Letter: Restrictions can help improve community

I have long enjoyed Lee Cataluna’s columns. However, a recent column lacks her usual logic and humor (“Bans are so easy, reform is too hard,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 6).

She said we are first in the nation in homeless, but obviously this is because we are the only state where one can live without shelter 365 days a year without freezing to death, so naturally we attract people from the other 49 states.

She said that no law will prevent drunken drivers and minors from buying liquor or cigarettes, among others. It’s true nothing will stop those things completely, but it certainly discourages and prevents some.

It would be just as logical to say, don’t make any laws against murder, theft, speeding or anything because certainly there will always be some crime. But laws do minimize it.

Most restrictions, including those on business, are overall positive to the community. There are many other consumer and employee protections that would be beneficial and should be added.

Rusl T. Bjork

Koloa, Kauai