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Letters to the editor 10/04/05
Eddie Eagle is OK
While alderman Pete Karas' opposition to the NRA's Eddie Eagle program is undoubtedly genuine, I think his concern for young children who might take part in the program is as phony as it gets. He thinks Eddie Eagle may "introduce" children to the idea of guns, gun ownership and weapons in general. "These are things that usually aren't brought up to children," he was quoted as saying, "This is an introduction."
Well, sir, the liberal entertainment media, along with any number of violent video games "introduce" very young people to guns, violence, gore, death and sex to a degree that the NRA could never hope to match. If you don't think your preschooler can't call up that stuff on the Internet, just hide a camera in the computer room some time.
I have read the Eddie Eagle material. It is clear, safety-oriented and apolitical. It has worked all over the country. Mr. Karas should not be allowed to let his hatred of guns and their lawful owners keep this material from our youth.
3213 LaSalle St. , Racine
What's wrong with Eddie
Frank N. Egerton
4400 Ridgeway Ave., Racine
Fears gun law
I write with fear in my heart for the possibility of passage of a concealed weapons bill for Wisconsin. That we have guns is not the issue, the issue is their concealment. If guns are so necessary, let's strap on a holster and show the world! I am not naive to think that criminals do not carry concealed weapons; personal experience has borne that out. However, I do not believe allowing concealed weapons will stop crime, I believe it will lead to more violence. And here is how: If a criminal, or even just a youngster with his/her hands on a gun to commit a crime for the first time, thinks that their victim is carrying a gun, my belief is they are more likely to shoot the innocent person. It becomes a contest of who shoots first.
Let's use Mr. Gunderson's experience as an example: When he was jumped behind his store, what makes him think he could have gotten out and used a gun prior to being hit? The perpetrators were waiting for him. I, unfortunately, can more easily envision an attempt to pull out a concealed weapon that is dropped or taken and used on the victim.
Many years ago, a family friend drove out of a secure military base, where, as a bricklayer, he was helping construct a hospital. As he drove through the gate, a former co-worker, whom he, as supervisor, had fired, walked up, stuck a gun in the cab, and fired. Our friend had no chance at all. Any weapon he could have carried would have been useless.
When I was awakened one night by a burglar standing in my bedroom doorway, I used my most effective weapon, my voice. He left the same way he came in, through the window from which he had cut out the glass. A gun was unnecessary and could have been much more dangerous. And, of course, it would not have been under my pillow and reachable.
The thought that someone walking down the street could be carrying a gun sends chills down my spine. There are so many angry people in our world these days, let's not make it even easier to cause grievous bodily harm.
Helle K. Berry
Racine
Attack on 1st Amendment
I would like to comment on the recent attempt by alderman Pete Karas to propose a ban on the Eddie Eagle program of offering a child's coloring book in regards to firearms. I don't feel it's up to a low level politician to decide what should be a parents' decision as to what their child should read or view. This smacks of a deliberate attack on our First Amendment.
To somehow think that we should ignore the fact that guns exist in our society is naive to say the least. The National Rifle Association has spent millions of dollars promoting firearm safety. To my knowledge the organization as represented by Mr. Karas has yet to spend a single dime in this area.
The Eddie Eagle program has been a huge success in teaching kids in language they understand that guns are for adults and should be reported by any child that comes across one. To deny this is the ultimate in fuzzy thinking.
I know Mr. Karas has a dim view of the Second Amendment's right to bear arms which is his opinion but to encourage government to ban written material is scary.
B.J. Larson
1006 Echo Lane
Finally, a school bus
Our son graduated private grade school, headed for private high school. We heard horror stories about getting RUSD bus service for him. We thought, "How bad can it get?" Let's see...
Today is Tuesday, Sept. 27, 35 days after we started calling RUSD for bus service - and he finally has a bus to ride.
Of course we called the RUSD busing line (262-631-7138) much earlier, on Aug. 24 and many times thereafter. We had not received our RUSD bus route notice in the mail. We couldn't get through - the phone was busy and voice mail was full. We tried e-mail, too (rusdbus@Racine.k12.wi.us) on Aug. 31 but got no response. Called some more and waited some more - how bad can it get? RUSD called us on Thursday, Sept. 15, to ask if we had been assigned a bus yet but we hadn't - she said they'd "create a stop for him" and call us back - but it never happened. Tried to call her back a few days later but it's an "invalid number." Waited for a response - how bad can it get? After Sept. 19 we could have done more to pursue RUSD, but we were now very curious - how bad can it get?
My wife made me call again today. The cost of gasoline for all those trips to drop him off in the morning and pick him up in the afternoon was really starting to add up. I would have waited longer - after all, how bad can it get? Dan Stroman
1709 N. Emmertsen Road
Jobs, not condos
The city of Racine needs decent paying jobs with insurance, not more overpriced condos that no one can afford. Another condo development on our lake shore will not benefit the overall population of Racine.
The city of Racine needs to use available funds for bringing in jobs that pay a living wage, instead of throwing it away Downtown and at private condo developments. It is necessary to have a viable job market in order to support additional housing developments, not the other way around.
Theresa Cariello
Racine
Horlick traffic mess
We are the proud parents of a Horlick High School sophomore, who like many on the near north, east side residents do not have the opportunity to use the busing provided by the school district. A busing system, by the way, furnished by contract through a service provider that tells the district what time school will start, an issue separate and removed from this haranguing. Either my wife or I drive our son to and from school everyday, much as we did his freshman year. Much to our chagrin, a couple of months before school started the '05-'06 year; we noticed an additional lane was being put in on the eastbound lanes of Rapids Drive at Mount Pleasant. My wife and I found ourselves commenting about how nice the added lane would be, moreover, admiring the forward thinking someone had in getting this done before the school year. Boy were we wrong, as this proved to be only a small sampling of what was to come, the entire rebuilding of Rapids east of Mount Pleasant. What were the folks in charge of scheduling this work thinking? Now, one of the westbound lanes of South Street, west of Douglas is all tore up. Help! We're hopelessly trapped here. I will say it has been most entertaining watching the occasional accidents in the midst of the snarled morning and afternoon traffic. On a more serious note, my primary concern is that centered on the safety of the students that have to cross through these makeshift intersections, not to mention the daily migration to and from school from the Pick-N-Save parking lot. Just why is that pedestrian bridge placed so strategically that one uses it?
Don Kilpatrick
Racine
Racine's many assets
What is here that's not in other places? When City and County officials consider the agonizing process of future budgets, they should ponder what constitutes a livable city.
True ... jobs, infrastructure, schools, and housing are most important. But all of us should stop and think why we choose to live here. You can find all of the above life necessities, for better or worse, in other communities where you can also find a Burger King or a Dunkin' Donuts (or several of each). But can you find Lake Michigan, the Racine Zoo, the Kilties, the Wind Point Lighthouse, the Racine Heritage Museum, Healthcare Network or fishing the Root anywhere but here? All of these assets, be they natural or created by talented, caring citizens, cost money. Can we afford to let them go? Mary Whitman
Racine
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