Letters to the Editor 03-16-2001
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- School Shooting - No Liquor Store - Lakeview Talent - Red Light Cameras
School Shooting
Editor, Times-Union:This is in response to Michael Stevens' letter on March 14.
First off, I like the classic knee-jerk approach you take in your "solution" to kids taking guns to school - "We need more laws!" Beautiful justification for murder - as if taking a gun to school and killing someone is a proper response to bullying, if there even was any "bullying" going on in this situation. How idiotic are you? Is that the answer, really? Kids get in trouble for fighting, there's already rules in place.
What's next? Justify murder because a kid gets cut from the basketball team? That's upsetting for kids sometimes, blame it on the coach and start fielding 50-member teams in order to avoid a shooting. Tell a kid only good things, give him all passing grades to avoid his reaction to less-than stellar performance? Kids get stressed about grades all the time, maybe no bad grades would help them "relax" and avoid the temptation to kill their classmates or teachers.
Let's go further in your idea: Might as well lock the schools down (Warsaw High School has the prison-look anyway), whip out the metal detectors, make the teachers pack heat for potential combat roles and allow kids no interaction with other students, just in case one might "pick" on another.
I don't know what the answer to school shootings is, I don't claim to, but it's sure as hell not "answers" like yours. The bottom line is, the kid's reaction to whatever his problems in life were - killing, wounding his fellow classmates - has no justification, and it is his sole responsibility.
Matt Perry
Muncie
via e-mail
No Liquor Store
Editor, Times-Union:Do you folks really think we need one more location to purchase liquor?
When I read in the Times-Union of all the drunken drivers apprehended in one weekend, I am appalled. And we know that for every one arrested at least three or four are not found. This makes for increasingly dangerous driving in our community.
Why on earth would we need yet another location for purchasing? Not to mention locating it in our Winona Lake area, which has been known all over the U.S. for many years as a quiet, safe, peaceful place where a person can find rest and renewal for spiritual well-being.
Does anyone agree with me? If so, I'm not hearing much about it.
Eudora Hurd
Milford
Lakeview Talent
Editor, Times-Union:The talent at the Lakeview Middle School music department surely did shine Tuesday evening, March 12. Discipline predominated. The directors, Terence Roe, Judy Becker and Donna Person, were "in charge" and the young people responded appropriately with great music.
Oh, that the audience was as disciplined. Latecomers and people of all ages walked back and forth during this concert. I feel little ones should be welcomed, but, please, sit near an entrance should a fast exit be in order.
Should "audience courtesies" be taught in the school system?
May Irish good luck prevail at their Goshen Competition Saturday!
A prejudiced, objective, grandma,
Lila O'Connell
Warsaw
Red Light Cameras
Editor, Times-Union:Cameras at lights to ticket red light runners will raise money and put points on drivers' licenses but only if warnings are heeded by drivers will it help stop the accidents. If our thrust is to stop the killing at stop lights, here is how to do it simply and cheaply.
Change the timing of the yellow light - give drivers three seconds more to stop. Since most people are law-abiding just make it easier to obey. Here's what three seconds will do for you: at 60 mph traveling at 88 feet per second - yes, I said 88 fps, 3 seconds = 264 feet
50 mph = 73 fps, 3 sec = 219 feet
45 mph = 66 fps, 3 sec = 198 feet
30 mph = 44 fps, 3 sec = 132 feet
So you can see what a difference timing can make in allowing a driver to stop safely and comfortably. Comfort is what is required because if we have to stop so hard that things in the vehicle will be thrown off of the seats and/or off of their position in the trucks, we will not stop even if we are able. Many times I would rather see a red light ahead and have to stop than a green that could change when I am too close to stop short of the intersection.
While we are at it (changing the timing), let's also increase the length of time by two seconds when the light changes from red to green for the crossing traffic. Years ago when I was learning to drive and was in high school, some safety group gave a demonstration of the stopping ability of a car. It had three guns on the front bumper to fire chalk at the pavement when 1 - the command to stop was given, 2 - when the brake pedal was pushed and 3 - when the car came to a complete stop. The total distance from command to stop would amaze you. Car ads list stopping distance, which I assume is the distance from brake pedal application to stop, but decision distance is real, and if at 50 mph it is two seconds, it equals 146 feet plus stopping distance of the same. We now have close to 300 feet needed to stop when the yellow comes on to the time the red light is on. Do you get the picture? Change the timing, stop accidents and red light running.
I hope our DOT is not so bull-headed that this change can be made without an act of Congress.
I wrote this similar letter to the paper in Carmel more than 10 years ago. Hopefully with the campaign to put cameras up this can be considered now. If this makes sense, contact your rep at the Statehouse.
