Letters for January 17, 2013

Gordian knot

Re “Number 9, Number 9” (Editorial, Jan. 10):

Let me see … they are unsuited for heated homeless shelters that provide food, but are inclined to trespass or break into private properties. They will live in their illegal, unheated shelters in groups? They are either felons or mentally ill people that should be locked up for their and the public’s own good.

Dean Chaney
Sun Valley

Baffled by Bri

Re “Guns and Clubs” (Editor’s Note, Jan. 3):

I just read this Editor’s Note and I almost fell off my chair. D. Brian Burghart mentions he has a CCW to confirm he doesn’t hate guns, which frankly does not make sense. I assume it’s a standard six-shot revolver, and it’s the only gun he owns. What he suggests is to ban all automatic and semi-automatic firearms. Now let’s take a look at what that entails.

First, banning automatic firearms is not an issue. Less than 1 percent of gun owners have one. They are highly regulated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which requires a background check and an annual permit. It’s not easy to get one and no legally owned automatic firearm has been used in a crime spree in recent memory.

So we are left with the semi-auto firearms. This would leave firearms that are either single-shot, bolt-action or pump action. Most upland game shotguns are semi-auto along with many deer rifles as well. It would ban the 10/22 since it is an automatic and is magazine fed, oh my. All pistols that are not revolvers or single-shot are banned; those used by our Olympic athletes are gone as well. So that ban would leave a few guns on the shelf, you might as well ban them all.

Now onto the repealing of the Second Amendment. This is an inalienable right, not subject to repeal by anyone. I do believe that if this were the First Amendment, you would not be in favor of that. I think we need to remove all gun-free zones, since that law did not stop anyone, did it? We need to allow teachers who want to carry or secure a firearm in their classes, to do so. We need to have one full time, fully trained person who is armed and is on school grounds to protect what we hold most valuable. Why don’t we protect our children instead of putting them in a place where is no defense?

Victor Bausell
Reno

As written

Re “Guns and Clubs” (Editor’s Note, Jan. 3):

People seem to lose focus on the Second Amendment. Let me refresh your memory. Here it is: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

How many Americans have even read this much less understood it? The argument that the Second Amendment was designed for hunting and personal protection is not correct. The main intent to keep and bear arms was to prevent abuse of government towards the population. This brings up another topic. In those days, the military basically had the same rifles the public had, so if the intent was to balance power between the people and government in today’s world and since the military has fully automatic weapons, shouldn’t fully automatic weapons be allowed to be owned by the American citizenry?

Mike Arp
Reno

Increase background checks

Re “Guns and Clubs” (Editor’s Note, Jan. 3):

First off, I am not for the banning of guns. There are millions of guns sold every year and hundreds of millions of rounds of ammo sold at the same time. The percentage of all that firepower being used for purposes other than sport shooting, hunting or self-defense is in the low range. If law-abiding people want to own guns, so be it. They aren’t the problem as long as they use reasonable care in maintaining and securing their purchases. What I am for is the regulation of those who should not own guns. It will take a wiser person than myself to come up with a reasonable solution. It is also time for the National Rifle Association to come up with an alternative other than more guns, and they also shouldn’t be afraid of reasonable regulations. I would think the NRA would, in their own interest, be more willing to accept legislation to keep guns away from those who shouldn’t have them. Every time there’s a mass shooting people throw accusations at the NRA. Sooner or later some will stick. As I see one of the arguments from the NRA: It’s better to let some people who shouldn’t have guns get them rather than inconvenience one legit gun purchaser. I’d rather let a hundred legitimate gun purchasers wait 20 minutes to buy a gun rather than a 20-second wait if it means keeping the gun out of the hands of one who shouldn’t.

Dewey Quong
Reno

Company casinos

After reading the book Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, it seems to me that the No. 1 problem facing low-wage workers is finding a place to live. Why don’t casino owners buy boarded up hotels and turn them into employee housing? There would be a 24-hour daycare, a 24-hour cafeteria, and reduced transportation problems for the employees who live there. There would not be any deposit required, since rent and daycare services would be tied to paychecks.

Karen Marie
Sparks

Mission missed

Re “8 things you didn’t know about being homeless in Reno” (Feature story, Jan. 3):

I just read your article on the plight of the homeless in Reno, “8 things you didn’t know about being homeless in Reno.” The article was interesting. I enjoyed reading it but have a question and a comment. JJ Bailey, a sometimes homeless man, is quoted as saying “The city, or the county or whatever, they get money for every person they put in jail.” He goes on to say that every person put in jail earns someone $75 a night. The article makes no reference to the author making an attempt to verify the claim. My question is, is it true?

The comment I was left wondering about relates to the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission. With references to Volunteers of America, Project Restart, We Care, Rise and Loving Hearts Club which provide food and shelter, I could not help but wonder why no reference was made to the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission. The Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission provides overnight shelter for men and women, and according to their website, serve 350,000 meals annually. Their building is the first thing you see when you turn on to Record Street from Fourth Street. Not to down grade any of the entities that provide services to the homeless in Reno but to miss the “Mission” is a large oversight and seemingly the ninth thing people don’t know about the plight of the homeless in Reno.

Bill Roullier
Jonathan Housing

No excuse

Re “8 things you didn’t know about being homeless in Reno” (Feature story, Jan. 3):

Seriously, what type of city are we?

We contemplate rather erroneously subsidizing big businesses (Reno Aces), we lure and offer out-of-state corporations immediate and substantial state tax breaks to relocate locally (ie; Apple, Inc.) and yet, don’t have the societal decency to offer our community’s homeless clean toilet facility usage 24/7. Shame on the entire RTC 4th Street bus terminal management group; shame on our political leaders; shame on all of us, and shame on the city of Reno. We’ve earned our horrific reputation. We’re a cesspool, the entire nation knows it, and unfortunately, we don’t deserve any kudos for anything done well as long as memory serves me. Only Las Vegas has done worse, and they at least can blame their numerous shortsightedness and ongoing communal mistakes on their blazing summer heat. What the heck is our excuse?

Jonnie Gaits
Reno

Try the squid

Re “Restaurant royalty” (Foodfinds, Jan. 3):

I’ve been a restaurateur for 45 years and consider myself an aficionado of deep fried calamari. If it’s on a menu I order it. And although there are some great offerings around Reno only one needs absolutely no sauce (as good as the sauces are) at all. And that’s Chef Paul’s at the Stonehouse. Bravo to a Reno legend.

Philip DeManczuk
Restaurant & Wine Director