Nevada: One of Earth’s most violent places
To the editor:
In reading about the tragic shooting in Carson City, I couldn't help but recall a letter that was sent to the editor after the Norway massacre earlier this year. The contributor made the argument that because Nevadans are so heavily armed a massacre would be unlikely to happen here.
Nonsense.
When people are faced with almost incomprehensible shock and trauma, in most cases they are unable to react rationally whether they are armed or not. Most either run or lay down and die.
Nevada is considered "the gun state" because we have more registered guns on a per capita basis than any state in the United States. We also have 26 gun deaths per 100,000 population, which makes Nevada one of the most violent places on Earth. If Nevada were a country, we would be ranked fourth in terms of gun deaths behind South Africa, Columbia and Thailand. Something to be proud of!
Gerry Hageman
Las Vegas
Obama plan
To the editor:
This is what I got from President Obama's speech Thursday night.
If you work, you are rich. (Except if you belong to a union.)
If you are rich, you need to pay more in taxes. (Except if you belong to a union.)
Because you are rich and you don't pay enough in taxes, the government must eliminate those pesky tax loopholes like interest on home loans, medical expenses and work-related expenses. (Except if you belong to a union.)
Sounds good. The government will have more money to spend, so there will be full employment.
One question: If everyone is working, who will need an extra year of unemployment compensation?
Jeff Sauer
Las Vegas
Berkley matter
To the editor:
In response to your coverage of official actions by Rep. Shelley Berkley that benefited her husband's medical practice:
My husband received a kidney transplant at UMC and his brother was the living donor. Without the transplant program at UMC he would have been unable (or at least greatly inconvenienced) to have the transplant. At 28 years old, he spent hours each day doing dialysis, which had an enormous impact on our lives.
Transplant patients do blood work at the same time, so they share stories. Rumor amongst the patients was one of the rejections at UMC was the result of a patient who had never been on dialysis going out to a club several days after she got home. We were lectured and lectured on end about the weakness of my husband's immune system, post transplant, and how it is recommended the patient not go out in public for three months. One death or organ rejection can be the difference in a hospital losing accreditation, especially if patient volume is low. You can't help that people like her will get thrown in the mix, especially in Las Vegas.
When we heard the transplant center would be closing, we knew how much it helped us and we wanted that resource for others in need. We wrote to our congressmen and women locally and nationally, hospital officials, etc., in hopes that someone could help. In the end all this helped, and that resource is still there for others in need. I had no knowledge Rep. Berkley had any ties and I certainly would have been beside myself if she responded and said she could not help because of a conflict of interest. While her assistance may have been wrong (and I do not condone it), it went a long way to easing our minds and the minds of many other transplant patients. Someone needed to step in for UMC.
Colby N. Pellegrino
Henderson
College requirement
To the editor:
I could not believe my eyes when I read about the College of Southern Nevada (Review-Journal, Tuesday). No high school diploma needed, remedial classes, overcrowding, a 9 percent graduation rate? Talk about de-valuing a college education.
There shouldn't even be a debate about the issue of requiring a high school diploma in order to enroll. What the school district needs is more technical/trade schools. Let's face it, it is a fact that not everyone is college material, and if one needs remedial classes, that's a strong indication that person is in the wrong place.
Yes, it's important that a person get an education. But how can we taxpayers -- and the regents, as guardians of our higher education system -- justify enrolling someone who doesn't have a high school background?
At the very least, an admissions test of some sort would be a beginning to weed out those who are taking up space and depriving someone who is qualified of enrolling in those classes that are overcrowded.
Theresa Krause
Boulder City
Road confusion
To the editor:
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the new school zone signs which read "when children are present." I live in a neighborhood with several schools in the vicinity, and with the new ambiguous signs, no one seems to know when the 15 mph zones apply. Many people choose to ignore the signs altogether, or slow down only if a child is visible.
During the day, while school is in session, most people are speeding right through the school zones because they cannot see any kids. Some of us, on the other hand, still follow the idea of going slow while school is in session. The problem lies in the chaos and road rage that has been getting worse because of the confusion.
On several occasions a driver behind me has tailgated, honked, then crossed the double line to pass me in a rage. With everyone interpreting this differently, I fear the number of accidents and anger among drivers is getting out of hand.
As a former teacher and a mother of small children, I know that if you expect people to follow a certain guideline, the expectations must be clear and concise. In general, humans like having structure and order, and they want to abide by the rules because it leads to a safe and civil society. The laws should be specific, and the consequences must be enforceable.
The new signs have created hazardous conditions for drivers, passengers and pedestrians and are causing frustration and anger among otherwise friendly neighbors.
Sherri Roos
Henderson