Lee Webb
Pierceton
via e-mail
[[In-content Ad]]
- School Shooting - No Liquor Store - Lakeview Talent - Red Light Cameras
School Shooting
Editor, Times-Union:This is in response to Michael Stevens' letter on March 14.
First off, I like the classic knee-jerk approach you take in your "solution" to kids taking guns to school - "We need more laws!" Beautiful justification for murder - as if taking a gun to school and killing someone is a proper response to bullying, if there even was any "bullying" going on in this situation. How idiotic are you? Is that the answer, really? Kids get in trouble for fighting, there's already rules in place.
What's next? Justify murder because a kid gets cut from the basketball team? That's upsetting for kids sometimes, blame it on the coach and start fielding 50-member teams in order to avoid a shooting. Tell a kid only good things, give him all passing grades to avoid his reaction to less-than stellar performance? Kids get stressed about grades all the time, maybe no bad grades would help them "relax" and avoid the temptation to kill their classmates or teachers.
Let's go further in your idea: Might as well lock the schools down (Warsaw High School has the prison-look anyway), whip out the metal detectors, make the teachers pack heat for potential combat roles and allow kids no interaction with other students, just in case one might "pick" on another.
I don't know what the answer to school shootings is, I don't claim to, but it's sure as hell not "answers" like yours. The bottom line is, the kid's reaction to whatever his problems in life were - killing, wounding his fellow classmates - has no justification, and it is his sole responsibility.
Matt Perry
Muncie
via e-mail
No Liquor Store
Editor, Times-Union:Do you folks really think we need one more location to purchase liquor?
When I read in the Times-Union of all the drunken drivers apprehended in one weekend, I am appalled. And we know that for every one arrested at least three or four are not found. This makes for increasingly dangerous driving in our community.
Why on earth would we need yet another location for purchasing? Not to mention locating it in our Winona Lake area, which has been known all over the U.S. for many years as a quiet, safe, peaceful place where a person can find rest and renewal for spiritual well-being.
Does anyone agree with me? If so, I'm not hearing much about it.
Eudora Hurd
Milford
Lakeview Talent
Editor, Times-Union:The talent at the Lakeview Middle School music department surely did shine Tuesday evening, March 12. Discipline predominated. The directors, Terence Roe, Judy Becker and Donna Person, were "in charge" and the young people responded appropriately with great music.
Oh, that the audience was as disciplined. Latecomers and people of all ages walked back and forth during this concert. I feel little ones should be welcomed, but, please, sit near an entrance should a fast exit be in order.
Should "audience courtesies" be taught in the school system?
May Irish good luck prevail at their Goshen Competition Saturday!
A prejudiced, objective, grandma,
Lila O'Connell
Warsaw
Red Light Cameras
Editor, Times-Union:Cameras at lights to ticket red light runners will raise money and put points on drivers' licenses but only if warnings are heeded by drivers will it help stop the accidents. If our thrust is to stop the killing at stop lights, here is how to do it simply and cheaply.
Change the timing of the yellow light - give drivers three seconds more to stop. Since most people are law-abiding just make it easier to obey. Here's what three seconds will do for you: at 60 mph traveling at 88 feet per second - yes, I said 88 fps, 3 seconds = 264 feet
50 mph = 73 fps, 3 sec = 219 feet
45 mph = 66 fps, 3 sec = 198 feet
30 mph = 44 fps, 3 sec = 132 feet
So you can see what a difference timing can make in allowing a driver to stop safely and comfortably. Comfort is what is required because if we have to stop so hard that things in the vehicle will be thrown off of the seats and/or off of their position in the trucks, we will not stop even if we are able. Many times I would rather see a red light ahead and have to stop than a green that could change when I am too close to stop short of the intersection.
While we are at it (changing the timing), let's also increase the length of time by two seconds when the light changes from red to green for the crossing traffic. Years ago when I was learning to drive and was in high school, some safety group gave a demonstration of the stopping ability of a car. It had three guns on the front bumper to fire chalk at the pavement when 1 - the command to stop was given, 2 - when the brake pedal was pushed and 3 - when the car came to a complete stop. The total distance from command to stop would amaze you. Car ads list stopping distance, which I assume is the distance from brake pedal application to stop, but decision distance is real, and if at 50 mph it is two seconds, it equals 146 feet plus stopping distance of the same. We now have close to 300 feet needed to stop when the yellow comes on to the time the red light is on. Do you get the picture? Change the timing, stop accidents and red light running.
I hope our DOT is not so bull-headed that this change can be made without an act of Congress.
I wrote this similar letter to the paper in Carmel more than 10 years ago. Hopefully with the campaign to put cameras up this can be considered now. If this makes sense, contact your rep at the Statehouse.
Lee Webb
Pierceton
via e-mail
[[In-content Ad]]
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