Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Rosie wants to make Americans gunless

The true agenda behind Rosie O'Donnell and the organizers of the Million Mom March is nothing less than elimination of the right to keep and bear arms in America.

Granted, the well-intentioned majority of marchers thought they were demonstrating for "sensible gun legislation." However, the motives of those behind the curtain are much more sinister.

Rosie and her deceitful comrades know that licensing and registering guns won't stop the violence in our society.

Even the Violence Policy Center, an anti-gun "educational" group, admits that "licensing and registration in America would have little effect on the vast majority of gun violence."

But licensing and registration is a vital component of our fascist-hearted friends' scheme. It will serve as a giant goose-step toward eventual gun confiscation in America. The authorities will have our names, Social Security numbers, addresses and fingerprints just waiting for the first gun-ban enactment.

Behind the deluge of tear-jerking emotionalism on Mother's Day, behind the cooked statistics and fudged facts of "gun terror" in America, there lies a cabal of tyrants dedicated to nothing less than the extinction of our liberty.

"Safety for 'our' children!" is their bogus battle cry.

Patrick Flynn
Hilo

Peters' remark shows need for two papers

The statements made in letters to the editor and editorials following Henry Peters' interview on "60 Minutes" have failed to make the message sufficiently explicit.

When Peters confirmed that the Star-Bulletin was the only thing in Hawaii that the Bishop Estate trustees couldn't control, the clear implication was that they could control and were controlling the Advertiser.

That may provide a far more credible explanation than we had previously been given as to just why the Advertiser sat on the "Broken Trust" manuscript for so long. It was, as "60 Minutes" put it, the biggest local story since the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Peters seems to have explained to us exactly why Hawaii's largest newspaper managed to tie up the story and delay it for weeks. It lends even greater urgency to the need for more than one daily paper in Hawaii, doesn't it?

Raymond L. Scheele

Quotables "The last two or three years were so god-awful that anything looks better." Sam Slom REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR Commenting on a Star-Bulletin poll that found 43 percent of respondents believing that Hawaii's economy is improving "She was diabolical, sinister, evil and manipulative. At times, she could be disarming and charming. But she was a master of disguises in personalities. In my civil practice, I have never come across anyone this dangerous." Jeffrey Portnoy HONOLULU ATTORNEY Describing former Hawaii Kai resident Sante Kimes, who was convicted with her son in New York of murdering a wealthy 82-year-old widow

Humane Society is cruel to animals, too

As a toddler, I saw a neighbor pull the wings off a fly and listened to him gleefully laugh as the fly buzzed itself to death. I never went near that neighbor's house again.

In the military, I witnessed "mamas' boys" and "real men" abuse wounded, terrified and defenseless people, and never let them see my back again. Since then, I have sadly learned there is no end to man's inhumanity.

Meanwhile, every day the Hawaiian Humane Society encourages idiots to adopt a "homeless" animal, knowing full well that no bird, animal or reptile was created to live in a studio on the 25th floor of a condo.

Every dog lives to run with the pack, so isn't anyone who denies a dog that basic freedom an abuser of animals?

If Kathy Rothschild is correct (View Point, May 13) and "abusers sometimes begin with cruelty to animals," it would be prudent never to show one's back to a member of the Humane Society.

Rico Leffanta

Retirees are behind HGEA leadership

Department of Education retiree Haliimaile C. Goo was correct when she wrote in her May 6 letter that her union, the Hawaii Government Employees Association, does not represent her view. As fellow retirees, however, we are proud to say that HGEA does, indeed, represent our views.

There is room for differing views and criticism in our union. But for the record: HGEA Executive Director Russell Okata speaks for us and others like us. We appreciate his leadership in these tough times when it's easy to make scapegoats of both working and retired public employees.

We hold a different viewpoint because we and many other retired HGEA members continue to be involved with the union after retiring from government service. We keep on top of issues, learning the many facets of complex issues instead of relying on superficial newspaper and television reports.

We know, for example, that the media rarely informed the public that "civil service reform" addressed two different issues: the civil service system and the collective bargaining law.

We retirees, and the union, need to persuade legislators to live up to their commitments.

Toshi Nakasone Reuben Cockett
Retirees Unit, HGEA/AFSCME Local 152
Aiea

Help military save Barbers golf course

It's obvious from his May 12 letter that Steve Arashiro attended the May 2 meeting regarding the Ford Island development project. I applaud his interest and solicit his support in helping to retain our valuable recreation facilities.

The follow-up meeting May 4 at the Makalapa Elementary School enjoyed vocal support from the military community to retain the golf course at Barbers Point.

I and most of my military acquaintances concur heartily that something smells about partially funding the development by selling or leasing the golf course.

The golf course enjoys heavy patronage from both active duty and retired players, is a profitable and valuable asset, and therefore provides considerable funding to support other military welfare and recreational (MWR) activities.

Additionally, the Barbers Point golf course continues to be upgraded through superb planning and a lot of hard work by the maintenance staff. The course is managed with an eye toward the beginning golfer and an active junior golfer program.

Ask any member of the military community whether they would rather see the MWR facilities at Barbers Point retained, or Ford Island developed with museums and commercial space, and you'll see how the community values the recreational facilities at Barbers Point, particularly the golf course.

Jim Ansley
U.S. Navy, Ret. Waipahu

---

Legislature Directory
Hawaii Revised Statutes
Legislature Bills

---

Write a
Letter to the Editor

Want to write a letter to the editor? Let all Star-Bulletin readers know what you think. Please keep your letter to about 200 words. You can send it by e-mail to letters@starbulletin.com or you can fill in the online form for a faster response. Or print it and mail it to: Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802. Or fax it to: 523-8509. Always be sure to include your daytime phone number.