Letters to the Editor 06-22-1999
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Gun Laws - Right Of Way - Storage Tanks - Criminals - Hunter Education - Loss Of Innocence - Bingo Stand - Missing Dad
Gun Laws
Editor, Times-Union:We have 20,000 or more gun laws on the books: Local, State and Federal. Why more gun laws? These figures are reported in the Second Amendment Primer by Les Adams; Charlie Reece, columnist; Rush Limbaugh; and others. President Clinton stated that no gun law would have prevented the tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., but he is still trying to use it as an excuse for more gun laws. His only desire, and much of the Democratic Party, is to disarm the citizens of the United States. Why? It is not crime control. States with "Right to Carry Laws," or recently enacted, end up having significantly less crime. Why doesn't the press report these statistics? The press used to report the news, but now they try to make the news fit their views.
Eight days after Littleton, officials in Manhattan, Kan., removed a granite tablet with the Ten Commandments, which had stood outside City Hall for 40 years. The ACLU and the Americans United for Separation of Church and State had sued the city. Maybe someone would have read "Thou Shalt Not Kill" and believed it.
I am a veteran of WWII. When I was 14 years of age, I bought a .22 rifle. Most other kids my age had a rifle or maybe a shotgun, did some hunting and target shooting. We also carried pocket knives. Every boy had a pocket knife and at recess and noon we would play mumblety peg with the open blades of our knife, and would try to flip it and make it stick in the ground. There were no laws against buying a gun or buying a loaf of bread, the gun cost more. We had the weapons but we didn't kill people.
No gun, knife, golf club, ball bat, piece of pipe, ice pick, hammer, ever killed anyone. People kill people. These are only the weapons used. Trying to get rid of all the weapons does nothing, the person must be changed. If the weapon did it then convict the weapon and free the innocent person. For 40 years or more, we of the United States have been programmed by our government, ACLU and others to have no regard for things of a religious nature - no prayer in school, gideons no longer able to speak in our schools and give Bibles to those who desire them, no Ten Commandments on public property or Court Rooms, no prayer permitted at graduation. If people become Godless - no belief in God, the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, Jesus Christ, or a religious belief, there is no anchor, no reason for mortality, honesty, truthfulness, etc. "There is no right or wrong, only thinking makes it so." We, of the United States, need to be reprogrammed, but how do you do it? Congress can help, but Congress and government can not do it. We the people need to do it, but I don't know how. I guess we just need strong faith and try to do what is right.
Hitler disarmed his citizens so he could take over Germany, with no fear of a revolt. Great Britain tried to disarm the colonists before our revolution. (German Firearms Act of 1937: "Firearms licenses will not be granted to Jews or persons suspected of acting against the state. Those who do not require permission to purchase or carry weapons include the whole SS paramilitary adjunct of the Gestapo and SA Storm Troopers, including the Deaths Head group and officers of Hitler Youth.")
Every country in the world has their Hitlers, Saddam Husseins, Stalins, Mussolinis, etc., who, if they ever get into power, would turn their government into a dictatorship. If we disarm our citizens, it will make it easy for this to be done if one of this persuasion ever gets into power. They would place people who think as they do into positions of power and authority. The Germans said, "It can't happen here," but it did.
Second Amendment: " A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." (An individual right, we have laws in violation of the Second Amendment.)
First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." (It says nothing about the separation of church and state, it only prohibits the state from establishing a State Religion. We have several laws in violation of this amendment.)
Wallace Huffman, Warsaw
Right Of Way
Editor, Times-Union:In regards to road closure EMS B6C... On March 2, 1999, the Commissioners allowed the vacation of a right of way, which served many purposes, maintenance and utility use by two additions at Springview Park Addition.
The question rises, how can two persons make that decision for so many? To make it clear, the persons who requested this had a drive way, covered it then proceeded to take away what rightfully belonged to many.
This right of way is in our deeds as an access to water and a turn around since space is a commodity, as it is at many lakes. The fire department did a run in the area and they could not turn around without the right of way.
The vacation was not in compliance with all concerned, it should have been denied. The Commissioners have been approached to reverse it, denied.
