Letters for June 23, 2009

June 23, 2009 08:29 am

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Fight state taking away gun rights

Government takeovers of the private sector have emboldened bureaucrats at all levels to take over every aspect of our lives and silence those who disagree with them.

State Sen. Eric Schneiderman from Washington Heights and his gang of downstate and Albany anti-gun-rights Democrats have, along with the Democrat Assembly, introduced bills that would outlaw virtually all handguns in New York state.

In reality, Senate Bill S4397 and companion bill A6468 have little to do with identifying spent cartridges and guns used in crimes but everything to do with the legislators' insidious, methodical agenda to confiscate all firearms from American citizens.

Their misguided anti-gun legislation penalizes responsible gun owners and licensed firearms retailers, compromising our right to own a gun and defend ourselves against, let's say, home invasion by their big-city thugs strung out on drugs!

Imposing a Class D felony for "defacing" a microstamping will do nothing to deter a criminal, intent on homicide, from removing it. This "evolutionary forensic technology" is part of their ongoing scam. The bill also bans the sale of all used semi-automatic handguns. These statists think Americans are too stupid to see through their scams to trash the Second Amendment.

Most upstate New Yorkers are rugged, independent, self-reliant individualists. We don't take kindly to arrogant, big-city bureaucrats usurping our God-given constitutional rights. Elitist power-mongers in Albany must stop writing laws that make guns unavailable, preventing us from defending ourselves and the ones we love.

The Second Amendment is the keystone of all Amendments. If that is eroded away, others will fall like dominos! It is essential that everyone who cherishes their freedom firmly express their opposition of these bills to the bullies who authored them!

George Smith

Worcester

Gay Pride Month a time to fight hate

June is Gay Pride Month. The

LGBTQ community has much to be thankful for this pride season.

However, hate, ignorance and homophobia still run rampant throughout the country, despite the many advances achieved by the LGBTQ community.

Much work still must be done to dispel the myths of homophobia promulgated by close-minded individuals not wishing to understand and/or accept the differences in people of our society. Equality for all is a distant goal for the LGBTQ community as well as for all minorities being persecuted by people who choose not to look beyond their narrow, closed minds.

I am sick and tired of listening to the hate messages coming from the right wing. I am sick and tired of listening to the tripe that I am a sinner and that I can be changed. I am sick and tired of LGBTQ rights being put up to a vote. I am sick and tired of politicians who refuse to stand up to the ignorance of people that spew old, worn-out arguments against LGBTQ equality. I am sick and tired of being told marriage is a union between one man and one woman. I am sick and tired of it all!

We must persevere against those who want to return to the days of blind adherence to dogmatic, unyielding biblical law and demagogues grounded in hypocrisy.

Continue to loudly and proudly proclaim who you are and stand and say "enough is enough!"

To those still in the closet, I encourage you to find the courage to come out. Become who you are meant to be. There is nothing wrong with you. You are a human being in God's eyes and can meaningfully contribute to our society as an out and proud LGBTQ individual.

James R. Koury

Oneonta

Koury is editor of Diversity Rules magazine.

Glad I'm a senior with Medicare

The date was Sept. 8, 2008; the time, 10 a.m.; location, River Street, Oneonta. I took an awful fall. It seemed like the sidewalk came up and hit me in the face. I bent my glasses, my upper teeth were bleeding. I went to the dentist and I had to wait six months to see if I needed a root canal. I still have a couple of very sensitive top teeth.

My right hand had two broken bones. My knee (right) hit the sidewalk very hard, and I had a very badly bruised rib.

I called City Hall and told officials about the fall and location. The city did take care of the sidewalk. It painted the edge (orange) and also put down blacktop.

I am glad that I am a senior and that I have Medicare.

Lois Whiteman

Oneonta