Stop epidemic of gun violence in U.S.

When I heard about the situation at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam Wednesday, I immediately thought of my husband, who works there (“Many questions hang over shipyard shooting,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 6).

He made it home safely; three other innocent people did not. Honolulu is not immune from gun violence, but we are also not helpless. There are many simple, yet powerful things we can do now.

I recently pledged my support to Sandy Hook Promise (SHP). Dec. 14 marks the 7-year anniversary of that elementary school shooting in Connecticut, and there have been far too many moments of silence since then. Our children and community deserve real action to stop the epidemic of gun violence in our country.

There is hope that we can prevent gun violence through programs in our schools that help us identify the signs/signals before a shooting happens and intervene.

I encourage everyone to Make the Promise at www.sandyhookpromise.org, and help bring SHP’s no-cost, violence prevention programs to our community.

Carrie Bettler

Pearl Harbor

Mail-in voting ripe for corruption, fraud

The very idea of mail-in voting is outrageous. It is anti-democratic and totally beyond any semblance of America.

The state will send ballots by mail, and have voters return ballots by mail. What assurance is there that the vote is being cast by the voter himself?

No picture ID.

And the very idea of American voting is that you care enough to show up at the polls to cast your vote. This way folks have to do hardly anything, which hurts folks who really care about voting. What ensures that someone else will not intercept the ballots and vote on behalf of the addressee or multiple addressees? What about the person whose mail ballot is intercepted? Do they have to find a place to vote? What if someone else has already voted on their behalf?

This is a recipe for corruption and fraud.

Chet Nierenberg

Downtown Honolulu

Animals cherished at Humane Society

I have been a volunteer with the Hawaiian Humane Society for 17 years, and was shocked and angered to see the claims made in a recent commentary (“Bill 59 means more animals will die,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Nov. 27).

The statement by its author that “the dirty pit bull and black cat are ‘dead animal walking’” is inaccurate and deeply offensive. As anyone who has ever visited HHS has seen, there are animals of all colors, ages and breeds regularly available for adoption.

Pit bull dogs and black kitties are plentiful on campus. There is no beauty contest, and all animals are equally important and cherished. There are animals with missing limbs, missing eyes, funny coats and crooked tails. They all find loving homes because our compassionate community understands the importance of adoption.

Rather than attacking an organization that helps thousands of animals find homes every year, I ask that if you share my love of animals to please support Bill 59.

Karen Scharff

Makiki

We really don’t want restored Natatorium

So a perimeter deck satisfies requirements for a safe pool when it comes to the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium (“Ocean-water pool is part of Waikiki Natatorium restoration EIS,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 10). What about satisfying the distinct majority of taxpayers who do not want any kind of pool?

Nor do we want that gross cement monster (bleachers) blocking the ocean view.

Neither visitors nor locals go to Waikiki to swim in a pool or sit on a hot cement slab.

Please consider the annual maintenance costs of nearly $1 million. Please consider sea level rise in that flood zone. Please consider an ultimately submerged perimeter deck. Can’t we consider our real needs and put a stop to ramrodding this down our throats? Please.

Margaret B. Murchison

Nuuanu

SHARE YOUR RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS

“Pay it forward”: a situation in which the recipient of an unexpected good deed pays forward a kindness to someone else.

In this season of goodwill, think about it: Have you ever benefited from a “pay it forward” gesture, which in turn inspired you to bestow a random act of kindness?

If so, let us know in a 150-word letter to the editor, or in a well-written essay (500-600 words) — and submit it by Dec. 16 via email to letters@staradvertiser.com, or via snail mail to 500 Ala Moana Blvd., #7-210, Honolulu, HI, 96813, c/o Letters. A collection of these will run on Dec. 22.

EXPRESS YOURSELF

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser welcomes all opinions. Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor.

>> Write us: We welcome letters up to 150 words, and guest columns of 500-600 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.

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