Right to own guns not absolute right

Those who call the president’s executive order on background checks and closing gunshow loopholes “unconstitutional” and “illegal” should take the time to read the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), which first established gun ownership as an individual right.

They should consider the words of their hero, Justice Antonin Scalia, who wrote the 5-4 majority opinion.

Scalia himself cautioned that the right to bear arms was not an absolute right, as the gun lobby claims.

Until Americans elect a Congress that’s not under the thumb of the National Rifle Association, the president’s effort to bring some modest rationality to our gun policies should be supported.

Francis M. Nakamoto

Moanalua Valley

Let’s help Obamas buy aloha wear

Visitors to Hawaii from all over the world get in the aloha spirit by wearing clothing of aloha designs.

It seems to me that the first family, especially the president, has never been seen in a photo wearing aloha attire. Maybe they think it is beneath their dignity to be seen in clothes of this design.

Maybe the good citizens of Hawaii need to set up a special fund to buy the first family a Hilo Hattie’s gift card.

Mike Eberle

Waikiki

Oahu fireworks ban obviously has failed

All you had to do was look out your window anytime around midnight this past New Year’s Eve and you witnessed an unprecedented display of aerial fireworks. It seemed like every block had its own private aerial fireworks display.

Why such madness?

The City Council and Honolulu Fire Department Battalion Chief Socrates Bratakos have no one to blame but themselves. They created this demand by banning all fireworks a few years back, and irrationally deciding not to allow fountains and sparklers back this year.

Like the vast majority of people, I just want to light a few fireworks, fountains and sparklers — you know, create some memories with my kids like so many generations before me.

Even if you can find fireworks, a $25 permit and the purchase price for 5,000 fireworks make it a pretty pricey celebration.

Bratakos needs to come down off his high horse, and the City Council has to find a happy medium for people who want a traditional celebration without having to resort to buying from a burgeoning underground fireworks market that they helped manufacture.

Pat Kelly

Wilhemina Rise

Taiwan committed to peace in region

People have seen the escalation of tensions in many regions of the world in 2015.

The South China Sea is one of them, and perhaps the most dangerous one.

Whether from the perspective of history, geography or international law, the South China Sea Islands and their surrounding waters are an inherent part of the ROC (Taiwan) territory and waters.

On May 26, 2015, President Ma Ying-jeou of the ROC proposed the South China Sea Peace Initiative, which is based on the principles of safeguarding sovereignty, shelving disputes, pursuing peace and reciprocity, and promoting joint development.

Taiwan is willing to work with other parties concerned to jointly ensure peace and stability, as well as conserve and develop resources in the region.

We sincerely wish the spirits of the South China Sea Peace Initiative will prevail in 2016.

Wallace Chow

Director general, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu

Focus on ‘diversity’ can create problems

As a target of the commentary, “Older, white Americans need to recognize diversity’s importance” (Star-Advertiser, Jan. 4), I disagree with the premise.

From a lifetime in this melting pot, I know a thing or two about diversity. I live it. But I was fortunate enough to grow up with a national motto, “E Pluribus Unum” (“Out of many, one”).

Through eras of constant change, I remained American.

The more I hear of the importance of “diversity,” the more disharmony, disunity and dysfunction I observe within government, academia and society.

One example of how an emphasis on diversity rather than core functions leads to failed policy: The primary focus of the former director of the federal Office of Personnel Management was “diversity.” Meanwhile, hackers stole the personal information of 22 million Americans.

I am concerned with the separatism and division sweeping the nation. For our nation’s future, a little less diversity and a little more national pride and personal responsibility seem to be in order.

Jim McDiarmid

Mililani

Killing of birds was shameful act

Sadly, I learned that several breeding albatrosses and their eggs were killed at Kaena Point (“Albatrosses killed, many nests ruined,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 31). The grief I felt was overwhelming; albatrosses can live more than 90 years, are extremely faithful to nest sites and mates, and during breeding lay only one egg.

This violent act is especially shameful considering everything the birds must overcome to survive.

Hawaii in the late 1990s led the way to solving the incidental catch of albatross by pelagic longline fisheries. The Hawaii longline industry incidentally caught about 4,000 albatrosses annually. Now the annual incidental catch of birds by the Hawaii longline fishery is fewer than two. The industry became educated and worked with regulators to make changes to their gear to avoid catching the birds. A success story for conservation and for Hawaii.

A violent act against gracious birds; I feel a healing ceremony is needed for all who felt this act violated the spirit of what is sacred to the islands. And so that we also find some forgiveness.

Katherine Cousins

Post Falls, Idaho