To limit gun violence, make bullets costly

Right after the Columbine shooting 19 years ago, comedian Chris Rock suggested that while gun control might not be easily accomplished, making each bullet cost $5,000 would certainly change the shooting mindset.

Although he was going for a laugh, I am beginning to think this idea is not that far-fetched. Our legislators are always eager for new sources of revenue, and recently bumped up the tax on cigarettes.

Why not put a Second Amendment surcharge on bullets? No one would be coming for your guns, but using the guns would require some budgeting. A trip to Disneyland or shooting off a couple of clips at the range — it is your choice.

F. David Wagner

McCully

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Let property taxes pay for trash pickup

Our banker/mayor and most City Council members want to initiate a monthly trash collection fee. This will result in increased administrative and social burdens.

Five dollars a month won’t cover the cost to administer this program, and then who is going to enforce it? Will we have garbage police?

Garbage fights will start when your neighbors puts their pilau trash in your can because they didn’t pay for the month. Just think of the bulky-item pickup problems that will occur.

This is a scam to increase the charges much, much more than $5 a month. I see it as the second coming of the rail. If we need more money for trash and bulky item pickups, then raise our property taxes appropriately after the facts and figures are disseminated to the public.

At least you won’t have to grow government to cover the administrative costs associated with a separate fee for the garbage. If it passes, who will pay: the owner, landlord, tenant or someone else?

Howard G. Wagner

Pearl City

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Hotels should alert visitors to dangers

Being a tourist who comes to Hawaii frequently, I often think about what would happen if a natural or man-made disaster struck. This article expressed my greatest concerns, and shows that if tourism continues to boom, preparations need to start happening (“Hawaii’s visitor industry tries to improve nuclear response,” Star-Advertiser, March 30).

Hotels can create pamphlets regarding what to do in the case of such an emergency, advising guests what to buy and where to go if the worst happens. I know I would feel more assured, judging by what is going on in the world, if hotels made it clear what would happen in the face of a disaster.

Jordyn Ives

New Jersey

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Djou did right thing to leave Hawaii GOP

Kudos to Charles Djou for standing on principle (“Djou leaves Republican Party due to Trump,” Star-Advertiser, March 20). The former congressman announced he was leaving the Hawaii Republican Party because it had failed to repudiate Donald Trump and his mindless, destructive policies.

There is a place for party loyalty, but it must be secondary to the national welfare. Shame on the Republicans who turn a blind eye to Trump’s appalling behavior.

Carl H. Zimmerman

Salt Lake