Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/99667
6A Daily News – Wednesday, December 19, 2012 Opinion Gun control gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Editor: Shooting in school brings talk of gun control laws. About a year ago, news of monks fighting with brooms demonstrated it's not the weapon to be controlled, but human nature that's important. Perhaps more education is needed on mental health, human behavior and family togetherness. Steve Kelsey, Corning Chip Thompson, Editor Shooting DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes letters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submitted will be considered for publication. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong community newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehicles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its communities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the residents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Editor: I have really been thinking about this horrible tragedy in Connecticut. First I cried my eyes and heart out then I tried to think of what I could do personally to help those poor suffering families. First we must all put aside politics. I am a gun owner of several guns. Shotgun, rifle, hand gun. Dean and I are both responsible gun owners. Obtained them through legal channels. I purchased shotguns for my own sons and I am a Democrat. I truly believe we need to tighten our gun laws. No one needs to own an assault rifle any more than they should have their own nuclear weapon. Some controls over the violent movies and games our children are participating in. Programs and funding for mental health are paramount. Yes we took them all out of mental hospitals and put them out on the street. Parents of developmentally disabled children are not sup- ported, nor are those children when they grow up. There is no single quick fix. Wake up America. We are suppose to be the leaders of the free world and we have the worst crime records. We can put pressure on our elected leaders to take action now. Quit playing petty politics. I would just bet if it was their children, wives, sisters, daughters that were murdered, they would act quickly. We all have a responsibility in this. Send a message to your state as well as federal representatives. And most important let's not forget those precious lives that were taken. I'm not sure I could be as brave as I have seen those families. My heart will break each and every day for them. May God have mercy on them Teresa Hancock, Cottonwood Profile in courage? Editor: Your newspaper informs us that our outgoing Congressional representative, Wally Herger, has introduced a bill which, he claims, would reform Medicare. In my opinion, the plan, as described in the Daily News, has a number of provisions which deserve consideration. However, among other things the bill would offer incentives (not otherwise described) to enroll in Medicare at age 67 rather than 65. It would also require all Medicare supplement plans to have co-pays. "Then there would be an incentive for people to think about whether or Herger, if their departure, involunnot they really needed to see the tary or otherwise, would cause doctor." The article states that Mr. them to take actions, albeit overHerger has "worked on the legisla- due, for the benefit of the people and government they serve, rather tion for more than two years..." The purpose of this letter is not to than for the advancement of their pass judgment on the merits of Mr. own careers, this country would be Herger's proposed legislation. far better off. Thomas Hilligan, Rather is it to question the timing of Red Bluff its introduction. The issues involved in the pending fiscal cliff are hardly new: the seriYour ousness of the extent of Editor: our national indebtedBetween our counness, of which the ongotry going over the fising cost of Medicare is a cal cliff and the major component, has prophecy of the ancient been under public scrutiny for the last several elections at least. Have Mayans, we are doomed. In the interim, we still need we heard our congressman's views to address state and local maton that subject up to now? I may be wrong, but in this dis- ters. One that I find quizzical is trict any proposal to raise the enroll- seeing California Exempt ment age for Medicare — with or licensed vehicles parked in priwithout incentives — or to require vate driveways — i.e., resisupplement co-pays, is a non- dences after the workday and on starter, i.e. would lose votes for its weekends. I'm not talking about one or author. If, on the other hand, the two here and there, occasionalbill is such a good idea, and has been under consideration for some ly. Sometimes there are two or time, why wait until now to publi- three parked in a single neighborhood. Look around. cize it? It seems to me that the peoThe answer, of course, is that ple who are getting paid by we this particular congressman no longer has to face the voters to the people with tax money keep his job. Hardly a profile in should not have such frivolous access to vehicles for what courage. For reasons not necessary to go seems to be personal use while into here, I have not been a fan of we the people still pay for our term limits for our legislators. This own transportation — personal case, however, has caused me to or work related. I would like to know what begin to re-think that issue. With justification allows for Califorsuch limits, more senators, congressmen, and assemblymen nia Exempt vehicles to be driwould necessarily be leaving ven as personal vehicles by state and local personnel — and office. Based upon what has apparent- why? Joseph Ostrowski, Red Bluff ly occurred in the case of Mr. Exempt Turn Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: governor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Ceanothus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 893-8363. U.S. SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 2240454. Commentary How to support the troops over the holidays Ah, the holiday season is upon us. What better time to show our support for our men and women in uniform? But have we really been supporting them? Sure, we thank them when we see them at the airport. We attend Memorial Day and Veterans Day events to show our appreciation. And with good reason. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly 42 million American men and women have served during wartime. Nearly 1.2 million died while serving. Nearly 1.5 million were wounded. Since 9/11, more than 5,300 have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly 36,000 have been wounded — many have debilitating injuries that have changed their lives forever. We should debate the rightness or wrongness of various engagements, but we know that freedom comes at a steep price — and we honor those who have secured it for us. But are we really supporting the troops? During the peak of World War II, American defense spending was 42 percent of our gross domestic product. Everyone — those who served as well as those who remained at home — needed to unite and sacrifice. Today, defense spending is around 3 percent of GDP. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have required little or no sacrifice from most of us. We haven't paid higher taxes to fund the wars — our government borrowed the money for that. We haven't needed to buy war bonds or work long hours at a factory to produce tanks and planes. We haven't given up vacations, new cars, gasoline, meat, sugar and the hundreds of other items that were rationed during World War II. Most haven't done so for a simple reason: Our support of the troops has not been a matter of need, but a matter of choice. Aside from our goodwill and appreciation, the fact is this: Many have chosen to not support the troops much at all. As you read this, thousands of soldiers are serving in hostile conditions. Some will be badly wounded — some won't make it home. They don't want our pity, to be sure. They are trained war- other legitimate organizations riors. They volunteered to serve. are in need of volunteers. Organize a toy But they could use a drive for children of little support — and deployed soldiers. we don't have to sacriSupport the Marine fice much to provide Corps Toys for Tots it. program. Provide gift "There are many cards to troops small things people through aafes.com. can do that can make a Donate money. world of difference," You can give to a says Jerry Newberry, variety of needed serdirector of communivices for military cations for the Vetermembers — or supans of Foreign Wars port the Red Cross to (VFW). Tom provide basic necessiSuch as assisting ties to service memthe family of a service bers in military hosmember who has been pitals. deployed. Just go to vfw.org and click "Family members go through a long period of wondering, on "Assistance," or "Conworrying and waiting," says tribute." Hey, the holidays are upon Newberry. "But they still need to deal with the car breaking us. What better time to offer real down, a child getting sick, a support to our men and women death in the family. If you know in uniform? of such families, reach out to Tom Purcell, a humor them." Or write an e-mail. The columnist for the Pittsburgh troops — particularly those Tribune-Review, is nationally recuperating in military hospi- syndicated exclusively by tals — love receiving e-mails Cagle Cartoons newspaper (www.ourmilitary.mil), letters syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web at www.TomPurcell.com or eand care packages. him at Donate time. Your local Vet- mail erans Affairs office, VFW and Purcell@caglecartoons.com. Purcell