Had the residents known, it would have been protested, most are out of town during the winter. Good timing to pull this off. Yes, it was in the paper, however only one family was notified, in duress. In this case, it involved everyone in both Lane B5 and B6C. By the time it was in the paper of the vacation, the only option we had left was pay to get back something the was ours to begin with.
We at Springview Park Addition should not have to be harassed all summer, there should be a restraining order issued to keep people from interfering or parking there. They park cars side by side at entrance so it is not accessible to others.
An unjust law is no law at all. The Constitution has become "silly putty" in the hands of our elected officials.
This issue needs to be heard and taken care of by our Commissioners, they were the ones that made the error. Let's 'fess up, anybody is allowed to make mistakes, however it needs fixing.
Property Owners, Springview Park Addition: Katherine Warner, Darla Davis, Daniel Hedke, Barb Murphy, Mary and Robert Czolek, Timothy Neuhauser, Tom Harmes, Joseph Griffith, Douglas and Cheryl Barhydt, Jean Griffith, Katherine Ziegler, Harold Welch, Jerry Ziegler, William Creech, Marsha Boggs
Storage Tanks
Editor, Times-Union:Thank you for giving the underground storage tank bill such good coverage. After having the article printed on the front page of June 14th's newspaper, we felt it was necessary to let people know what a caring representative we have in Dave Wolkins.
When the first article was printed about the situation, we didn't want people to think Dave wasn't able to help. We had just contacted him at that time and he was gathering information from us. He then went on to Indianapolis and presented the situation in our defense. Dave was always in touch with us as to the developments this bill was taking. Because of his willingness to work for the small business owner, we were able to celebrate on June 8th the signing of this bill. He has definitely restored our faith in the fact that there are honest, hard-working politicians in our government.
What we have learned from this experience is this: if you have done everything "by the book" and feel you are not getting a fair say, contact the proper authority and hopefully it will be someone like Dave Wolkins, who will do all they can within the legal system.
Korky and Krista Koors, Winona Lake
Criminals
Editor, Times-Union:The most shocking thing about the FBI's new "10 Most Wanted" list, released on June 7, is all the dangerous criminals who are NOT on it: The criminals who just happen to work for the federal government.
Granted, everyone on the FBI's list who committed a crime of violence should be punished; justice demands it. But as a Libertarian, I believe that justice also demands that everyone who commits a crime of violence be treated equally, even if they happen to work for the government. To prove my point, here are six government criminals who weren't on the FBI's list, but should be.
1. Social Security Commissioner Kenneth S. Apfel. Crime: Investment fraud. If an ordinary American did what Apfel and his Social Security co-conspirators do, run a retirement program where the only assets are billions of dollars of IOUs, they would be in jail faster than you can yell "AARP!"
2. FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi. Crime: Murder. In 1992, Horiuchi used a high-powered rifle to assassinate Vicki Weaver in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, as she stood in her kitchen holding her 11-month-old infant daughter.
3. U.S. Customs Commissioner Raymond Kelly. Crime: Accessory to sexual assault. Last year, U.S. Customs employees under Kelly's command ordered 2,797 airline passengers to strip off their clothes at gunpoint, intimately groped them, and conducted humiliating body cavity searches.
4. Justice Department Asset Forfeiture Division Chief Jerry McDowell. Crime: Grand larceny. Last year, the Justice Department confiscated 42,454 cars, boats, houses and other belongings, valued at over $604 million, from Americans who were never convicted of any crime.
5. President Bill Clinton. Crime: International terrorism. Osama bin Laden made the FBI's list for killing 224 people in embassy bombings, yet Clinton has killed literally thousands of innocent civilians during his undeclared and unconstitutional war in Yugoslavia.
6. U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL). Crime: Illegal telephone tapping. Last year, McCollum inserted a roving wiretap provision into the Intelligence Authorization Act of 1998, giving federal agents the power to eavesdrop on anyone's phone calls without a court order. Unauthorized eavesdropping is a crime: Let's prosecute Rep. McCollum for it.
Perhaps none of these government "criminals" will ever end up behind bars. But it's nice to dream about an America where equal justice under the law is a reality.
