Letters to the editor: February 13

We encourage readers to submit letters to the editor on issues of interest to East Valley residents. Submissions should be no longer than 300 words, factually accurate and original thoughts of the writer. Please be brief and include name, address, city and phone number for verification. Letters and call-in comments may be edited for clarity and length.

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Guns in school — View from a school

As director of a 450-student charter school, we had a scary experience when we were forced into a lockdown situation because of a local dual murder. Our school is in Yavapai County, and the typical sheriff response time is half an hour. As a trained concealed weapons permit holder and expert shot, I felt naked in the attempt to protect my students until police could arrive. Had I been able to have my weapon on campus, not like a sitting duck on a pond, I would have been able to at least take a defensive position on behalf of my students, faulty, staff and parents.

Butch Cassidy (and the Sundance Kid) were supposedly asked, “Why do you rob banks?” and answered, “Because that’s where the money is.” It would be terrible to say, “We can shoot the kids in school because they have no protection except rulers.”

I support SB1214 by Sen. Karen Johnson and Rep. Russell Pearce and proclaim “it’s about time.” Trained weapon holders, whether teachers or administrators, would be a great detriment to a bad guy looking for students or teachers as targets. Only those trained adults who want or choose to carry a firearm would do so. Our school implements ARS 15-714.01, which allows marksmanship and hunter and firearms safety training for high school credit, and aggressively teaches Second Amendment rights. All schools should. Write and have your legislator support Senate Bill 1214.

Steve Anderson

Director, American Heritage Academy

cottonwood

Acting before the fact

Patricia Abraham (Letters, Feb. 5) asks, “With all the anger and hate going on in the world today, why would anyone suggest guns in schools?” Well, because anger- and hate-filled maniacs like gun-free zones (such as schools, many malls and some churches) to vent their rage on innocent children and adults, and someone has to stop them. The police can’t stop them; the best they can do is organize a body count after the fact. Maniacs don’t shoot up police stations or gun stores; they pick victim disarmament zones where no one can stop them until it is too late.

“Who’s to say that if someone comes into school meaning harm that they would pick the classroom with guns in it?” That’s the whole point: The maniac doesn’t know which classroom has the guns in it (they should all have an armed teacher) and therefore he will look for a target at which he is more likely to get his rage-filled mission completed, and commit suicide, before anyone can stop him. The idea is to make his rage-filled mission impossible to complete so he won’t even try it.

Don Cline

mesa

Welcome back, Wild West

Patricia Abraham (Letters, Feb. 5) thinks that the politicians from Mesa have gone mad because they want to allow law-abiding citizens to carry a gun at a school/college? If this law passes, children won’t be able to carry a gun in school, you need to be 21 to purchase a handgun and to get a permit for concealed carry. The only people in schools who will legally be able to carry a weapon will be teachers and staff. It would serve as a deterrent. Has it been that long that the massacre at Virginia Tech happened?

You hear the shouts of the anti-gun people saying we are going back to the Wild West again. That might be a good thing, in part. In the Wild West, a criminal would not make it far on a rampage until a law-abiding citizen carrying his own weapon would have taken care of business.

Criminals inherently will prey on the weak and defenseless and they will not prey on them where they are not assured of some degree of success. Who is more weak and defenseless than our most precious treasure — our children attending schools and colleges? In this day of senseless acts of violence and terror, I personally am glad there are people like Karen Johnson and Russell Pearce in the Legislature. I live in Mesa and I cannot count on the police to protect me and my loved ones, they cannot be everywhere, but I am glad that Johnson is my state senator.

Mike Fissel

Mesa

Marijuana — Don’t chill debate

Regarding Stan White’s thoughtful letter about medical marijuana’s Biblical basis (Jan, 24): Some plants are good plants. I believe that some plants such as poison ivy and poison oak are bad plants.

Millions of people believe that marijuana is a good plant.

Others believe it’s a bad plant. My question is: Should people who use or grow what other people believe to be a bad plant, be arrested and jailed?

I believe that hot chili peppers are bad plants. Should people who eat or grow hot chili peppers be arrested and jailed for doing so?

Kirk Muse

Mesa

Cell phones — Go after drivers

When is the Arizona Legislature going to wise up and pass laws giving Arizona law enforcement organizations complete and absolute unrestricted authority to give citations to people talking on cell phones while cruising Arizona’s streets and highways? I am so fed up with these idiots not paying attention to streets around them and endangering the lives of all around them as they while time away on their phones.

To you people guilty of cell phone use while driving, what is wrong with you? Don’t you care that because of your apathy towards other motorists, bike riders or walkers, someone could easily die or be turned into a vegetable simply awaiting death at some rehab complex due to an accident caused of your thoughtlessness? To the Legislature, I say let’s get busy creating laws and treating those who use cell phones while driving as we do those whom law enforcement officers constantly arrest for DUI violations, plus if it can be legally proven that cell phones use caused or contributed to someone’s death on our streets or highways, then let’s give our state and country officials such as Andrew Thomas unlimited power to see manslaughter charges against guilty persons.

I say to our honored and prestigious Arizona lawmakers, do act ASAP to enact driving safety regulations with severe penalties, including citations, license revoking, and criminal arrest and jail or state prison time depending on the severity of the violation at hand because of cell phone use while driving your vehicle that results in accident or death.

Wade Schlosser

Chandler

Thank you — Brightening post office holidays

The employees of the Mesa Main Post Office on Center Street in downtown Mesa would like to thank Linda Hartmann for volunteering to contact and coordinate playing times with all of the musicians who performed in our lobby during the holiday season. In addition, we appreciate all the musicians who volunteered their time and talents, as well as Washburn Piano on Val Vista Drive for donating the beautiful piano for the event.

I have no doubt the performances truly brightened postal customers’ day when visiting our retail lobby, not to mention the smiles they brought to our employees faces. All of the volunteers are shining stars in our eyes!

All of the Mesa Main Post Office employees are grateful for Linda’s willingness to coordinate the musicians’ performances and for her performances in our lobby. Thanks to all of the performers for being so giving of themselves and truly representing what the holiday season is all about.

Robert Hurley

Mesa