Those gun-free zones clearly don’t stop random shooters

Well, it’s happened yet again. For the 45th time since 1996 a nut job has killed in a gun-free zone.

The recent NIU massacre reveals yet again what all mass murderers know instinctively and “educators” deny: gun-free zones are kill-free zones.

The solution is clear and it’s not arming campus cops to the teeth. It’s not implementing high tech text messaging systems. It’s not carrying pepper spray in your purse.

If we’re going to continue kill-free zones the solution is to allow trained, licensed, and armed students and faculty to fight back.

There is no defense like on the spot deadly force. The whack jobs who kill on campus know this, why don’t our on-campus “leaders”?

It’s time we removed the handcuffs from law-abiding citizens.

It’s time to recognize that gun control is not about disarming criminals.

Because we now have the 45th tragic example that this gun-free stuff isn’t working.

Gordon L. Shadle, Albany

Bicyclists, motorists need to start sharing the road

I see that some letter writers are upset by Rex Bennett’s Feb. 18 letter asking cyclists to obey appropriate laws in order to have mutual respect on the roads of Benton County.

The whole point Rex made was that he came up upon cyclists riding “two and three abreast” on rural roads. I just encountered the same thing last week. Two riders riding side by side on a relatively busy country road.

It was too dangerous for me to pass (they were on a curve of all things) so I had to just follow them along until it was safe to go around them.

I was thinking the whole time, “If I was the cyclist in the driver’s lane, I would fall behind my cyclint buddy and ride single file so the cars can get around us.”

It seems perfectly reasonable for bikers to expect room enough on the right hand side to have enough room for their bike — but only theirs, not one or two of their friends at the same time.

Let’s all try to be considerate. The warmer weather will make us all want to get out and enjoy it, be it in a car or on a bike.

Mary Ackermann, Philomath

People must step up to stop commercial animal abuse

The undercover video of downed dairy cows (all dairy cows, including free range and organic, get sent to slaughter when their milk production declines) has shocked millions of people.

Sadly, as horrible as the footage is the only thing out of the ordinary in this case is the major news coverage, which has been long overdue.

Do you really think that this is an isolated case? The Humane Society picked this slaughterhouse at random and the abuse occurred under the nose of USDA inspectors.

Animal protection organizations have been talking about downed animal abuse for years. Likewise they have been obtaining gruesome undercover photos and videos for years.

Without exception, every time the world of factory farms, stockyards and slaughterhouses is entered, extreme cruelty to animals is discovered.

It is very hard for compassionate people to comprehend what routinely happens to animals. It is extremely painful to contemplate.

However, the answer is not to look the other way. Ethics require the honesty and courage to acknowledge the cruelty for what it is. Only then can we take steps to relieve the suffering.

To learn about animal issues visit the websites of HSUS, Farm Sanctuary, Compassion over Killing (COK), Mercy for Animals, PETA, In Defense of Animals (IDA), Animal Protection Institute, etc. Videos are available to view or order online such as “Peaceable Kingdom,” “Earthlings” and “Meat your Meat.”

The animals are counting on you. Please don’t let them down.

Nettie Schwager, Corvallis

Corvallis should be outraged about ongoing Iraq conflict

Since the war in Iraq began, I have pondered why there is so little outrage over it here in Corvallis.

For example, I have been present at many social gatherings where conversations of some hours never even mention the war.

I find this troubling: at the same time that we are oh-so-comfortable here in Corvallis, Iraqis are being tremendously affected by physical suffering,the untimely loss of friends, neighbors and loved one,loss of employment,and the destruction of their homes and communities.

The majority of Iraquis now say they were better off under Saddam Hussein.

Now I also hear many conversations about the worrisome state of the American economy, which never mention that our government has spent over $450 billion on the war, running our country deeply into debt.

I have reluctantly concluded that this lack of outrage over the war has two causes:

A sense that as individuals, our beliefs really don’t count for much, and we cannot really affect the political process in a significant way anymore.

A willingness to ignore the connectedness that we have with people and events occurring far away.

This makes easy to pretend to ourselves that the environmental devastation and the deep suffering of the Iraqi people do not really affect us, and will not really ever affect us ... so why be concerned, and why get angry?

Marybetts Sinclair, Corvallis

Sidewalk repair fee was not fair cost for service rendered

A letter from the city in December noted that a half-inch vertical separation of two adjoining panels of my sidewalk for a span of three feet constitutes an unsafe condition requiring correction by grinding.

Estimated repair cost, as a part of the city’s sidewalk safety program, is $34.50 plus a $10 “contract administration fee.”

I determined that the separation barely exceeded one-half inch and extended only six inches. It is questionable that this borderline deviation from an arbitrary criterion requires a $44.50 solution.

A walk around the block revealed 27 properties marked for grinding or the more costly panel replacement.

Some appeared justifiable under the city’s criteria, some did not.

I informed the transportation services supervisor of my contrary determinations.

I argued that the defect criteria and the inspector’s findings were arbitrary and invited him to walk the block with me. He assured me that he would review my observations and get back to me.

I also argued the fee’s inappropriateness. Property owners should not be responsible for administrative costs incurred by mandated repairs benefitting the community. Fee matters, he noted, should be referred to the City Council, and I did so early in January.

Shortly thereafter, the supervisor informed me of his support for the findings of his inspector.

I have yet to hear from my councilman regarding the arbitrariness that inflicts this well-meant program and the associated fees which would add an estimated $7,000 to $8,000 annual burden to property owners for their sidewalk repairs.

Mike Wolf, Corvallis

Barack Obama a cult leader? Skenazy took a cheap shot

I think it was a cheap shot for columnist Lenore Skenazy to call Barack Obama a cult leader (“Obama cult not for all of us,” Feb. 22).

Even the Clinton campaign hasn’t gone that far.

Sure, he is a great speaker and people like him. What’s her problem with that?

Both Obama and Hillary Clinton are intelligent, capable leaders. Both are well qualified to be president.

The difference is that Obama represents the future, and Clinton represents the past. Obama represents inclusiveness, and Clinton represents division.

As people come to see that, they are choosing Obama over Clinton.

Hillary Clinton had her eight years in the White House. It’s time for her to rest on her well deserved laurels.

John Wolcott, Corvallis

‘Ashwood Preserve’: What did development preserve?

My immediate response to the headline in the Feb. 20 Gazette-Times, “Ashwood Preserve gets green light,” was preserve what?

After watching hours of City Council testimony, I am shocked and dismayed with the council’s decision to green light this project.

Nancy Swain, Corvallis