Daniel Stevens, Libertarian Party, Kosciusko County, Warsaw
Hunter Education
Editor, Times-Union:I have wanted to write a letter to you for a long time, but I'm a great procrastinator. However, last week's letter from the Milford lady pushed me to the edge.
First of all, I am thankful for an editor who will publish such letters, regardless of his own point of view.
Now as for her obvious ignorance, I'm glad her daughter has decided to become educated in gun safety, regardless of her mother's shortcomings. Now that she has completed the Hunter Safety course, taught by conservation officers, she is far better off.
Let's hypothetically assume her daughter is baby-sitting for someone and the 4-year old comes out with a 9mm. If she doesn't panic, your (lost innocence) daughter can now safely disarm the weapon, so no one can get hurt. Something her mother has obviously not taught her to do. I am proud of your daughter. Maybe the next time they have it, the mother should go.
I also want to thank men like Harold Kitson and Daniel Stevens for their continued letters, informing the people of the Second Amendment and what the government, and people like the Milford lady who probably is against our rights, are trying to strip this country of our personal freedom. Hopefully, she will wake up and realize that ignorance, lack of education and discipline, not stupid laws, are the keys to less crime and violence.
Educate yourself and be safe and happy.
Richard Jones, Claypool
Loss Of Innocence
To the Editor, Times-Union:"My daughter's innocence has been stolen." For a brief moment I thought I was reading about a liberal sex ed. class. While I fully support a parent's prerogative to direct their children's education, the logic used by Jane Plew (Times-Union, June 11) against hunter safety instruction defies the imagination. While we're at it, let's stop teaching driver's ed. too, because automobiles can hurt people. We wouldn't want to steal our children's innocence by teaching them auto safety. I have "zero tolerance" for automobiles and violence.
By far, the most common use of guns is recreational. Second to that is self-defense where, interestingly, 95 percent of the time a shot is not fired, but an assault, robbery or rape is successfully thwarted.
Mrs. Plew, when your daughter looks into your eyes after being violently assaulted in her own home and says, "I wish I had a gun to protect myself and my children," what are you going to say to her?
Wawasee schools made a wise decision to include gun safety instruction in the curriculum. Training in the proper and safe handling of guns has proved to be very effective in reducing the rare occurrence of gun accidents.
Todd Smith, Fort Wayne
via e-mail
Bingo Stand
Editor, Times-Union:The Warsaw Moose Lodge #1423 has owned and operated the Bingo Stand at the Kosciusko County 4-H Fair for 40+ years. Because of the taxes, insurance, building maintenance on the bingo stand, rent charged for the week by the Fair Board, 13 weekly passes we buy, time spent by some of our members to buy the merchandise (95 percent locally) and time donated by the 20+ members to run the Bingo Stand all week, the past few years the Board of Officers and members who have attended our past meetings discussed if it was worth the $2,500 that we made on the stand to keep operating it. Each year in the past it was decided that we would continue to own and operate the Bingo Stand fair week. This decision was made due to the enjoyment the community receives (especially our senior citizens), the 70 percent of the money made from the stand was donated back into the community, and our involvement in donating to the 4-H Fair auction. However, due to the Fair Board increasing our rent from $700 to $1,500, we regretfully inform the community that we have sold the Bingo Stand to the Fair Board. We would like to thank each of you that has supported the Bingo Stand for the last 40+ years.
Glen Robinson, Bingo chairman
Warsaw Moose Lodge #1423
Missing Dad
Editor, Times-Union:Well, here it is. Father's Day 1999 ... another empty day for me without my dad, Junior Goon, here for me to hug, kiss and say "Happy Father's Day" to. I love you, Dad, I miss you so much. No matter what anyone says, it doesn't get easier with time ... no, not for me. I will do as I've done for the past four years ... light a candle for you, say a prayer, have a little conversation with you and God and shed my regular tears because you're not here. I just hate the feeling that goes through me when I think of the lucky people that still have their dads on Father's Day. I'll get through it ... I always do. But, it's not the same ... not without you.
