Wednesday’s shooting with six shot and four dead is horrendous. I don’t have my numbers wrong. This is the other shooting — in San Francisco (“San Francisco UPS shooting leaves 4 dead, including gunman,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, June 14). The Alexandria, Va., shooting at baseball practice is, of course, also terrible (“Rifle-wielding gunman wounds lawmaker, then killed by police,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, June 14).
There are two elements of Alexandria that differentiate it from other shootings.
First is that Capitol Police were there and that saved lives. Second is that members of Congress are uniquely able to do something about the attack. In fact, they are the only people who can.
The response so far is focused on blaming the political vitriol for the shooting. It wasn’t words that had those Congressmen running for the dugout. It was the gun.
I’ve called my congressional representatives and asked them to use today’s shootings as a call to action to strengthen background checks and ban assault weapons (used by the shooter). I implore others to do the same.
Ruth Coules
Kailua
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Comey didn’t see Trump’s threat
Former FBI Director James Comey was President Donald Trump’s early target.
From his successive encounters with Trump, Comey should have realized early that if he did not fulfill Trump’s implied expectations, he would be fired. Comey should have recognized Trump’s Machiavellian nature in asking for his personal loyalty.
Rather than biting the bullet and respectfully making it clear that his loyalty was not to Trump personally but only to the Constitution and the rule of law, they pussyfooted to a meaningless expression, “honest loyalty.”
Trump also suggested that Comey drop the ongoing investigation of Michael Flynn. Comey knew that he would never drop the investigation of Flynn. Instead, Comey again pussyfooted with Trump, agreeing that Flynn was a “good guy” giving Trump the impression that he might go easy on Flynn.
Trump engaged with Comey in an attempt to remove a “cloud” on his presidency — the investigation of Russia’s documented and ongoing attempts to interfere with our electoral process. That is not a cloud, but a cancer.
Joseph Gedan
Makiki
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Enforce the law to get needed funds
While it is being seriously considered that honest and upright citizens of Hawaii should be paying higher taxes, it comes to my mind that there are alternatives that are not being considered.
How about taking our existing laws more seriously and collecting fines for violations? Hundreds of thousands of dollars are due from those who are operating illegal vacations rentals. They are laughing at the impotent laws. Fines that are building up are negotiable and reduced when they are finally collected.
How about increasing fines for no seat belts? DUIs? Illegal parking in handicap stalls? Jaywalking? There are a lot of laws that are not enforced.
The excuse is a lack of manpower to enforce. Let’s hire more people to enforce these laws. If they were enforced, our communities would be safer and more law-abiding — and who knows? Maybe a few lives would be saved. Law and order and funding for the rail. What a concept!
Judy Fujimoto
Kailua
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Be skeptical of plan to use GEMS fund
What to do with the stagnant $150 million green energy loan program? The state proposes a $46.4 million, interest-free loan of 20 years to the state Department of Education (“Some untapped green power funds might go to improve schools’ energy efficiency,” Star-Advertiser, June 12).
The failed Green Energy Market Securitization (GEMS) program raised $150 million through bond sales to benefit low-income solar sales. Less than 2 percent has been loaned since 2013.
Meanwhile, GEMS has used $2.9 million collected from electricity customers to pay for administration and interest on the 15-year loan obligation.
The DOE projects repayment of a $46.4 million loan in 20 years in energy conservation savings. But before buying into another government projection, remember the rail, the “cool schools” initiative to air-condition 1,000 classrooms, and the GEMS initiatives. All were government botches where no one is accountable and the taxpayer foots the bill. Where is the effort to get us relief from the GEMS fiasco?
The return-on-investment analysis for the $46.4 million loan should stand on its own merits.
Irwin Furumoto
Moanalua
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Medal recipient Yano deserves recognition
I was impressed with the organization of the Memorial Day ceremony at Punchbowl, from the parking, the bus service, the decorations, to the heartfelt speeches.
However, in his remarks and in the program, Mayor Kirk Caldwell named only two Vietnam Medal of Honor recipients interred there. My good friend, classmate at Konawaena High School, and fellow soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Rodney J.T. Yano, was not mentioned.
On Jan. 1, 1969, while engaged in an attack against enemy forces, his heroic actions saved the lives of his fellow crew members — at the cost of his own life.
On May 30, I inquired at Punchbowl about the number of Vietnam Medal of Honor heroes who are interred there. I’m still waiting for an answer.
Maybe I’m prejudiced, maybe I misunderstood, but it’s not a long list. So why weren’t all of them mentioned?
Glenn C. Cordeiro
Vietnam veteran
Mililani
