SPEAKOUT

We won't go back

I WATCHED the rally on the mall in Washington, D.C., on April 9 where I saw millions of both genders marching to protest both male violence against women and any threat to a woman's reproductive rights. "We won't go back" is more than ideological slaying. It's a fact.

CONSIDERING how out of control violent crime is getting throughout the nation, law-abiding folks are arming themselves. The current concealed weapons debate in Missouri is rapidly becoming a moot point. The creeps, criminals and crazies carry concealed weapons anyway. What if I strap on a loaded sidearm in plain view over my business suit, blue jeans or whatever and walk through the local mall or restaurant, or, for that matter, what if I carried my loaded 12-gauge shotgun or a 30-30 rifle everywhere I go? What would happen then?

REPLY: The city of Cape Girardeau has an ordinance that forbids the carrying of a loaded weapon, whether or not it is concealed. There is a state law that allows the carrying of loaded weapons in areas where there are no ordinances that prohibit it, such as unincorporated areas of Cape Girardeau County.

School board mistake

I DO hope the citizens of Cape Girardeau understand what has happened to our school board. We've missed out on the opportunity to have a knowledgeable person as president. That person is Kathy Swan. How quickly we forget that she is the only certified school board member, the only one who ever spent any time or effort to better our schools and community. Cape Girardeau citizens and school board members, you've made a grave mistake. I think you'll realize that in a year. I don't agree with keeping Dr. Clark, but I do agree with the good things Swan has tried to do over the past few years. Instead of all of this petty bickering, we should band together to continue the progress the only woman on the school board has ever made.

REPLY: Bob Fox and Steve Wright, the only two left who have board experience, are also certified school board members.

Prisoner solution

I HAVE a very good solution for the prison overcrowding in Missouri: Do like we did in the military. Give these prisoners a sleeping bag and half a pup tent and let them find a buddy with the other half of a pup tent. Feed them C-rations six days a week and give them a decent meal one day a week. Chain gang them and make them work. No televisions, no telephones. We are too easy on the criminals. That's why our prisons are overcrowded, and it's not getting any better. Why can't the United States cane these people like they do in Singapore?

Big task ahead

I'D LIKE to say hurray for Fox and Wright. You two have the awesome responsibility of restoring credibility to the Cape Girardeau school system. Start, please, by asking for Dr. Clark's resignation followed by asking for the resignations of Dr. Niggle and Dr. Tallent. They were hand-picked cronies of Dr. Clark. Thanks for standing strong for our students. We appreciate it.

What does OBO mean?

I HAVE been reading different newspapers that advertise items for sale. You'll see the amount of money asked for this item. Following that amount you'll see OBO. If there is somebody out there that can explain to me what OBO stands for, I would appreciate it.

REPLY: OBO stands for "or best offer."

What about the law?

IT SEEMS the Little River Drainage District has given the OK for Lady Luck to apply for a license to put a riverboat on the Diversion Channel. Can anyone tell me why the Missouri Gaming Commission doesn't have to abide by state laws? Why was Amendment 6 put on the ballot when the Missouri Gaming Commission intended to do what it wants to anyway? The Diversion Channel is the not the Mississippi or the Missouri River, and the boat will not cruise. If you do not want to see a riverboat on the Diversion Channel, call the Missouri Gaming Commission (314) 340-4400.

REPLY: Just because the drainage district gives its approval (which isn't a done deal yet) doesn't mean the gaming commission will approve a license for a riverboat there. The gaming commission has been slow to approve licenses so far. The caller has good advice about calling the gaming commission to let it know how you feel.

Some good articles

I'D LIKE to congratulate Mark Bliss. He has written straight articles without mentioning his daughter Becca. Keep up the good work, Mark.

At death, too late

ALL YOU have to do is look outside and you'll know that there is a God. And no matter how many times you say there is no God, when you die and you meet him at the judgment bar, you'll be unable to say there's no God.

Military tinkering

I'M A retired military officer. Not only officers but enlisted NCOs must look after their troops. But that's where I draw the line where this value applies to our so-called commander-in-chief. The outright disdain and social tinkering that Bill and Hillary and their liberal cohorts are shoving on the military is gutting our ability to fight and win wars in defense of America. Read any military newspaper to see what I mean. They're full of crap about gays, whining minorities and women exaggerating their suffering due to sexual harassment. Active duty folks don't dare express their true opinions. Among other brassy areas Bill and Hillary are slithering through behind America's back, you'd best check out the so called U.N. convention on the rights of the child. Bill's already signed it, and it's now in the Senate for ratification. If that happens, Bill and Hillary may well turn our military inward to take our constitutional rights as parents away.

Wright's reading skill

SINCE THE beginning of the school board controversy, I have received most of my information from the newspaper and television. My friend and I, having children in the Cape Girardeau school system, decided we would go to our first board meeting April 10. Mr. Fox was elected president and Mr. Wright vice president. I had neither nays or yeas concerning who is president or vice president until I listened to Mr. Wright read. I was shocked. He could hardly read the sentences and was stammering over his words. This man is representing our schools? Is Mr. Wright a college graduate and from what school?

REPLY: Wright is a graduate of Central High School.

Appalled by NOW rally

HURRAY FOR Jon Rust's column on the NOW rally about omen using women. I am a woman myself and saw part of the conference on C-Span and was utterly appalled and embarrassed. I'm so delighted that Jon could see through it all and that he does not believe that all women feel this way. Thank you, Jon, for speaking out.

Garbage bags vs. cans

I WISH people would realize how unsanitary it is to dump garbage into cans rather than putting it into plastic bags. After this morning's wind, my short street had two people's trash all over the place. I had to go pick up my neighbor's chicken bones, pizza plates, paper plates, paper napkins, sanitary napkins, all sorts of garbage. This shouldn't be necessary if they only put their trash into the plastic bags and tie it at the top.

People with guns

I'D JUST like to know when lawmakers and government officials are going to figure out that it's the people wielding the guns who are doing the killing and not the gun. If a gun's lying on a table, it's not going to hurt anybody. It's the person sitting beside the table loading that gun who is going to shoot people. When we start punishing people by putting them to death and hanging them in the courthouse square like it used to be, then you'll see gun crime go down. Until then, it's going to keep going up no matter what they do with gun control. I can't believe people are this ignorant. I hope some day they wake up and smell the roses.