Letters - Wednesday

CAPITOL SHOOTING

Incident will likely trigger more calls for gun control

After Monday’s attempt by an obviously deranged man to enter the state Capitol on a self-described mission to take over state government, I feel it is about time something be done to better protect the people of this great land (“Armed man killed at state Capitol,” The Gazette, July 17).

According to reports, the man entered a clothing store, rented a tuxedo and then went to the Capitol with a gun and knife. Fortunately, a state patrolman took appropriate action.

State lawmakers must immediately place a cooling off period on the rental of tuxedos. Why should the deranged and armed be allowed to dress better than the rest of us? I know many out there will say if we outlaw tuxedos, then only outlaws will wear tuxedos. They will also say that tuxedos don’t kill people; well-dressed dandies kill people. I, however, disagree.

For evidence that this will work, let’s look at gun-control efforts in this country. During the assault weapons ban no one was killed with an assault rifle in this country. And efforts in many major cities to outlaw handguns have removed these weapons from the hands of criminals.

Oh, wait. Now I remember. Those efforts were futile and actually counterproductive. Nevertheless, I know some well-intentioned legislator will call for tighter controls in Colorado. As always, these efforts will be just as effective as banning the rental of tuxedos.

Ken Cluck

Colorado Springs

Gazette should not have run photo of slain man

Do we really need to see a picture of a dead man on the front cover of the paper? Reading the newspaper shouldn’t be like watching a movie. Kids see the paper. Adults read it during meal times.

If the victim had any family or friends, I’m sure that wasn’t the picture they wanted to see.

Melanie Blank

Colorado Springs

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Educators do good job with what they’re given

It never ceases to amaze me that people continue to use our public school system as an excuse for the ills in our society, as well as being an easy target for some kids not learning (“Public schools don’t prepare students for college life,” Letters, July 14).

I have been in public education for almost 30 years. While I agree that the system is far from perfect, I am still amazed by the dedication, expertise and passion that most teachers and school personnel bring to their jobs and to kids every day. In public schools we see every kid, regardless of income, behavior or personal situations.

The vast majority of kids we work with are incredible. They do what they need to do, are responsible, learn, have fun, become involved, graduate and go on to be successful adults.

We are throwing too much money at schools? A beginning teacher now makes about $32,000 a year, after four years in college. Try starting a family and getting ahead on that.

Visit a school and get involved with young people instead of placing a lot of blame where it doesn’t belong.

I, too, believe in educational choice. There are few settings where young people get the same opportunities they do in our public schools. And the next time that you see a teacher, or anyone in a school setting that works with kids, a simple “thank you” would go a long way.

Jay Hahn

Colorado Springs

CALL OF THE WILD

Hunters have more space than ATV enthusiasts

I am an ATV enthusiast. I ride on trails that are designated as ATV trails. As far as square miles of land for hunting vs. miles of riding trails, trails are in the deficit. Hunters can go places where we are not able to ride.

Bill Dvorak says that he is “concerned for the safety of the person on the ATV” (“Brown’s Canyon worthy of wilderness designation,” Letters, July 11). Dvorak is using the Arkansas River to make a living. I’ve witnessed fishermen’s time on the river being ruined by numerous rafts coming through. Should his customers be concerned with their safety?

If Brown’s Canyon is designated as a wilderness area, hunting shouldn’t be allowed. Dvorak says “Wilderness will help protect animals that need a place of refuge away from roads” and he also states that “too many roads on a landscape degrade the habitat for animals and the activity on those roads stresses them, diminishing their health.” But let’s get real — the noise of a high-powered rifle will stress animals and killing them will diminish their health.

These trails are designated by the forest service for us to ride. I follow the rules and I, too, enjoy nature. My recommendation for those who want to hunt, is to go hunt the vast wilderness where those who ride ATVs can’t go.

Sheila Tabor

Colorado Springs

IN RESPONSE

Police chief’s reorganization a rerun of old, failed programs

It appears history is unfortunately repeating itself under the direction of newlyappointed Police Chief Richard Myers (“Police chief’s plan doesn’t light a fire under council,” Metro, July 10). First, the new Neighborhood Anti-Crime Units being formed under Myers’ reorganization plan are very similar to the Special Anti-Crime Squad the Colorado Springs Police Department created back in the 1980s which was instituted through a series of grants. They had marginal success and were disbanded when the grant money subsided.

It is my understanding this new anticrime unit is and will be comprised of officers transferred from various traffic units. Given the current budget shortfalls being experienced by Colorado Springs, this reorganization would appear to eliminate a substantial stream of capital, namely the revenue generated by traffic-related offenses.

Approximately 10 years ago, then-Colorado Springs Police Chief Lorne Kramer felt the Police Department was top heavy. He eliminated one of the deputy chief positions, and redirected those resources to front-line assistance. Myers intends to reinstitute that position. While this may be justified and necessary, it should not be implemented at the expense of first-line supervisors. However, it appears Myers intends to finance this position at the expense of firstline and mid-level supervisors.

Even if the Police Department were to hire the best and brightest young officers, it still takes two to three years to transform that bright young man or woman into a good police officer. That transformation takes place under the tutelage and oversight of his/her patrol sergeant. A new officer without the proper supervision need make only one misguided mistake and any actual or perceived budgetary savings will be outweighed by a preventable loss of life or impending civil lawsuit. I agree with Vice Mayor Larry Small that the reorganization proposed by Myers is a dizzying approach to management.

It appears Myers intends to replace sworn supervisors in certain areas with civilian personnel. I do not know what areas of the department are under such consideration but it was not too long ago civilian supervisors in the evidence custodian’s office were making critical errors. Furthermore, the Police Department has historically experienced problems with civilian supervisors in the marshal’s office and the crime lab. In both those instances, the problems were rectified by replacing those civilians with sworn officers. Notwithstanding this history, it appears Myers intends to again disregard the missteps of his predecessors and travel this path.

While I recognize the city hired Myers to run the Police Department and is reluctant to micromanage his day-to-day decisions, officials’ failure to do so will likely result in the citizens of Colorado Springs suffering from a mismanaged police department whose policies will only interfere with the primary tenet of law enforcement — to serve and protect.

Kenneth Bayens

Commander

Colorado Springs Police Department, retired