In regard to the law which allows citizens to carry a concealed weapon, I hope to see concealed weapons banned in Lincoln.

I read a recent letter to the editor, “Gun owners not morons,” which criticized Police Chief Tom Casady’s Local View column. After reading the letter I thought, “Oh, my God.” People like this want to carry concealed weapons. That may not be a good idea.

I thought Chief Casady’s commentary contained a lot of good common sense.

My husband, who is deceased, was a police officer in another city in Nebraska (not Lincoln). We had a discussion on this same subject several years ago when it had been brought up for discussion to become a state law.

He brought out the fact that if an individual is willing to carry a concealed weapon for protection against an attacker and is confronted by one, is he or she capable of using this gun on the attacker? If they find they are not able to do this, the attacker could very well take the gun away and use it on them instead.

I think this is a point well made.

Let the law enforcement personnel handle and deal with the “bad guys.”

I urge all citizens to think on this before making any definite decisions about this law.

Darlene Levos, Lincoln

Waste? Not!In response to Betty Bruno (letter, May 10) concerning the recent article about the Malcolm girls, “Hey, cruising is pricey as gas costs near $3 a gallon,” I’ve been waiting patiently for a public response, so thank you, Betty.

 

I’m sad to report those Malcolm girls continue to waste gas, going to track, volleyball, basketball and cross-country practice during the year, as well as band, speech, and Future Business Leaders of America events. Two in that car are in the National Honor Society as sophomores and three out of the four carry a 4.0 GPA. The last state FBLA event they even wasted extra gas carrying home a big heavy crystal trophy.

As far as any of the girls having a job to pay for gas, there isn’t a lot of time left in the day during the school year, but three out of four have applied for and been hired for summer employment. If those girls consume two gallons of gas on a Friday night going to the mall in a 30 mpg econobox, sorry, I guess those girls don’t work hard enough to deserve it.

You’re a product of the media and your Texas oil men leaders. Canada, next month, hosts the biggest oil/petroleum expo in the world in Calgary. I work in an engineering department for a local company that sends equipment to the show. Alberta oil sands are second only in oil reserves to Saudi Arabia. In five years, Canadian oil production will surpass Iraq potential levels.

America chooses their current path, there is an abundance of oil north of Montana, I’m all for conservation, I make my own bio-diesel fuel out of cooking oil, but you’re being duped.

Instead of attacking my parenting abilities and some high school girls’ mall trip, pick your battles, Betty, and propose something intelligent, a light-rail commuter train to Omaha, for instance, an alternative to a multi-million-dollar extra lane to handle the 4,000 cars a day on the corridor.

Bill Schneider, Malcolm

Moment of pride

On election day I was proud to be an American, for I saw democracy in action at the precinct that meets at a local Lincoln middle school. I saw a veteran in camouflage voting. Accompanying her were her two sons, one 8 years of age, the other 5 years of age.

The boys waited patiently as their mother secured her ballot, went to the ballot booth, made her selection and then came to place her ballot in the ballot box. At that time she called her sons to come and observe what she was doing.

Before she deposited the ballot from the ballot sleeve into the ballot box, she commented to her sons:

“I have made my choice as to the candidates running for offices and the amendments to be voted upon. My choices are listed on this ballot. Nobody stood beside me telling me for whom I should vote. I voted for the ones I felt were best qualified for the offices. And no one knows for whom I voted, I am the only one who knows.”

As she deposited the ballot into the ballot box she introduced herself and her two sons to the precinct inspector. As a citizen of 83 years of age I felt a real sense of pride for her, her two sons and the inspector, for it is a demonstration of what we hold dear as a people living in a land called the United States of America.

I don’t know if she has been or will be deployed in future days. One thing I do know — she availed herself to cast her vote in this election (which is both a privilege and a responsibility) and to share with her children the importance of voting.

My final comment — Would that more of our citizens would awaken as to the importance of voting.

Harold E. Hamilton, Lincoln

Campaigns necessary

Campaigning is the most important part of an election. I understand that some may think that the campaigners are annoying, but put yourself in their shoes. If you were up to win a major position against a very respected man, you would campaign every day of the week.

I just think that it is something that the people in Lincoln need to get used to. We are the state’s capital and there are going to be many campaigners to come. If you have the decency to vote, then the least you can do is accept the hard work of all the people that put their time and effort into making signs and petitioning to win the election.

Abby Delaney, Lincoln

Scoring a zero

The Lincoln Journal Star really has Lincoln’s best interest in mind. Let’s put out a Ground Zero and promote Omaha.

It was an interesting cover with the Ground Zero logo floating in the river (May 12). Must be the same river you have to cross to get to the casinos in Iowa.

Aldis Augstums, Lincoln

Is faith that weak?

After I finished reading “The Da Vinci debate” (LJS, May 13), I felt I had to respond.

Archbishop Angelo Amato, a Vatican official, voices the opinion that Dan Brown’s book, as well as the movie, must be viewed as an attack on Christianity and the Catholic Church. The Southern Nebraska Register, called the official newspaper of the Lincoln Diocese, tells Catholics they will be committing a mortal sin if they see the film. Father Mark Cyza, a priest at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ, states that both the book and movie are blasphemous. He is concerned that some Christians could be led astray, that Brown’s work can “sow the seeds of doubt.”

Is it the belief of Vatican officials, the Lincoln Diocese and Father Mark Cyza, as well as numerous other church leaders, that the Catholic Church and Christian religion in general are so weak, its adherents so tenuous in their beliefs, that this work of fiction will throw the universe as they know it into chaos?

Aren’t there far greater ills surrounding us each day that can and should be addressed by church leaders other than this Da Vinci tempest? When men worship at the altar of power and money, when there are people who are hungry, who are homeless, and so many other areas of true concern, should the call to arms of Christians really have such a shallow focus?

I am not one who is fanatical about religion, whatever form it takes. I am one, however, who is stunned by this incredible fear that this one fictional novel has evoked.

If faith can move mountains, sustain us through Sept. 11, provide strength for all who are heavy laden, and keep us looking upward and forward, surely it is strong enough to withstand a few questions.

Bob Pinkerton, Weeping Water