Two of the most outrageous and morally bankrupt statements made by pro-gun advocates are: “Guns don’t kill people. People do.” And, “This is the price we pay for our freedom.”
There is a huge difference in a human pulling the trigger of a hunting rifle and a semi-automatic or automatic weapon, which are weapons of potential mass destruction. Any rational person can see this.
The gun advocates who think our Second Amendment is so sacred fail to realize, or don’t care, that when this right was enacted, assault rifles had not been invented. I am sure that the Founding Fathers did not think it would be OK for private citizens to assemble a whole arsenal of weapons for hunting and self-protection.
The “price we pay for our freedom” argument fails to take into account that we are the only advanced Western civilization where this type of violence takes place with any regularity. The right to live in peace and security versus the freedom to own assault weapons? What do we want?
Roman Leverenz
Aliamanu
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Loss of funds shows incompetence
Two recent articles, “Home Lands agency produced no houses” (Star-Advertiser, Oct. 2), and “City loses $2.4M in federal funding” (Star-Advertiser, Oct. 1), offer some insight to the inefficiencies and incompetence of city and state governments. Due to the inability to spend funds in a timely manner, funds will be lost. At whose expense?
The people.
Unfortunately, people believe the lie of no mo’ money. Yet, a surplus of $892 million is touted by the state (“Ige prudent about $893M state surplus,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 16). The revelation of the loss of federal funding sadly is just the tip of the iceberg of government inefficiency and incompetence.
Alan Umeda
Kaneohe
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Speak one’s mind, but show respect
Football player Colin Kaepernick’s misguided strategy of kneeling at the playing of our national anthem drew in the NFL, NBA and many other organizations around the world.
Our nation was founded on promises of fair and equal treatment as inscribed in our Constitution. Much progress has been made since 1776, and we actively seek to correct real and perceived inequities that plague our communities.
The Constitution does grant citizens the right to speak one’s mind. But this should not be misinterpreted to include behavior that exhibits disrespect for our national anthem and the American flag. Millions of Americans, military and civilian alike, voluntarily serve to defend our Constitution and preserve the American way of life.
Like millions of military brethren, I am a veteran and deeply saddened by those who choose not to stand proudly at the playing of our national anthem. This disrespectful behavior is truly un-American.
Charles Ota
U.S. Air Force (retired)
Aiea
