3-strikes law works in California

Jerry Dupont criticizes my proposal for a three-strikes law, saying that it will overcrowd prisons (Letters, March 29). However, since the passage of its three-strikes law in 1994, California has collected the hard evidence proving the opposite to be true. Nineteen prisons were built in the decade before the law (nearly two per year). Guess how many since "three strikes"? Zero.

California is even shutting down prisons. Why? By selectively nailing repeat offenders, the three-strikes law is the deterrent needed to lower the prison population. Homicides have dropped 52 percent, and other crime is down 43 percent. But don't expect everyone to be moved by the facts; for some, their sympathy for criminals clouds their thinking. They stand with the Democrats who blocked my crime-fighting three-strikes proposal.

Rep. Bud Stonebraker
17th District (Kalama Valley-Hawaii Kai)

3-strikes law sends powerful message

Editor's note: An incomplete version of this letter was published on March 28. The full text of the letter follows.

I agree with Greig Gaspar, the brother of slain police officer Glen Gaspar ("Slain cop's brother urges patience on three-strikes law," Star-Bulletin, March 22). No one should use the death of a law enforcement officer to make political hay.

Passing a three-strikes law is about saving innocent lives and putting away violent criminals who refuse to straighten out. This is why our legislators have proposed reasonable, commonsense legislation they all should be able to agree to.

The three-strikes law that California passed had a rehabilitative effect. In that state, 25 percent fewer parolees decided to commit another crime. This suggests that if Hawaii passes a three-strikes law, citizens can stay safe not just because more criminals will be off the streets, but because the message we send will be strong enough to persuade some repeat offenders to straighten out.

Call your legislators and tell them not to let their inaction fail to prevent the death of another law enforcement officer. Tell them to pass the three-strikes law to give repeat violent offenders the message that they have one more chance to choose between straightening out and going to jail.

Julia Chemotti

Now is not the time to hike legislators' pay

We need to get rid of the state Salary Commission. How can its members propose increasing the salaries of legislators when our state finances are in such dire straits that education funds and needed social service agencies funds are under attack?

The legislators are in session only a very short time and their pay, when compared with mainland standards, is already high. And to let them vote on the proposal is even more ridiculous. It will be interesting to see how these "public servants" vote. No wonder people lose faith in government.

Anneliese Chun
Kailua

Meet isle needs before building med school

Supposedly the state has insufficient funds to pay teachers the remainder of the professional raise negotiated two years ago, which rewards teachers who have obtained professional certificates or master's degrees. The state also says that there are no funds to provide teachers with even a cost-of-living raise. How does the state expect to hire and keep new teachers, since the University of Hawaii is unable to provide enough teachers and they must be recruited from the mainland?

One wonders about the viability of a "world class" medical school and cancer research center in Kakaako. Who will attend? Will mainland students beat a path to our door? I think not. Will our public school graduates attend? I think not, at least not without remedial courses. Why proceed with the construction of these facilities?

Instead, use the money to pay teachers, get schoolbooks and help students reach their potential. Then, when the need for such a facility arrives in the near future, build it. Not until.

Enough of "world class" aquariums, tennis courts, soccer fields and a medical school and cancer research center. Let's lower our sights and do what is affordable and meaningful.

John Wert
Mililani

Innocent slain dog deserves justice

I hope the monster who allegedly strangled his dog is punished to the full extent of the law ("Police arrest owner in death of pet dog," Star-Bulletin, April 1). Dogs are angels sent to Earth to show humanity what goodness is. To attack such an innocent animal is evil. May God bless the kind person who tried to help the dog.

Donna Manz
Washington, D.C.
Part-time Laie resident

Don't be ashamed to say you're a liberal

Our misappointed ruler has roused a slumbering giant : the citizens of the Earth. We're mad as hell. We're not going to take it anymore! This is the time to speak your mind. Say what you really think and feel. I know too many people who are afraid of letting the world know how liberal they are. Yeah, liberal! LEFT WING! Capitalize it, and don't ever apologize for it.

We are the silent majority, the ones who know things have gone too far for too long.

There is strength in numbers. Don't be intimidated. Think for yourself. Come out of the closet. It's feeling like Nazi Germany in this country. It is the 1960s all over again.

Sending our children to kill and die is no way to support them.

Eloise Engman
Makawao, Maui