Letters to the Editor 01/02/2013

To the Editor:

I have to respectfully disagree with Mr. Cornelius' stance on gun control as it relates to required training. Though I do believe each firearm owner is responsible for obtaining appropriate training, I also believe in the actual text of the 2nd amendment.

I believe requiring additional licensing and training will do little to reduce the incidence of unlawful activity - including worst-case scenarios like Newtown, Ct. Rather, by implementing such requirements, the 2nd amendment becomes void - gun ownership will no longer be a right but rather privilege granted by the governmental authority.

To be sure, this is a thorny issue. However, I am not willing to give up basic rights as a solution to a problem, particularly when that so-called solution will likely do little to fix the problem.

Rob Malone

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To the Editor:

My surprise was not that liberal Jim Cornelius would call for firearm registration but the fact he would admit he once worked in a gun store. You can say it over and over but some people just don't get it - more laws only hamper the innocent - criminals and mental cases pay no attention.

It can be no more obvious than Oregon's holiday highway toll for Christmas was 3 dead people and 53 drunken-driving arrests just on the state highways. Oregon led the nation with strict drunk-driving laws, and yet the carnage continues with thousands killed across the nation each year. Certainly some of the laws have helped, but more laws are not stopping the

problem.

The fact more laws do not stop violence does not mean that nothing should be done, but the last thing politicians should start with is more gun control. They instead should work to correct the mental-health system that liberal legislatures changed. Oregon, like many states, made major changes to mental-health treatment with a system that emphasized lockup for serious mental problems. Community treatment became the socially acceptable thing to do, but sufficient funding and an easy process has made the program fail.

Every significant firearm tragedy like Sandy Hook has involved individuals with mental issues and none of the current or proposed gun laws would have prevented the violence. Even an outright ban on firearms - that will never happen - would not stop criminals. New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, and other politically blue areas lead the nation with tough gun laws and also experience more violent crime than most of the country.

Yesterday a New York newspaper published an address list of "registered" gun owners. Most likely over the next few months crime will increase in some of the areas where firearms were not owned, a great road map for criminals.

Morality and responsibility can never be legislated. The politically easy route for some is to express outrage at the violence and then propose more ineffective laws. Let us all hope this time some smart leaders will propose more difficult but effective treatment and lockup when needed of individuals suffering mental-health issues.

Mike Clark

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To the Editor:

Response to Ken Serkownek (The Nugget, December 26): Ken and I have different ideas about guns. According to Ken I am a gun nut. Ken cannot talk me into seeing things his way, so I am an unreasonable gun nut.

I received Ken's original email. I respectfully replied with my ideas and opinion. He informed me that, "he has no desire to hear my opinion."

I believe that Ken and his liberal friends are the unreasonable ones.

Warren Rice

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To the Editor:

I have listened, watched, and read the news in regards to the shooting in Connecticut, and the simple solution to this type of problem is "Love your neighbor as yourself."

If one person would have reached out to a troubled kid, mentored, and spoke life into to him and simply became his friend, there would be no shooting in that school. Bitterness, anger, frustration eats at people and we as a nation need to speak life and love into each other. We as a town can do this.

Very simple. Love. A very, very powerful solution to a difficult problem.

No set of regulations will make as big of an impact as men or women stepping out of your comfort zone, sticking your hand out and introducing yourself to someone new. Then, be a friend. After a wonderful time like Christmas where God's love was sent to us in Christ, I compel you as a town to be an example to a nation and love each other.

Let there be no feeble among us in Sisters. Let there be no one in need in Sisters. We take care of our own. Do not expect anything from someone else. Love first and love hard no matter what. Be an answer to prayer to a neighbor or someone passing through town. Offer prayer and friendship. Open your Bible and learn to love unconditionally without judgment or debate. The President, Congress, Senate, or court do not change hearts. Love does! Blessings.

Jeff Haken

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To the Editor:

I, too, own a couple of guns. I have a .243 rifle and a .22 pistol. I consider myself a hunter. I grew up in a hunting family, even have a couple members in Boone & Crockett.

However none of my family members own one of the weapons being discussed: Weapons of mass destruction. I went through all the gun safety classes and I also learned from my family that guns are to be respected and NEVER pointed at people.

I have no problem with more restrictive laws and licensing procedures. If you should count to 10 before speaking when angry you should definitely wait days before buying a gun when crazy.

Debbie Spencer

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To the Editor:

Living in close-knit eastern Oregon towns we too often hear of the exorbitant costs borne by friends and neighbors struck with medical expenses far beyond their ability to pay. For all the effort and donations that go into helping them, generally they and their families are still saddled with insurmountable bills which are as life-changing as the medical catastrophe itself.

It is time for all Oregonians to have comprehensive health insurance! Health care is a human right. Most other developed nations provide universal health care to their citizenry. Insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry are spending billions to lobby our legislators and bend our minds to oppose single payer coverage at the national and state levels. Oregon could be the third state in the nation to pass a comprehensive state health care plan.

Health Care for All-Oregon, HCAO, is a statewide, grassroots effort to change Oregon's constitution to include health care as a human right and to find a way for all Oregonians to have health care throughout our state. Oregon Rural Actions' health care team is working with over 60 other Oregon organizations to make health care for all a reality.

Join us at one of our meetings, January 7 or 25; call the office at 541-975-2411 or visit

http://www.oregonrural.org/our-work/health-care-reform.

Mary McCracken

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To the Editor:

Hey ya. My daughter is staying with you for six months, on student exchange.

I love so much about the love your town has already shown her, but I write letters to the Sydney paper all the time and I thought it would be mildly funny if I had one published in your local paper just to annoy her!

Yes, she will hate me for doing this!

Thank you, Sisters, for looking after an Aussie kid. You are all welcome, maybe two at a time, to come a visit your new sister city!

Chris McGinness