Sally Goon, LeesburgÊ
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- Gun Laws - Right Of Way - Storage Tanks - Criminals - Hunter Education - Loss Of Innocence - Bingo Stand - Missing Dad
Gun Laws
Editor, Times-Union:We have 20,000 or more gun laws on the books: Local, State and Federal. Why more gun laws? These figures are reported in the Second Amendment Primer by Les Adams; Charlie Reece, columnist; Rush Limbaugh; and others. President Clinton stated that no gun law would have prevented the tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., but he is still trying to use it as an excuse for more gun laws. His only desire, and much of the Democratic Party, is to disarm the citizens of the United States. Why? It is not crime control. States with "Right to Carry Laws," or recently enacted, end up having significantly less crime. Why doesn't the press report these statistics? The press used to report the news, but now they try to make the news fit their views.
Eight days after Littleton, officials in Manhattan, Kan., removed a granite tablet with the Ten Commandments, which had stood outside City Hall for 40 years. The ACLU and the Americans United for Separation of Church and State had sued the city. Maybe someone would have read "Thou Shalt Not Kill" and believed it.
I am a veteran of WWII. When I was 14 years of age, I bought a .22 rifle. Most other kids my age had a rifle or maybe a shotgun, did some hunting and target shooting. We also carried pocket knives. Every boy had a pocket knife and at recess and noon we would play mumblety peg with the open blades of our knife, and would try to flip it and make it stick in the ground. There were no laws against buying a gun or buying a loaf of bread, the gun cost more. We had the weapons but we didn't kill people.
No gun, knife, golf club, ball bat, piece of pipe, ice pick, hammer, ever killed anyone. People kill people. These are only the weapons used. Trying to get rid of all the weapons does nothing, the person must be changed. If the weapon did it then convict the weapon and free the innocent person. For 40 years or more, we of the United States have been programmed by our government, ACLU and others to have no regard for things of a religious nature - no prayer in school, gideons no longer able to speak in our schools and give Bibles to those who desire them, no Ten Commandments on public property or Court Rooms, no prayer permitted at graduation. If people become Godless - no belief in God, the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, Jesus Christ, or a religious belief, there is no anchor, no reason for mortality, honesty, truthfulness, etc. "There is no right or wrong, only thinking makes it so." We, of the United States, need to be reprogrammed, but how do you do it? Congress can help, but Congress and government can not do it. We the people need to do it, but I don't know how. I guess we just need strong faith and try to do what is right.
Hitler disarmed his citizens so he could take over Germany, with no fear of a revolt. Great Britain tried to disarm the colonists before our revolution. (German Firearms Act of 1937: "Firearms licenses will not be granted to Jews or persons suspected of acting against the state. Those who do not require permission to purchase or carry weapons include the whole SS paramilitary adjunct of the Gestapo and SA Storm Troopers, including the Deaths Head group and officers of Hitler Youth.")
Every country in the world has their Hitlers, Saddam Husseins, Stalins, Mussolinis, etc., who, if they ever get into power, would turn their government into a dictatorship. If we disarm our citizens, it will make it easy for this to be done if one of this persuasion ever gets into power. They would place people who think as they do into positions of power and authority. The Germans said, "It can't happen here," but it did.
Second Amendment: " A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." (An individual right, we have laws in violation of the Second Amendment.)
First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." (It says nothing about the separation of church and state, it only prohibits the state from establishing a State Religion. We have several laws in violation of this amendment.)
Wallace Huffman, Warsaw
Right Of Way
Editor, Times-Union:In regards to road closure EMS B6C... On March 2, 1999, the Commissioners allowed the vacation of a right of way, which served many purposes, maintenance and utility use by two additions at Springview Park Addition.
The question rises, how can two persons make that decision for so many? To make it clear, the persons who requested this had a drive way, covered it then proceeded to take away what rightfully belonged to many.
This right of way is in our deeds as an access to water and a turn around since space is a commodity, as it is at many lakes. The fire department did a run in the area and they could not turn around without the right of way.
The vacation was not in compliance with all concerned, it should have been denied. The Commissioners have been approached to reverse it, denied.
