Speak Out a 05/10/02

Controls won't help

I AM simply baffled by the logic for this new push for legalizing concealed weapons. Your editorial states that, with this new bill, "convicted felons and individuals judged mentally incompetent wouldn't be able to get a license to carry concealed weapons." I believe these "controls," as you call them, are already on the books. Passing this concealed weapon act won't do any more to take guns out of their hands. All a concealed weapon law will produce is a shoot- first-think-later society where people think they are safe.

Speedy police

IF WE have to follow the speed limit, so should cops. I was coming home from work doing 55 mph in a 55-mph zone. A cop came by me doing a least 60 to 65 mph with no light or siren. He stopped at the red light that was in front of me, then he took off in a hurry.

Irrational electorate

THE REPRINTED editorial endorsement of the Cardinals stadium proposal from the Springfield News Leader was the most sane and rational argument I've heard to date in favor of the bill. Given the irrational nature of Missouri's electorate, the editorial will have the effect of further burying the bill's chances for passage.

Always with us

THE POOR or advocates for the poor who have been calling Speak Out are just going to have to accept the fact that the rich will always be with us.

Harangue goes too far

SOME WINDY wag really went off on Cape's city council the other night. The bloke bashed them over -- you guessed it -- support for the River Campus. Maybe it's politically correct to put up with that kind of in-your-face, finger-wagging lecture, but if I'd been on the council I wouldn't have put up with it.

Self-help advice

IN RESPONSE to the comment, "Why punish them?" Why don't these people look at themselves and ask why they did what they did, which was not saving and preparing for their older days. I think attitudes like this are why young people spend their money and don't think about tomorrow. Instead of denying themselves things that made them good but weren't necessary, they didn't save any money. Now they want somebody else to pay. I don't necessarily want to punish anyone, but I'm not eager to give people money when they didn't care enough about themselves to save some for themselves. I'm for helping people who have had bad luck, but not people who create their own bad luck.

Unreasonable fine

A COURT should not be allowed to levy a ridiculous penalty that can never be collected, like the $26 million for the man from Lebanon, Mo. The man is serving a 30-year prison sentence. I would think that would be enough of a punishment, without any excessive fine. Judges, let's be reasonable.

Scholar winners

CONGRATULATIONS TO the Cape Central Scholar Bowl team which this past weekend took first place in state competition at Columbia.