FIREARMS
Lincoln’s words apply to today’s gun culture
The sleeping giant has spoken.
On Dec. 21, the head of the National Rifle Association announced that to solve our gun violence problems we need to have more Second Amendment rights and less First Amendment rights. He proposed that more guns, not less guns, are the solution to the problem. He proposed that armed guards be placed in all schools and that restrictions be put on Hollywood and video game makers.
This is the kind of America he wants. God bless him, say his followers.
“From whence shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall some trans-Atlantic military giant step the earth and crush us at a blow? Never. All the armies of Europe and Asia ... could not by force take a drink from the Ohio River or make a track on the Blue Ridge in the trial of a thousand years. No, if destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men we will live forever or die by suicide.” — Abraham Lincoln.
ROGER DONNAY, Boise
Shooting illustrates need for services
He’s right, and he is wrong
It’s sad but understandable that Mr. LaPierre would make the first public statement from the NRA, after the tragedy at Sandy Hook, and promote more guns as NRA’s solution for avoiding future violence. After all, they and their GOP collaborators would have been at risk of losing the financial support of the arms manufacturers if they had taken a different, more compassionate, more understanding, more intelligent position on the problem.
True, people are the killers. Sick people. And I would agree that an armed police officer may have been able to lessen the casualties in situations like Newtown or Columbine, or other incidents. But do we want, as the NRA proposes, to put guns in untrained hands? Mr. LaPierre says we can’t afford trained officers. If this is the solution, then someway we must afford them.
Where is his sincere plea for more mental health resources? The tragedies that have occurred that offend us the most have been committed not by organized criminals, but by seriously deranged, often very young, perpetrators enabled by equally seriously misguided individuals, including the NRA.
There should be more mental health resources and the NRA should partake of them.
ROBERT GOYDEN, Boise
Back to the 1800s
Around 50 years ago, the president closed institutions for mentally ill people.
Drugs were to be the answer. Guns were used to kill animals to eat. Now mentally ill people are incarcerated if they commit a crime, and gun ownership is open to all in the name of “freedom.”
We seem to have regressed emotionally to the 1800s while living with 2012 weaponry.
“When will we ever learn ....”
BETTY LUGINBILL, Boise
Protection stories exist
Firearm protection stories do exist.
On Dec. 28, Ms. Sue Fillman asks, where are the stories of people who were protected by having a firearm. The monthly magazines of the National Rifle Association feature a page called “The Armed Citizen.” Dates, cities, states where each occurred are set out.
WALT DONOVAN, Boise
RESPONSE TO LETTERS
Clarifying thoughts
I wish my first letter to the editor would be regarding a much more compelling issue for which I had inarguable insight and clarity, which would remove all doubt and resolve the conflict. Instead I feel compelled to refute Internet-inspired polemic and common ignorance. Despite what a recent reader and countless hysterical emails forwarded by my friends (or strangers) say, the presidential dollar coins have not left off the words “In God We Trust.” The first eight coins have the words incused on the edge, they moved to the obverse beginning in 2009 because of 2007 legislation.
Now let’s get back to more important things, such as the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., or the Statesman’s horrendous choice to change the comic lineup relying on obviously dubious research. God bless America. In God I trust. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition (which the Second Amendment let’s me keep). And bring back Rose is Rose. I think that about covers it.
Thanks for the opportunity of free expression in America, regardless of importance, necessity, coherence or cogency.
STEVE SEALE, Boise
FISCAL CLIFF
Solution to budget woes lies with simple tax code
The “fiscal cliff” discussions included proposals for spending cuts and generating additional revenue. In my opinion, the latter is simple to achieve as applied to real people, vice corporate entities, and will give all taxpayers a degree of certainty that we currently don’t have when it comes to tax return preparation.
The 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution should be the guiding principle. It states in pertinent part, “... Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived . . .” Thus, Congress should reform the Internal Revenue Code as it applies to individuals, and simply tax income from whatever source at reasonable levels and get rid of everything else. Exemptions, adjustments to gross income, standard and itemized deductions and credits are unnecessary attempts at social engineering and pandering to diverse groups which the rest of us have to pay for in the form of higher taxes.
Mark my word, simple is better when it comes to taxation. And my approach has the additional benefit of reducing the number of IRS personnel required to enforce the tax code and eliminating the need for tax accountants and lawyers by us taxpayers.
ROBERT BLEVINS, Garden City
HEALTH CARE
An affordable deal
I am absolutely thrilled that for only $5.25 per month from me (and the same from my husband) the thousands of people with pre-existing conditions will not suffer financial ruin because they will now be able to obtain and afford coverage. What a bargain!
MAXINE G. FREEMAN, Boise
DOLPHIN HUNT
Film highlights brutal treatment of animals
In 2009, an award-winning documentary called “The Cove” exposed the brutal and horrific dolphin drive hunt and capture what occurs each year in a small town in Japan called Taiji.
Although the film sparked outrage over the cruelty, the hunt still goes on. From September through March, Taiji “fishermen” round up entire pods of dolphins and small whales and drive them into a secluded cove. Often prize individuals are hand-picked to be sold for thousands of dollars to marine parks (the familiar bottlenose dolphin is a favorite) while remaining individuals are brutally slaughtered. The meat is then sold for human consumption!
They claim it is custom, yet they strive to hide the practice from outsiders, even using police surveillance and protections and tarps to hide the bodies (living and dead). This is an atrocious and inhumane practice fueled by greed. Dolphins are not only beautiful, intelligent animals, they are also extremely social and self-aware. They experience a rich emotional life not unlike our own. I implore everyone who has not seen “The Cove” to watch this film and learn about what occurs in Taiji. I promise you, this film will break your heart and haunt you forever.
NATALIE CRUZ, Caldwell
CANCER THERAPY
Old treatment works for cancer patients
There is an electronic frequency instrument that can cure terminal cancer. It was invented by Dr. Royal Rife. Seventy years ago, a research team evaluated Rife’s electronic therapy on 16 terminally ill cancer patients.
After only 90 days, an initial success rate of 87.5 percent was recorded. Every single patient recovered from their terminal cancer without harmful side effects after Rife developed improvements on the treatments.
This is in marked contrast to chemotherapy drugs which often produce such damaging health effects as high blood pressure, hair loss, migraine and damage to heart, liver, kidneys and immune system.
The cordless frequency instrument uses different frequencies of light to cure different diseases. It is used by holding an electrode in each hand.
LINDA TOMICH, Boise
