LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gun insanity: Revisited

Editor, the Journal,

This letter is in response to Dr. Busacca's Letter to the Editor on Jan. 11, "Gun Insanity."

Dr. Busacca, you have been a long-standing, respected member of Mason County, but your letter, while spirited, veers away from historical precision and distorts key statistics.

First, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, guns are not the leading cause of death for people under 20. I suspect you got that statistic from a flashy headline where in 2020 it briefly surpassed auto accidents. But, alas, reading just headlines, and not the full article, or doing additional research, is another topic for another letter. And, also, to compare the United Kingdom or any country to the United States, while common around these parts, is also misleading considering the size and cultural differences alone.

Second, let's not oversimplify the nuanced origins of the Second Amendment, which was fundamentally about the right to self-defense, defending against tyranny, and ensuring a balance of power between the federal government and the states. This isn't just speculative.

The Federalist Papers and the extensive debates surrounding the Bill of Rights clearly demonstrate that the Second Amendment was about individual liberties and preventing federal government overreach. It was not about helping slave owners and preventing the king of England from taking back the colony as you argued. These two arguments all come from speculative activists with "historian" titles, and the actual records do not support it.

In a debate as critical as this, we must anchor our arguments in truth, not in skewed narratives and misleading statistics.

Yet, your call for accountability resonates, albeit with a redirected focus. It is crucial to address the misuse of firearms by criminals, which has worked quite well with bank robbers as most of them now pass notes to a teller versus pulling a gun due to lengthy mandatory sentences.

However, the glaring issue at hand is the growing lack of accountability among our prosecutors and judges. It's time we confront this troubling reality.

Our justice system is faltering, not due to lax gun laws, but because so many prosecutors and judges are abdicating their duties and abusing their discretionary powers. Their negligence erodes trust and undermines safety. We must demand that every cog in our judicial machinery operates with integrity and accountability. And, if they don't, then we must call on the Legislature to act and strip them of their discretionary powers (as we did with bank robbers) and remove the special immunities that shield them from their gross negligence.

Only then can we hope to restore balance and truly protect our communities.

Jamie E. Bariekman, Elma

Boxes in the bay

Editor, the Journal,

Today, yet another large, 4-foot-by-1-foot-by-18-inch metal "screened" box went floating by, suspended from two white floats.

What will happen when several of these boat widow-makers get loose on Oakland Bay on a regular basis? Citizens. Are you up on the latest information regarding the proposed Taylor Shellfish takeover of Oakland Bay, right smack in the center with their 30,000 oyster bags, 50-acre farm? This is the first of its kind in the entire United States.

Residents, recreation and wildlife lovers are concerned about this nine- to 50-year lease. Donate to Friends of Oakland Bay or go to http://www.gofund.me/76830ed0.

This is larger than just a bay community, it's the ability to takeover with the helping hand of the Department of Natural Resources wherever and wherever they please. This is a local tourism and then becomes a state tourism issue.

Please join us and follow closely

with us.

Gene and Susan Gonzales, Shelton

An innocent man?

Editor, the Journal,

I must have missed a letter, the letter I read simply asked why Donald Trump wouldn't want to quickly clear his name if he is as innocent as he claims. A reaction letter was just a distraction.

91 felony charges. We all have seen and heard some of the evidence. An innocent person, a real patriotic American, especially one wanting to be the president, would want to clear his name quickly. A real man would stop playing the victim, stop blaming everyone else, stop playing the American people as fools.

But this man (hard to call him a man) has for years shown us exactly what he is. He is telling us exactly the kind of vengeful, authoritarian president he would be.

Oh, and have you noticed how he isn't using the word innocent, now he wants to claim immunity.

I will never understand how anyone can think this person should be the president of the United States.

Donna Holliday, Shelton

Leapin' lizards

Editor, the Journal,

Seldom have I encountered such a leap of logic and an erroneous reference as that of Mr. Anvik's in his response (Jan. 25) to Karen Bouton's letter of Jan. 4. Just by asking a question, Ms. Bouton was accused

("likely") of being "a Trump hater." Whew. Then in the same thought bubble to compare the nationwide riots stemming from the murder of George Floyd to the attack on the Capitol to prevent the peaceful transfer from one administration to another. Talk about comparing apples and oranges.

I also seriously question the source(s) on which Mr. Anvik based his spurious comments. He referenced Wikipedia (tinyurl.com/4hwdayzj) and nowhere, I repeat, nowhere, was the phrase or words "Pearl Harbor" mentioned. The page was last edited Jan. 26 at 18:00 (UTC).

Perhaps he was conflating erroneous right-wing wag comments about what Kamala Harris said on the first anniversary of Jan 6. See fact-checking entry at tinyurl.com/55t6h49v.

