All are inanimate objects
I attended the Senate Judiciary Hearings Mar. 4 on Senate bills — 195, 196, 197 and House Bill 1224. All four were passed, as expected, due to a majority of Democratic senators. I listened to the testimony of advocates, victims and professionals for those for and against these bills. The state’s top law enforcement officials ultimately testified that if all the seven bills were passed and made into law that they would do nothing to stem the violence. I am a retired law enforcement agent, and I condemn all the senseless violence and killings that have occurred.
My position is that any weapon, any magazine, any and all ammunition are inanimate objects. In the hands of responsible gun owners, they pose no threat to the public. In the hands of criminals and those intent on causing harm, then they are a threat. Common sense dictates that there is only one common thread here. Criminals and evil intenders are the problem here. Not the law-abiding citizens!
Should these bills be passed and made into law then we as a state will have been weakened. Weakened in our ability to defend ourselves. Weakened as in always second-guessing our actions involving violence. Weakened by the malicious restrictions and new laws that will turn me into a criminal if I sell or transfer any gun that I may have.
I urge all Colorado citizens to read all the bills being set to vote on by the General Assembly soon. I, for one, will advocate that these bills be voted down or outright stricken from being considered. They are malicious, unjust, unnecessary and target the responsible and law-abiding citizens and gun owners of our state. Not one advocate for these bills ever stated what they would do to try and bring the criminal element to justice regarding gun crimes.
I am sorry to say that i am ashamed of our representatives and senators. It was made clear to me that there are senators with an agenda. That agenda does not involve the well-being of our state and its citizens or having common sense at all.
In the three minutes given to me to make my statement, I asked and insisted that these bills be given to the people of Colorado for a vote. These bills will impact many citizens and businesses. The magnitude of what is being presented by these senators and representatives is of such importance that I believe the people of Colorado should vote on it. I stated that if the people of Colorado passed these bills then I would accept it. I will not accept a law that will be rammed down my throat by someone who has an agenda.
Remember people, guns do not kill people.
Thirty-round magazines do not kill people. Bullets do not kill people. Responsible gun owners do not kill people.
Mentally ill people, criminals, people intent on causing harm are the ones that kill and prey on innocent people. That is the reality of our world, and I challenge anyone to refute it.
Wayne Richardson
Denver
Recruit candidates from the core
Regarding the upcoming vote in April concerning a potential City Council pay increase, I feel that many in our community have taken a stance on the issue without seeing this through on all of the angles. The main issue so far has been one of local fiscal responsibility, tying in well with the current state of affairs in our federal government. Some feel that the increased expenditure of funds to pay our local elected officials could be better spent elsewhere. I agree that our local allocation of resources can use some tweaking, but the point being missed here regards the issue of “government for the people, by the people,” common citizens, a very basic tenet of our shared American ideals.
The role of a standard City Council member in most communities is most certainly a part-time job and should be paid as such. On the contrary, our City Council members are also the de-facto Board of Directors of a $1 billion per annum utility corporation and this role is certainly outside of the normal scope of work for your average city council. This responsibility is another part-time job, and one of great importance for all of the constituents/ ratepayers in Utilities’ sphere of influence. If we expect our elected officials to work two part-time jobs for a $6,250/annum salary, we should also be expected to only elect those who are independently wealthy and can afford to work for next to nothing, while being unaware of the issues common constituents face on a daily basis. If we, the people, want elected officials who reflect our common cares and concerns we need to pay them a reasonable salary to recruit candidates from the core of our community, not the fringes.
All voters in Colorado Springs who believe in having a government run “by the people”— having elected officials who reflect similar values and lifestyles— should vote “YES” on the pay increase for City Council in April.
Erik Honaker
Colorado Springs
The children be damned
It appears civil unions will become law in Colorado. (“Civil unions bill passes committee”, Mar. 1) The Catholic Church has asked for an exemption for its adoptive services. This would not affect the intent of the law. But from the tone of those leading the effort in the Legislature per the article, it appears that it won’t be granted, as the leaders appear intolerant and vindictive, bordering on hatred for the church. (But the Catholic Church has always been hated and persecuted, even by its own.)
Thus, Catholic Charities’ Adoption Services that does such great work helping place children in homes will have to close its doors. Why? Simply because its members are faithful Catholics. In this instance, the Democratic Party seems to be saying, the children be damned! These attitudes and action don’t seem to square with the letters in March 3rd’s paper that decry discrimination.
Jack Stanfield
Colorado Springs
There was nothing new
I opened The Gazette recently and saw the article “My Russia” written by Ryan Handy. Wow, I thought, finally The Gazette started to publish the articles about the contemporary Russia, its incredible culture, modern architecture, about new Russian generation that does not remember Lenin or the lines to the shops for simple products anymore.
Alas, there was nothing new. The article was written in the old Cold War language.
Instead of giving the wide panorama of the country’s life, Ryan Handy portrayed Russia in black colors only, relishing “the outskirts dreary neighborhood”, her “abhorrence of the Russian weather”, “the concrete sordid steps that smelled like urine”, “strict order (?) of smoked fish, beet soup and (of course) vodka.” Her knowledge of Russian language also makes the reader wonder about the “odd Russian verbs”. Even an old lady who welcomed the American precious guest with all her heart didn’t please her: “the black gums of Lyuba, her vile bathroom, lumpy mattress… accomplished the portrait of Handy’s Russia.
Though Handy is pretty fair, she “knows only one way to understand this complex country ... a winding journey through deep, sardine-can metro lines (and this is about the best Metro in the world!), through puffs of cigarette smoke, men drinking beer.” Such a way to understand the country, plus the kitchen conversation with an old woman who still lives in her past, poured over the reader “the Vermont syrup that was more than a decade old.” One hope is that her host mother would never read this article.
Was it worth to travel halfway around the globe to write about things that the reader can find in any corner of the world, in any huge city, visiting “the dreary neighborhoods?”
Pavel Kozhevnikov
Colorado Springs
Could cost taxpayers much more
As I understand it a preliminary estimate given by Colorado Springs City Council to “Tear down the present Martin Drake Power Plant”, “Replace with gas turbines at a different location”, “Revise and replace transmission lines, transformer stations, etc.” and place a new baseball field for the Sky Sox, for an estimated price of approximately $250 million.
Today’s highly skilled labor [electricans, pipe fitters, etc] will cost about $65 per hour and by the time the project would be finished it could very well reach $100 per hour. Equipment and material costs have and would also increase a great deal.
My question is. Has the Colorado Springs City Council revised their preliminary replacement cost upward or are they still using that $250 million estimate?
I believe it could easily cost the Colorado Springs taxpayer three times their original estimate or at least $750 million.
William F. Esch
Colorado Springs