Had the residents known, it would have been protested, most are out of town during the winter. Good timing to pull this off. Yes, it was in the paper, however only one family was notified, in duress. In this case, it involved everyone in both Lane B5 and B6C. By the time it was in the paper of the vacation, the only option we had left was pay to get back something the was ours to begin with.
We at Springview Park Addition should not have to be harassed all summer, there should be a restraining order issued to keep people from interfering or parking there. They park cars side by side at entrance so it is not accessible to others.
An unjust law is no law at all. The Constitution has become "silly putty" in the hands of our elected officials.
This issue needs to be heard and taken care of by our Commissioners, they were the ones that made the error. Let's 'fess up, anybody is allowed to make mistakes, however it needs fixing.
Property Owners, Springview Park Addition: Katherine Warner, Darla Davis, Daniel Hedke, Barb Murphy, Mary and Robert Czolek, Timothy Neuhauser, Tom Harmes, Joseph Griffith, Douglas and Cheryl Barhydt, Jean Griffith, Katherine Ziegler, Harold Welch, Jerry Ziegler, William Creech, Marsha Boggs
Storage Tanks
Editor, Times-Union:Thank you for giving the underground storage tank bill such good coverage. After having the article printed on the front page of June 14th's newspaper, we felt it was necessary to let people know what a caring representative we have in Dave Wolkins.
When the first article was printed about the situation, we didn't want people to think Dave wasn't able to help. We had just contacted him at that time and he was gathering information from us. He then went on to Indianapolis and presented the situation in our defense. Dave was always in touch with us as to the developments this bill was taking. Because of his willingness to work for the small business owner, we were able to celebrate on June 8th the signing of this bill. He has definitely restored our faith in the fact that there are honest, hard-working politicians in our government.
What we have learned from this experience is this: if you have done everything "by the book" and feel you are not getting a fair say, contact the proper authority and hopefully it will be someone like Dave Wolkins, who will do all they can within the legal system.
Korky and Krista Koors, Winona Lake
Criminals
Editor, Times-Union:The most shocking thing about the FBI's new "10 Most Wanted" list, released on June 7, is all the dangerous criminals who are NOT on it: The criminals who just happen to work for the federal government.
Granted, everyone on the FBI's list who committed a crime of violence should be punished; justice demands it. But as a Libertarian, I believe that justice also demands that everyone who commits a crime of violence be treated equally, even if they happen to work for the government. To prove my point, here are six government criminals who weren't on the FBI's list, but should be.
1. Social Security Commissioner Kenneth S. Apfel. Crime: Investment fraud. If an ordinary American did what Apfel and his Social Security co-conspirators do, run a retirement program where the only assets are billions of dollars of IOUs, they would be in jail faster than you can yell "AARP!"
2. FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi. Crime: Murder. In 1992, Horiuchi used a high-powered rifle to assassinate Vicki Weaver in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, as she stood in her kitchen holding her 11-month-old infant daughter.
3. U.S. Customs Commissioner Raymond Kelly. Crime: Accessory to sexual assault. Last year, U.S. Customs employees under Kelly's command ordered 2,797 airline passengers to strip off their clothes at gunpoint, intimately groped them, and conducted humiliating body cavity searches.
4. Justice Department Asset Forfeiture Division Chief Jerry McDowell. Crime: Grand larceny. Last year, the Justice Department confiscated 42,454 cars, boats, houses and other belongings, valued at over $604 million, from Americans who were never convicted of any crime.
5. President Bill Clinton. Crime: International terrorism. Osama bin Laden made the FBI's list for killing 224 people in embassy bombings, yet Clinton has killed literally thousands of innocent civilians during his undeclared and unconstitutional war in Yugoslavia.
6. U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL). Crime: Illegal telephone tapping. Last year, McCollum inserted a roving wiretap provision into the Intelligence Authorization Act of 1998, giving federal agents the power to eavesdrop on anyone's phone calls without a court order. Unauthorized eavesdropping is a crime: Let's prosecute Rep. McCollum for it.
Perhaps none of these government "criminals" will ever end up behind bars. But it's nice to dream about an America where equal justice under the law is a reality.
