Although I totally agree that smoking in cars with children should not be done, I don’t believe we need to pass any laws on this (“City bill would ban smoking in cars carrying kids,” Star-Advertiser, July 27).

We do not need the government telling us what we can do and can’t do within our own space. Where does the law stop and my personal rights begin? Soon they’ll be telling us what to watch and not watch on TV within our own homes.

This issue is a parenting one and if parents don’t believe in protecting their own children, it’s bad parenting.

William T. Pirtle

Waipahu

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Start with owners paying for sprinklers

As the Legislature and city discuss what to do about retrofitting older high-rise condo towers with fire sprinkler systems, they could start by reading the excellent letter to the editor by John Tokunaga (“Owners should pay for fire sprinklers,” Star-Advertiser, July 25).

Tokunaga offers excellent ideas to start the conversation.

Bobbie Slater

Pacific Heights

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Not every owner can afford retrofit

After reading about the plight of the affected residents of the Marco Polo condominium tower, you realize that many of them live financially marginal lives.

In the heat of tragedy, a mandated retrofit for sprinklers is applauded, but it will add financial hurt to injury. A more doable alternative may be: encased fire hoses on every floor, certified extinguishers in every apartment and quarterly inspections of fire alarms.

People in debt have no social life and being alive and poor is a hollow victory.

Lawrence T. Makishima

Pearl City

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Homeless camp hidden at heiau

I was recently on island again and took my niece to see the Ulupo Heiau. We had walked our dogs (on leash) through the heiau countless times over the years.

When we tried to walk to what was previously a natural trail in the heiau, we encountered a tucked-away homeless camp.

We asked to pass through and were told yes, but then harassed as we said hello to their kitten.

Though we had had issues with homeless people camping on a remote section of our own property in Kailua, I was taken aback to see such developed sites at the Ulupo Heiau.

I couldn’t imagine that the caretakers of the heiau or the neighboring church caretakers would want to encourage a homeless camp.

If I’m wrong, my apologies.

If not, then Kailua still has a “secret” homeless problem.

Susan Redpath

Tucson, Ariz.

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Soon laws will do our thinking for us

If we continue to make things like texting in a crosswalk illegal, and if man is allowed to evolve for just a few more centuries, children will be born with no common sense at all, as it will not be required if you just follow the laws (“Texting against law when in a crosswalk,” Star-Advertiser, July 28).

Gerrit Osborne

Kalani Valley