Tighten reasons for owning guns

The Constitution was written at a time when our national government could not afford a standing army. Local militias were a way for the states to collectively protect themselves. We now have a national military and law enforcement agencies that were not foreseen when the Second Amendment was written.

Today, some U.S. citizens say they will violently oppose our elected government if things don’t go their way. They are building arsenals using loopholes in our gun laws. Should we let them? Should we empower anyone having a bad day to go on a shooting rampage?

I like the way Israel does it. You can have a gun, if you can prove you need it. Using that philosophy, hunters can have hunting rifles, target shooters can have target rifles and people in dangerous positions can have more advanced weapons. Beyond that, a trained and well-armed police force is the answer.

James B. Young
St. Louis Heights

Let each island control land use

In 1961, the state Land Use Commission was established to provide a sense of land development direction, guidance and oversight for all of the Hawaiian Islands.

Fifty years ago the neighbor islands no doubt benefited from this additional layer of government and overview.However, the LUC has now become an expensive anachronism that should be eliminated.

Each of the islands’ councils and commissions have elected officials and appointees who are more than capable about determining the direction of their respective islands.It is time for home rule.

No longer are nine governor’s appointees needed to determine land development direction. Let each island through an open and transparent public hearing process that is already in place determine its destiny without the LUC.

Kurt Wollenhaupt
Haiku, Maui

Let police offer views on policy

Paul Koftinow is missing the boat ("Police should stay neutral on policy," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 15).

He says the job of the police department is to control crime. He does not seem to understand that reasonable and effective control starts with prevention.

Police officers, as part of their job, know what marijuana leads to. And, yes, we also do have security systems, we have laws, we have safety measures to prevent crime and harm. So why can’t police do their job by stating their knowledge of and concern over a proposed change in policy to prevent crime?

Don’t we need all pros and cons to make a sound decision? Would you not warn someone not to cross the freeway with the traffic coming at full speed?

Renee M. Coester
Pearl City

Turtle Bay plan will benefit area

I would like to voice an opinion of support of the proposed development of Turtle Bay Resort.

The current owners of the resort have welcomed input into the revision of the original plan, seeking to create a more beneficial scenario, with the increase of hotel rooms being a tiny percentage of the original proposal. The owners welcomed community involvement in the planning process, and have worked with community leaders to focus on a historical perspective that addresses the myriad of concerns that have arisen.

I think it wise to embrace a plan that seeks to benefit the community with new job opportunities, improvements to the highway and community access to the shoreline, rather than capriciously lambasting any plan.

There is an opportunity for everyone to contribute and create a reflection of our unique sensibility for future generations. It is through this cooperation, our progeny can thrive.

Jonathan Beteta
Laie

Turtle Bay will kill fabled goose

Why do you suppose the roads on the North Shore are in constant gridlock?

It is because the North Shore has become the playground for the island of Oahu, for residents and tourists alike. All these folks are flocking out here for open space and beautiful beaches, not more hotels.

If the current administration of the city Department of Planning and Permitting accepts Turtle Bay’s supplemental environmental impact statement, then it will be responsible for killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

Jack Lutey
Haleiwa

Kakaako a lousy place for library

The Obama presidential library in the tsunami zone of Kakaako?

Good thinking! Is this a plan to out-do the Hamilton Library disaster?

Jack Gillmar
Palolo Valley