I am extremely disappointed with the outcome of the removal of House Majority Leader Cindy Evans (“House majority leader ousted over rail vote,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 5).

Evans, like all lawmakers, should be free to voice her conscience no matter how controversial the issue. No one should be punished for speaking their conscience.

The time has come to revise the role of the House majority leader. The responsibility to support and defend the caucus’ positions should not fall heavily on the House majority leader. It should fall equally upon all lawmakers. In other words, support should be a two-way street. No matter what.

Unfortunately, House Speaker Scott Saiki failed to understand and support Evans’ voice. He failed to understand and support her as an individual who stood her ground. Although Evans served in the Democratic Party, she was not treated in a just manner.

Alexis M. Liftee

Nuuanu

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There’s no ‘right’ to own firearms

Sorry, but the Second Amendment does not give individuals the “right” to bear arms. Now that a vast amount of 18th century text is searchable online, recent studies have proven — conclusively — that the phrase “bear arms” in the 18th century refers almost always to bearing arms in an organized militia.

Thus, the complete text of the 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.” The Republican/redneck/National Rifle Association version of that amendment conveniently leaves out the “well-regulated” part.

If you are a member of the NRA, if you are a sympathizer of its extremist agenda, you are supporting domestic terrorism. Some of the blood of those 58 dead and 515 injured is on your hands.

Good luck washing it off.

Jan Becket

Manoa

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Congress should move on gun control

Congress needs to move on the issue of banning guns, and if banning bump stocks is a start, so be it, as long as the process starts immediately.

People often have their heads in the sand when it comes to this issue. This is not 1776.

Guns in the hands of hateful, sick, obsessed people have produced two recent massacres. Each was “the worst case” of domestic murderous shooting.

If elected officials stand firm on positions like the National Rifle Association, the next shooting may very well outgun the precious record for homicides.

This has got to stop. Gun ownership is not a God-given right. It is a perilous responsibility that has resulted in deadly consequences.

Connie Oliva

Kailua

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Fighting travel ban wastes money again

I see that once again the state is fighting a Trump travel ban (“Amended complaint on travel ban to be filed,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 6).

This is at least the third time. This can’t come cheap. I’ll bet the cost is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer’s money. For what? So somebody can make a name for themselves?

Am I the only one to wonder if our hard-earned money could not be better spent perhaps on the homeless problem, housing or something more relevant to the people of Hawaii?

The governor patted himself on the back on TV for how well the homeless thing is going, but I work near Kakaako Waterfront Park and know better. And look under the freeway.

The priorities are all wrong.

Gordy Fowler

Aiea

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Hilo needs better service from airline

Hawaiian Airlines is the only interisland carrier serving Hilo. We’d have more enthusiasm here for Hawaiian’s new planes and destinations (“New routes in works as Hawaiian Air beefs up fleet,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 4), if the company made some local changes first:

>> The last flight to Hilo departs at 7:24 p.m. We can’t have dinner or a pau-hana get-together without staying overnight. A 10 p.m. departure, or even later, would encourage more same-day round-trips.

>> At $200 and up, most Hilo families can’t afford to visit relatives or send kids on school trips to Oahu. A $100, half-price fare a few times a day would be a big help.

>> Hilo has one daily direct overseas flight: United Airlines to Los Angeles. But many more go in and out of Kailua-Kona. Shuttle flights, timed to connect with KOA departures and arrivals, would help Hilo residents travel, and draw more passengers.

According to Hawaii Business magazine, Hawaiian Airlines is No. 2 on its list of biggest Hawaii companies, with more than $2 billion in revenue.

It could spend a little more to better serve Hilo.

Hal Glatzer

Hilo

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Lack of maintenance leaves us vulnerable

There are small things: inoperative drinking fountains at Ala Wai Park, McCully Recreation Center and the Manoa ball field, among others.

There are bigger things: the Manoa swimming pool closed for over a year, and the pavilion closed for almost two years with no sign it is being worked on.

Then there are really big things: homeless people everywhere, creating urban blight, roads left unmaintained until Honolulu looks like a war zone, and a stadium that is ready to topple.

Deferred maintenance in the schools. Deferred maintenance in parks. Sky-high taxes and a “temporary” (ha!) or permanent rail surcharge for us and for visitors.

Is this the best we can do to maintain Paradise?

What will we do if we are hit with another hurricane like Iniki and rail is demolished? Demand that the citizens simply turn over their entire paychecks?

Sandy Gottesman

Moiliili