Accordingly, he might read professor Jeremy Pressmen's "Study of 2020 Protests Shows Difference Between Reality and Perception." (Go to tinyurl.com/u3h7brhj). Perhaps Mr. Anvik also could do some actual study in logical fallacies and take his nose out of the FoxNews bubble.

Lastly, addressing Mr. Anvik directly: To accuse Ms. Bouton of being a "Trump hater," does that mean you are an adoring "Trump lover?"

Bill Pfender, Shelton

Check district's 'letters'

Editor, the Journal,

I love getting and writing letters. It means someone cares. Current "letter writing" has become Facebook, websites, YouTube ... Well, Hood Canal School cares about our students, our families, our communities, and you the public. We are running a construction bond Feb. 13 to continue enhancing the educational foundation of our school - an early learning center, a S(cience), T(echnology), E(ngineering), A(rt) and M(ath) Junior High, a transportation cooperative, and site improvements for safety and efficiencies.

So, check out our "letters" to you at HoodCanalSchool.org, Hood Canal School Facebook page and our new Hood Canal School District No. 404 YouTube channel. We are building our children's futures. We care.

Most sincerely,

Annie Robbins, Hood Canal School Board director No. 5

'No' on sales tax increase

Editor, the Journal,

I believe that taxes are the lubricant of our democracy. Accordingly, I generally vote for taxes that enable elected officials to fund necessary public works. However, with regard to the recently proposed county sales and use tax increase for 911 activities; I must confess that I have voted against it.

You might think it strange that someone who supports fair taxation would balk at a such a paltry increase to the sales and use tax of two-tenths of 1%; but my position is not based on the size of the requested increase, but rather its lack of justification. The ballot (and the enabling Resolution 2023-075) fail to give the taxpayers meaningful information, such as:

■ Why this increase is necessary.

■ How much the proposed increase would yield.

■ How the service will be improved by the increase.

Instead, we are presented with an expansive list of what the money might be spent on; which could easily have been shortened to "whatever is needed." I believe the taxpayers of Mason County deserve more than a "trust us on how your tax dollars will be spent" approach to requesting taxpayer approval of tax increases. That is why I voted "no."

Brian Walsh, Shelton

Emigrate to Russia

Editor, the Journal,

Believe only your eyes and ears - not the voices of others. The maniacal anti-democracy political rhetoric of lies and fraud is full of empty promises and threats of revenge. Remember what we all witnessed on Jan. 6, 2021, MAGA Treason Day? Criminal defendant Trump's deadly coup to seize power by force and steal the election is a fact. He has been criminally charged and is awaiting trial for the insurrection. Trump's base is the one-third that can be fooled all the time.

So, they will gobble all the goop he puts out. It's a fact - read the Letters to the Editor as proof. If you like Trump's style of government, emigrate to Russia. Why go with Putin light - get the real thing, or maybe North Korea, or how about China?

Roderic Whittaker, Shelton

What's Trump's appeal?

Editor, the Journal,

A few of the 91 felony charges against the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, convicted sexual assaulter and disgraced former President Donald Trump include:

■ Violation of the Georgia RICO Act.

■ Solicitation of violation of oath by public officer.

■ Conspiracy to commit impersonation of a public officer.

■ Solicitation of violation of oath by public officer.

■ Conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree.

■ Conspiracy to commit false statements and writings.

■ Conspiracy to commit filing false documents.

■ False statements and writings.

■ Filing false documents.

Yikes, that is quite a bit. There is more, but I think this helps illustrate that it's a lot.

Ardean Anvik's letter, "Trump hater," in the Jan. 25 edition, suggests Karen Bouton is a "political pawn," and he even provides topics of things (from four years ago) he thinks should be concerning to Karen in 2024.

Ardean, Karen Bouton's concern is not misplaced. Her concern is spot-on.

One does not need to hate Trump, as Ardean alleges Karen does, to be downright terrified by the behavior Trump engages in daily. I find Trump's promise to be a dictator on Day 1 particularly concerning.

I wonder about Ardean. As a Trump admirer, I wonder which of these fine qualities he admires:

■ The RICO violator?

■ The rapist?

■ The insurrectionist?

I wonder which of these qualities most endear the twice-impeached, completely disgraced former-president to Ardean's heart?

Inquiring minds want to know, Ardean, at least I do. What is the appeal?

In Ardean's attack on Karen Bouton, he says a lot of things that have nothing to do with the presidential election, while simultaneously failing to share with the reader what it is about the twice-impeached, four-time indicted, insurrectionist, rapist and all-round low life, that makes Ardean want to see him elected president again.

What is it about DJT that inspires your loyalty, Ardean?

Katherine Price, Shelton