Speak Out 11/25/06

Gift suggestion

INSTEAD OF parents thinking about giving kids something they want for Christmas, they should think about something that's good and will help the kids. Most of these electronic games are not good for kids. I don't care how much kids like them or want to have them. They don't get any exercise. They get ideas that aren't compatible with society as a whole. Parents need to do a lot of soul searching when they think about buying these things and not think about buying a baby sitter to keep the kids occupied so they won't worry about them or even consider they exist.

Helpful angels

I WANT go give a big thank you to the two angels that helped me find my car in a store parking lot and put my groceries in the car for me.

Crackdown on drugs

THE CAPE Girardeau police need to take into consideration what the police did in Sikeston. Along with the National Guard using helicopters, the Sikeston police busted quite a few people for drug dealing. They need to do that in the area of Good Hope and Hanover. We've got too many crack dealers on that street.

Eating at work

IN RESPONSE to the person complaining about a doctor's secretary eating at her desk: This person doesn't know the circumstances. Maybe this receptionist or secretary is a diabetic and has to eat at her desk several times between meals. Maybe she has to fill in and doesn't get much of a lunch break. If it offended me to see a working person eat, I would go to another doctor.

Holiday concert

NEARLY EVERY year I call about the Heartland Pops Concert, commending it as a wonderful evening of entertainment. This year, I decided to call before the concert Dec. 1 at Cape First Church so I could encourage all to attend this wonderful evening filled with a variety of music. There's no better way to get into the holiday spirit. Make plans to attend this community event.

Ticket consequences

I have no sympathy for the person who ignored traffic tickets for 12 years and can't get a license. Some parts of our country rely on the honor system. Paying for tickets is part of that. If you get a ticket, you should pay it. If you don't pay it, you face consequences. One of those consequences is not getting a license. What about drivers who have insurance and have problems because they are in an accident caused by someone not carrying insurance?

Paving fairness

I see that the county road-paving issue is still full of half-truths. The truth is that in Cape Girardeau County the easements required by residents to get their roads paved have not been equal for everyone. Some residents were only required to give 15, 20 or 25 feet instead of the 30 feet the county is now asking for. Come on, Southeast Missourian, get to the bottom of this and start reporting the unfairness instead of insinuating that this is all due to "recalcitrant" landowners. It really boils down to self-serving county officials looking out for their friends instead of fairness across the county.

No to banning guns

WHAT POSSIBLE good would come from banning handguns in the city? The people who use guns in commission of crimes don't care about laws. They're criminals. Breaking laws is what they do. All that banning guns would do is make law-abiding citizens who own guns for protection more defenseless. If you want to talk more severe penalties for gun crimes and other things that make sense, that's fine. But don't spout that bleeding-heart crap around here.

Guns and safety

IF YOU look at the shooting and gun-crime statistics from most major U.S. cities, you will see that you have a smaller chance of being shot if you are in Iraq. And cities that have the highest murder rates also have the most strict gun-restriction laws on the books. There are over 20,000 gun-control laws on the books, and they have done nothing to stop the rising crime rate. They have only inconvenienced lawful gun owners. If a criminal wants a gun bad enough, he will steal one. The call for another law banning handguns would deprive me and who knows how many others from the means to protect myself and my family. Would you rather there be people like me, who are armed and ready to defend ourselves and those around us, or to disarm us and leave us open to those who would kick down your door without a second thought about your life or any proposed ban on handguns?

Go, Gang

If there are gangs in Cape,

Then they should go away.

I do not want our town to be

Like South Central L.A.

Too much business?

THERE'S ONLY one explanation for the timing of the work on Route K that is causing massive traffic tie-ups during this holiday shopping season. Apparently, that area's retail trade is booming to the point of growing too fast, so every effort must be made to slow it down.

High octane

SPECIAL-INTEREST groups can manufacture all the polls they want that show the American people supposedly support amnesty. The politicians know better, because they rate illegal immigration as high octane with their constituents.

No barrier

REGARDING THE comment that stated if handguns were outlawed in Cape Girardeau the shootings would decrease or stop: Shooting someone is already against the law. Do you really believe that those who are committing a felony crime of shooting someone would stop just because it is illegal to possess the gun?

Draft focus

CONGRESSMAN Rangel's call for reinstituting the draft is really to put a spotlight on the fact that a majority of our combat soldiers come from lower-middle class and poor families, too often from rural communities. All the war hawks talk the talk, but if they had to go to war themselves, that would shut up a lot of them.

Victory in Iraq

AT LEAST David Limbaugh admits he's in the minority in supporting what President Bush is attempting to accomplish in Iraq. However, since the Iraqi government is turning a blind eye to Iraqi police and other renegade death squads, and since the country is obviously embroiled in a civil war, perhaps Limbaugh can enlighten us on just what President Bush is trying to achieve in Iraq. In other words, what would victory in Iraq mean?

Election mandates

I WONDER why it is that when the Republicans win a majority of the House and Senate, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and other Bush mouthpieces call it a mandate. It is only considered not to be a mandate when the Democratic Party wins.

Feeling safer

WHAT DO you think banning handguns in Cape Girardeau is going to do? Do you really think people who are shooting at passing cars and homes took the time to register their guns? Some people want to take away everybody's rights because of a few people who do something wrong. I feel safer knowing that if my home was being invaded I might be able to save myself and my family with the help of my handgun.

Chaffee winners

ONCE AGAIN the Chaffee varsity cheerleaders brought home a winning trophy from state competition in Columbia. We are all proud of you and your hard work. Thank you, Ms. Morgan, for your time and support with the girls.