the skies and children. These are the real faces of John Denver.
His music will be most of what the public and his fans will remember him for, but let’s not forget he was more than a musician, songwriter and composer - he was human.
Will you be doing a more in-depth story in the near future? I believe that Denver’s following would appreciate it. He may be gone in flesh but his spirit will live on forever, as will his music. Tammy A. Bunke Spokane
Where were Loukaitis’ caretakers?
I saw on the news that there was a wish for Barry Loukaitis to “rot in hell.” Victims and relatives agree, and rightly so.
But prior to this tragedy, where were the adults? The caretakers who were in charge? Didn’t anyone see the tension building? Closer supervision would certainly have meant all the difference in the outcome. People would still be alive and uninjured.
Lately, I’ve read about children who couldn’t take the torments of other children and killed themselves. They were too fat, too skinny, dressed wrong, wouldn’t fight back. And seeing the future of this young boy (which showed no more promise than his past) he did, in essence, the same thing. He killed himself. K.V. Pittman Chewelah, Wash.