Daniel Stevens, Libertarian Party, Kosciusko County, Warsaw
Hunter Education
Editor, Times-Union:I have wanted to write a letter to you for a long time, but I'm a great procrastinator. However, last week's letter from the Milford lady pushed me to the edge.
First of all, I am thankful for an editor who will publish such letters, regardless of his own point of view.
Now as for her obvious ignorance, I'm glad her daughter has decided to become educated in gun safety, regardless of her mother's shortcomings. Now that she has completed the Hunter Safety course, taught by conservation officers, she is far better off.
Let's hypothetically assume her daughter is baby-sitting for someone and the 4-year old comes out with a 9mm. If she doesn't panic, your (lost innocence) daughter can now safely disarm the weapon, so no one can get hurt. Something her mother has obviously not taught her to do. I am proud of your daughter. Maybe the next time they have it, the mother should go.
I also want to thank men like Harold Kitson and Daniel Stevens for their continued letters, informing the people of the Second Amendment and what the government, and people like the Milford lady who probably is against our rights, are trying to strip this country of our personal freedom. Hopefully, she will wake up and realize that ignorance, lack of education and discipline, not stupid laws, are the keys to less crime and violence.
Educate yourself and be safe and happy.
Richard Jones, Claypool
Loss Of Innocence
To the Editor, Times-Union:"My daughter's innocence has been stolen." For a brief moment I thought I was reading about a liberal sex ed. class. While I fully support a parent's prerogative to direct their children's education, the logic used by Jane Plew (Times-Union, June 11) against hunter safety instruction defies the imagination. While we're at it, let's stop teaching driver's ed. too, because automobiles can hurt people. We wouldn't want to steal our children's innocence by teaching them auto safety. I have "zero tolerance" for automobiles and violence.
By far, the most common use of guns is recreational. Second to that is self-defense where, interestingly, 95 percent of the time a shot is not fired, but an assault, robbery or rape is successfully thwarted.
Mrs. Plew, when your daughter looks into your eyes after being violently assaulted in her own home and says, "I wish I had a gun to protect myself and my children," what are you going to say to her?
Wawasee schools made a wise decision to include gun safety instruction in the curriculum. Training in the proper and safe handling of guns has proved to be very effective in reducing the rare occurrence of gun accidents.
Todd Smith, Fort Wayne
via e-mail
Bingo Stand
Editor, Times-Union:The Warsaw Moose Lodge #1423 has owned and operated the Bingo Stand at the Kosciusko County 4-H Fair for 40+ years. Because of the taxes, insurance, building maintenance on the bingo stand, rent charged for the week by the Fair Board, 13 weekly passes we buy, time spent by some of our members to buy the merchandise (95 percent locally) and time donated by the 20+ members to run the Bingo Stand all week, the past few years the Board of Officers and members who have attended our past meetings discussed if it was worth the $2,500 that we made on the stand to keep operating it. Each year in the past it was decided that we would continue to own and operate the Bingo Stand fair week. This decision was made due to the enjoyment the community receives (especially our senior citizens), the 70 percent of the money made from the stand was donated back into the community, and our involvement in donating to the 4-H Fair auction. However, due to the Fair Board increasing our rent from $700 to $1,500, we regretfully inform the community that we have sold the Bingo Stand to the Fair Board. We would like to thank each of you that has supported the Bingo Stand for the last 40+ years.
Glen Robinson, Bingo chairman
Warsaw Moose Lodge #1423
Missing Dad
Editor, Times-Union:Well, here it is. Father's Day 1999 ... another empty day for me without my dad, Junior Goon, here for me to hug, kiss and say "Happy Father's Day" to. I love you, Dad, I miss you so much. No matter what anyone says, it doesn't get easier with time ... no, not for me. I will do as I've done for the past four years ... light a candle for you, say a prayer, have a little conversation with you and God and shed my regular tears because you're not here. I just hate the feeling that goes through me when I think of the lucky people that still have their dads on Father's Day. I'll get through it ... I always do. But, it's not the same ... not without you.
Sally Goon, LeesburgÊ
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