Nothing funny about gun control

To answer the letter "Anywhere else I'd laugh" (PVT Feb. 20), first let me inform you the issue was not whether or not to allow firearms in government buildings. It is already illegal to carry a firearm into a school, courthouse or other federal or county building.

The issue was whether or not to ban firearms at events sponsored by the town of Pahrump or in town buildings.

There is no need to worry about us gun owners being offended at your laughing. We are used to liberals who do not understand the principles on which this country was founded.

You have not missed 200 years of history. Circumstances have changed but problems remain. The "right to bear arms" is just as important today as it was when this country was founded. Back then it was Brits and wild animals; now it is drug users, gang members and other criminals.

How many people could have prevented being robbed or attacked if they had a gun? Your opinion of gun owners who are packing is scary to say the least.

The fact that armed citizens have saved 1000s of lives may have escaped your attention. For example, one instance -- in Texas an ex-Marine barricaded himself in a tower and began shooting unarmed students. It was armed citizens, not police, who returned fire, pinning him down so he was unable to fire upon any more students.

Then it was armed citizens who stormed the tower and shot him. Afterward the police and the press praised the armed citizens for their heroic actions. No one said they needed "mental health professionals," as you did.

I know your intent was to shed some logic and humor, rather than paranoia, on the subject of gun control. (I am quoting you directly.)

However, there is nothing humorous about thugs shooting and burning down the city of Los Angeles during the riots resulting from the Rodney King trials. The well-trained law enforcement you spoke of stood outside the perimeter while police and news helicopters filmed thugs pulling Reginald Denny out of his truck, kicking and beating him until the final act. A brick caved in half of his skull.

While police were unable to do anything, some of the Asian store owners stood on rooftops with their rifles and defended their shops from being looted and burned down. Quite successfully, I might add.

It is true police and military do go through rigorous training, but so have I and many other gun owners.

Yes, my misinformed friend, we the "armed mental folks" could have prevented a 9/11 incident when you consider the fact that box cutters versus firearms is a no-win situation for those with box-cutters.

As far as not meeting any gun owners you would trust to protect you, I hope you never need us. But if or when a gangbanger who wants to earn his button comes in to blow your head off with a shotgun, I will be more than glad to protect you if I am there when it happens. And you won't even have to thank me.

As a matter of fact, I'd rather you don't. Just write another letter to the editor blasting us mental, gun-toting, dangerous fold and complain how you were traumatized by my actions that saved your misinformed life.

What you don't know about the history of armed civilians saving lives is proof enough to me that Ohio is probably the best place for you to remain misinformed.

MARK COSTANZO

(Police officers returned fire, assaulted and finally killed Charles Whitman, the Texas Tower sniper, in 1966.

Civilians fired upon but never struck Whitman. The one civilian who was with eight police officers during the assault accidently discharged a shot from a borrowed rifle but did not strike Whitman. -- Ed.)

Master plan extortion

After attending the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission meeting this evening, I can easily envision future historical references to "the master plan extortion in the first decade of the 21st century, which cripples both residential and emerging commercial development.

J.E. HOLMGREN

Sleep well for now

The last thing I would want is to be driven out of my warm bed in the middle of winter by anything -- earthquake, tornado, etc. Imagine that.

Thank goodness our "sleeping tortoises" are protected by the Endangered Species Act despite the gung-ho efforts to build this and that, here and there. No doubt, some have been disturbed when some government official decides to just take your homestead and land when they want to put another road through like that transamerican highway through Texas.

So sleep well, little tortoises. They can't touch you yet.

I will keep on snoring in my cozy home, too.

CYNTHIA KAY ALGER

Barnett should

have expanded

Barnett needs to expand on her answer and explanation on how Utilities Inc. will use the $250 million (if they get it).

"Local labor and/or imported labor will bring jobs to Pahrump." Will local applicants receive priority in hiring or will the project be contracted out?

A previous article stated all pipes will be locally purchased. Since stimulus money is to "create jobs," will Utilities Inc. guarantee that the pipes etc. are U.S.A. manufactured? Imported pipes don't create jobs in the USA.

Why should any property owners hook up to these new lines and start paying for service? Wells and septic systems currently in use were installed per code. If it isn't broken, why fix it?

If Utilities Inc. wants to really help the town, it would take the money and put in the lines with emphasis on fire hydrants.

After all, this is not Utilities Inc. money being invested but is in reality funds given to the town to improve infrastructure. There is no reason for any costs to be passed on to the residents. Utilities Inc. is merely the intermediary between the U.S. Treasury and the county/town.

As taxpayers, we are already paying for these improvements, or at least our heirs will thank us for the bill.

Before you even think about requiring residents to hook up, you had better do some research. Take the money and extend the lines for the use of future home builders, but before current home owners have to hook up, I think they should be able to vote on it.

Just where is the Utilities Inc. service territory? I assume Utilities Inc.'s proposal to get these monies included the cost of drilling new wells and building some more sewage disposal plants. Barnett did not mention all that was included in the request for stimulus money.

ARTHUR REQUATE

Don't strip me of my rights

I am sure your dogs are a great comfort to you, and I agree they are a deterrent to crime. I keep a couple myself and they always let me know when someone is around.

A couple of weeks ago, an older gentleman went to Smith's (where dogs are not allowed) and was beaten in the parking lot and had his money taken away from him. He is very lucky to be alive. When you go to Smith's, are your dogs with you?

Almost daily we read a story about someone's "loveable, peaceful pit bull" tearing a small child to pieces or killing a neighbor. I really cannot remember the last time my gun left my nightstand and attacked any one.

Last week, a gentleman was stabbed in the Walmart parking lot in Las Vegas. Where were his dogs?

If either of these men had been in possession of a handgun, these attacks would not have happened. There is a time and place for dogs, there is also a time and place for handguns for defending onesself. I will defend forever your right to keep your dogs but it is so sad that you are attacking my legal right to keep and bear arms.

If you don't like guns, then don't own one, but please stop trying to take my constitutional rights away from me and turning this into a 1939 Germany.

WAYNE FRITSEN

Where is the hand wringing?

Last Wednesday I read with chagrin the latest story of economic woe for the Nye County School system -- not because of the reported cuts but the inaccuracy of the numbers used to push an agenda espousing public education poverty.

What the reporter failed to mention was the fact the current budget, ending June 30, was over $101 million and that total spending for school operations was actually near $60 million. The projected "cut" is actually a reduction in proposed spending and amounts to slightly more than 2 percent. And, with less than 6,000 students in the system, spending per child is more than $10,000 and not the $5,000 reported.

I have seen no mention of all the reductions in budgets for companies all over the state, or the economic hardship those cuts have placed on the working men and women who are supposed to support this system.

Where is all the handwringing for the construction, engineering, escrow and title, food service, gaming and retail companies who have had to deal with reductions in revenue so severe that many have had to file bankruptcy?

Where are the cries of pain for working families who have to get by on household incomes of less than $37,000 while the average salary in the school system is more than $47,000? I have seen no mention of any of that.

Would someone please tell me what the agenda is that such selective data should be provided as factual information? Why can't we get the rest of the story? Why can't we be told the $5,000 is the portion provided by the state and that our property tax provides an even greater amount?

Why, we even have a separate tax item for debt service for schools that provides more money still. That's another part of how you get to the $101 million. And where are the facts to support the concept more money will bring better results?

Will there ever come a time when the question will be asked of where the money is being spent rather than always how much? Citizens unable to simply raise revenue by decree always have to answer that question in their daily lives. Isn't it time for each government entity to do so as well?

Or is there an agenda we cannot be told?

ROBERT A. LITTLE