Cutting down the options will not cut down the murders
We just had two more horrific mass murders in our country. Hopefully we can get a better understanding of what motivates such behavior and figure out some effective actions to minimize it. Fortunately, both of these sick murderers used simple semi-automatic rifles. More effective mass murderers used more mass destruction weapons like bombs, biological weapons and driving trucks into crowds. Having these simple rifles available to these two probably saved lives, kind of counter-intuitive but true. A sad example is Timothy McVeigh who killed almost 200 people (worst act of domestic terrorism in US history) with a fertilizer bomb in a rental truck. The act took place in Oklahoma City, and most “experts” speculated that if McVeigh entered the office building with a rifle (even one that looks like an assault rifle) he would have been taken out long before he could have killed so many. A motivated murderer has lots of tools to pick from, cutting down the options (like the unrealistic dream of no guns) will not cut down the murders; however it could increase the body count.
—Leona M. Butts, Clearlake Oaks
In response to Mr. Nickel’s letter published July 27: Crisis at the border
No, Mr. Nickel, the crisis at the border is not the same as it has been under previous presidents. The fact is that good policy is informed and not haphazard as it is now. Under the previous several administrations there has been a growth in immigrant detention. The real change has been that under our current administration the “zero tolerance” policies have raised prosecution rates of immigrants to send them home up by 134%. Focusing on family separations has also greatly increased with immigrants held far longer than previous administrations.
Also if mass deportation in large numbers were to take place, state and local revenue could take a substantial hit. According to the National Academy of Science, immigrants are “integral to the growth of the US economy.” Internal Revenue Service reported that 4.4 million immigrants contributed tax returns worth $23.6 billion dollars. According to the Institute on Tax and Economic Policy updated last March 2017 reported that states will lose $11.74 billion if all undocumented immigrants were removed. In California alone they contributed 3.2 billion dollars. As of late 2019, this number surely has grown, and this is because the average age of current wage earners is rising and many are not being replaced in our current aging workforce.
So any “miss”informed or misinformed person looking at the situation may not have their head in the sand after all. Read the report that Representative Mike Thompson and Vice President Mike Pence noted egregious conditions with meningitis becoming prevalent, along with lice, flu outbreaks and other squalid and severe neglectful practices being carried out.
Regarding debt, the reason we can’t put immigrants in “for star” hotels: the writer ignores the fact that swept under the rug has been that the federal budget is forecast to produce a line of deficits totaling $1 trillion a year, and in the fiscal year 2019 the debt will increase by $1.32 trillion. That is $228 billion more than the deficit. The budget shortfall has increased under Trump driven by Republican tax cuts that will add “$1.5 trillion over a decade,” according to Bloomberg News.
We all need to take a look at this and attempt to find solutions that will benefit everyone, and not use the fate of our fellow-citizens for political gain.
—Ellen Karnowski, Kelseyville
Beta Sigma Phi thanks pharmacy owners
The Ladies of Delta Iota Tau ( chapter of Beta Sigma Phi International Sorority) would like to thank the previous owners of Northlake Medical Pharmacy Dana & Bill Kearney for allowing us to sell See’s candy year-round at their Bruno’s location. This is our largest fundraiser and to be able to sell year-round gives us the ability to donate back to local needs. We want to give a very special thank you to the new owners Kyla and Danny Neely for continuing this on and allowing us to sell the candy year-round.
Thank you from the sisters of Delta Iota Tau
—Submitted
Coffee with Mike Thompson in Lower Lake
Mike Thompson of the US House of Representatives visited Lake County July 30 and hosted a coffee hour in Lower Lake Coffee.
Towards the end of the event one woman in a red dress sat and enumerated her concerns in a strong and detailed manner, voicing what others have thought and discussed regarding the PG&E plans for safety black outs, possible five day shut-offs of electrical power because of “Red Flag Days,” that will be determined by the US Weather Service.
This woman voiced concerns for low income rate paying customers who do not have the financial resources to purchase a generator, and disabled seniors living in mobile home parks who need special equipment to breathe and survive on a daily basis with electricity.
“People will die,” She said.
Thompson mentioned plans by Lakeport to establish cooling rooms for people affected by the heat.
Thompson added, “ We are communicating with PG&E to find a way people can have generators who cannot afford to buy them”
Many others had concerns, and they voiced their concerns while Mike Thompson listened respectfully, giving his input and honest views in a respectful manner. He spoke of health care and gun control. Mike Thompson cared enough to meet us, buy coffee, sometimes a smoothie, and hear our concerns.
–Joan Moss, Kelseyville
