Firearms proposals would be positive

Several bills are advancing to fill pukas in Hawaii’s firearms laws (“Firearms measures advance at Capitol,” Star-Advertiser, March 7).

These would make it difficult for stalkers, domestic abusers, folks with dangerous mental illnesses or those convicted of sexual assault to own guns. And no one intoxicated could carry a gun or possess one away from their home or place of business.

As a lifelong gun owner and target-shooting enthusiast, I am in favor of these positive, minor adjustments to Hawaii’s rational gun laws.

The two-week waiting period, safety class for first-time handgun buyers, and the three trips to the police station to apply, acquire the permit, and register the firearm are inconvenient, but they likely have saved lives and enabled anyone rushing to get a weapon for a crime of passion to cool down before doing something tragic that they could never take back.

Jonathan Starr

Wailuku

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Stop electing people who raise our taxes

The recent letter to the editor entitled “No compassion for taxpayers” is right on point (Star-Advertiser, March 4).

The excessive taxes and high cost of living we have to endure in Hawaii is the direct result of the Democratic-controlled state government and the powerful unions that keep them in power.

This will never change unless residents wake up, understand why we’re in this mess, and start voting for capable Republican or independent candidates who have true compassion for all of our taxpayers.

We can’t afford to keep raising taxes every time one group or another wants to fund their favorite cause. Increasing the vehicle registration tax, the gasoline tax, the general excise tax, the rail tax surcharge and Lord knows what else is extremely hard to accept.

We need smart, caring, non-union-controlled elected officials who will turn things around for the better. A good place to start would be term limits across the board, to include congressional politicians as well.

Frank DeSilva

Haleiwa

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Higher fees, taxes could reduce traffic

Your editorial opposing Senate Bill 2938 points out inefficiencies, administrative costs and poor fund management in the Department of Transportation as reasons to oppose this bill, which increases the costs of car ownership and costs per mile of driving (“Reject gas tax, vehicle fee hikes,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, March 4).

However, the extra money for road maintenance has to come from somewhere, and using the tax to shape choices makes sense. I thought the bill was well balanced: increasing the tax on ownership and gasoline modestly and increasing the weight tax considerably. These increased costs could affect decisions to buy and decisions to drive so that the net effect on traffic would be beneficial.

It is a move in the right direction.

Harold Loomis

Kaimuki

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Awards in 2 cases are disproportionate

Surely all of us would be highly embarrassed and offended if we were secretly recorded while naked in a hotel room and the video was posted on the Internet.

This, of course, is what happened to sportscaster Erin Andrews.

She sued the hotel and the man who allegedly filmed her and was awarded $55 million.

Meanwhile, in our newspaper was an article about a 7-year-old girl whose birth was mismanaged at Tripler Medical Center and will require lifelong, intensive care (“Settlement in suit over girl hurt at Tripler will cost $13M,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 25). Her settlement? $13 million.

I ask you, which event is more significant? Which event is more worthy of payment for their suffering? Despite her embarrassment and the revelation of her nude body, Erin Andrews still has fame, beauty and a very lucrative income. Why $55 million? Let’s face it, in a few years, it is unlikely most people will even remember the event nor care, but the mismanaged child will have to struggle the remainder of her life.

I smell greed here. Even if everything was settled for one-tenth of the $55 million, there will be some rich lawyers.

Geoffrey V. Davis

Aiea

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Trump leads media around on a leash

Recently someone on one of the national news shows said, “Donald Trump does not control the media.”

He has been leading them around on a leash from Day 1. They are continually playing right into his hands. Everywhere he goes there are journalists, cameras and microphones.They are giving him a free campaign, hanging on his every meaningless word.

All candidates at this point are just giving us vote-getting talk, squabbling like children. Nothing means anything until they get into office.

Fred Metcalf

Kalihi

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GOP has only itself to blame for Trump

I am watching with interest the rise of Donald J. Trump as the GOP nominee for president, much to the chagrin of the GOP establishment.

As we all know, Trump has made xenophobic, racist and sexist statements throughout his candidacy. His hard-line and bullying rhetoric seems to appeal to many.

I wonder if the GOP should look inward, as throughout the Obama presidency the GOP has maintained hard-line and bullying tactics. Trump takes this approach to the next level, and people are responding. The GOP has only itself to blame.

Moana Yost

Kuliouou