Trump’s push to arm teachers not a good plan
President Trump’s answer to improve school safety after the death of 17 students in the Florida school shooting is to arm teachers and establish a commission to study the issue of age for purchasing an assault rifle. This is President Trump working for the NRA, not the welfare of school students.
Guns kill 32,000 Americans a year, but not a penny is given to any government agency to study and analyze why there are so many deaths. Victims of gun violence can thank the National Rifle Association for preventing any funding of research of studies to understand gun violence.
The pro-gun NRA succeeded in ramming legislation through in 1996 that forbids the government from using federal funds to study the causes and effects of gun violence. The effect of this legislation has kept Americans in the dark about many aspects of gun violence. Why do you think the National Rifle Association does not want Americans to know the facts about gun violence?
Paul Love
Kailua-Kona
Visitor should meet more locals
I wasn’t born until 30 days after Dec. 7, 1941. I’m not sure what a birth date has to do with Lynwood Stevens’ column. I have lived in South Kona since January 1973, so I feel I have an opinion to share.
I love this island like I’ve loved no other location in my life (U.S. mainland and 40 countries.) Soooo, Mr. Stevens, I value your opinion but do not agree, as I’m not a “Trumpster.”
I suggest you start some conversations with us so-called local folks to see how your feelings line up, and perhaps some travel around the world to see how other folks do it might be helpful and “broaden” your opinions.
By the way, we are the 50th state, not the 49th! It’s Hawaii 5-0.
C. F. Steffen
Captain Cook
Visitor should get to know Hawaii better
Lynnwood Stevens’ rant published in the My Turn section of WHT March 12 points out the two reasons he comes to the Big Island almost every year.
(1) “I like the climate … and (2) “Hawaii is a state in the good old USA.”
Not bad reasons, until he continued to say that he would like to “stake my claim to Hawaii …” because he and his family served in the military and is a taxpayer “if you know what I mean.” (His words). He continued his rant about George Will, the RINOs (Republican in name only), and a whole lot more.
Mr. Stevens, yes, we do know what you mean: This is not Minnesota and it’s obvious you think you’re smarter than the rest of us. You’re not! Perhaps by getting out of your timeshare where you enjoy “the lifestyle of the rich and famous” and getting to know Hawaii from a less dismissive point of view, you’d enjoy your snow bird status a bit more, if you know what I mean.
Or, you could take your own advice and vacation elsewhere. Your home state of Minnesota sounds great this time of year!
Likeke Bumanglag
Kailua-Kona
Don’t like it, leave
The letter to the editor that was printed the other day from R.G. Roosen sounded like he’s unhappy with the Hawaii government and Japanese people, and yet he’s still here.
Does he know who’s working in HIEMA, accusing them of being lazy, incompetent and dishonest? He seems to know a lot of history, so let him blow his bugle.
I have a favorite T-shirt that says “You’re offended — I’ll help you pack.”
Ira Uehana
Kapaau
Poem to Kona
If you seek you will find,
creation, here
peace, here
nature, here
wonder, here
life, here
tradition, here
uniqueness, here
friends, here
beauty, here
paradise, here
mana, here
ohana, here
aloha, here
P.S. why, residents, do you think we have so many visitors from so many countries?
Steve Hill
Kailua-Kona