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Pasco Letters to Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2007

Guns Can Backfire

Regarding "Robbery Victim, 89, Was Carrying Pistol" by Lisa A. Davis, Dec. 6:

While this article's headline leads one to believe that Donald Golden, the strong-arm robbery victim, survived this most recent encounter because he was carrying a firearm, it played absolutely no role in the event or its outcome.

How unfortunate that Davis chose to highlight the fact Golden was carrying "heat" in her article. She starts her piece by stating that the offender was lucky he did not suffer more than a cut to the forehead, implying that the 89-year-old victim may have chosen to shoot the offender instead.

While I read the entire article and learned that Golden had been in two previous situations involving armed offenders, many people do not read that far into any article. So they may not be aware that on both occasions, Golden's firearm played no role whatsoever in terminating the confrontations. They, too, were terminated by the intervention of others.

The real banner should have been the fact Michael Thomas Reynolds, an uninvolved bystander, chose to get involved in a stranger's plight.

As a retired police officer, I know that the firearms people purchase "for personal protection" more often wind up being taken from the owner by an offender and used against them or other victims. We should all count ourselves fortunate that Golden's handgun wasn't taken by the offender, which would have likely escalated his tactics from strong-arm to armed robbery.

Personally, I find the prospect of anyone Golden's age carrying a firearm at all to be truly chilling, regardless of mental and visual acuity and steadiness of hand.

GRETCHEN TAUTE

Zephyrhills

Real Relief Needed

I must correct Bill Bunting's misleading column regarding the property tax amendment of Jan. 29 ("Jan. 29 Vote Would Bring More Tax Relief," My View, Nov. 28):

Bunting suggests that Gov. Charlie Crist campaigned on this awful amendment. What Crist promised - and did not produce - was that property taxes would "drop like a rock." Perhaps a savings of $20 a month is dropping like a rock to Bunting and the governor. But for many of us, it is an insult.

Crist and other legislators admitted publicly that portability may be against the U.S. Constitution. There is already a case filed against it which could take many years to resolve. No one would be able to use portability for all these years.

Our legislators and governor should have given us tax reform that was on more stable ground than portability. This is the second stab at property tax reform by the governor and legislators that is winding up in court.

Bunting said citizens would get a $50,000 homestead exemption. Wrong again. Because school taxes are not included in this formula, your actual exemption would be about $37,000. In today's housing market - even though prices are "dropping like a rock" - it is a mere pittance.

Bunting also suggests that if you are a Republican, get involved. I suggest that no matter what party you are, you should vote "no" on this amendment.

Tell your legislators and governor you want real tax reform - one that is constitutional and actually provides real relief to all citizens.

CECILE ROSS

Hudson

Factual Information

Regarding "Ruling On Deputies Union Is Right On The Money," Dec. 5:

In an effort to educate the writer of this editorial and those who may believe what is written in ink, I am compelled to bring forth the truth concerning the request for gap insurance by the bargaining units.

First and foremost, the members of the bargaining units, comprised of the majority of the certified men and women of the Pasco sheriff's office, are not asking for gap insurance to cover the member and the member's family. Sheriff's office members are only requesting the same benefit Pasco County and the school board provides to its employees who reach retirement.

When a member retires from the sheriff's office, they should also be afforded with the same health care subsidy the county and school board employees receive. The information fed to the media outlets months ago regarding family members being included in this request is simply false.

We all must be careful to present the facts so everyone who wishes to express their opinions can do so by having truthful and factual information to base their statements upon.

G. KLING

Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 29

Mound Of Questions

Regarding "State Senator's Stagecraft Sets Off Colleague," Tom Jackson, Dec. 6:

The proposed landfill certainly does concern state Sen. Mike Fasano of New Port Richey. It could affect the quality of water for his constituents. Water in the aquifer flows west out of the Green Swamp and under the proposed landfill site.

As far as the landfill is concerned, Jackson's right - absolutely not in my backyard! I don't have to put up with the ugliness and odor of garbage piled up more than 100 feet high so some family from Michigan can make a bundle of money. Let the people who have produced that garbage figure out where to put it in their area, and we in Pasco County will take care of our own trash.

Meanwhile, I have a few questions for John Arnold of Angelo's: Please explain how you will separate out recyclables from the rest of the trash? Won't the "compost" that remains after 10 years be contaminated with heavy metals and chemicals that are discarded in household garbage? Who would put that on their lawn?

Where are the tons of garbage coming from that will give you the profit you envision? All the surrounding counties are taking care of their own trash.

I'll be eagerly awaiting answers.

FERN WILLIAMS

Zephyrhills

Use Existing Housing

With so many foreclosures in our area, does it really make sense to build more housing when there is already a glut on the market? Why not acquire existing housing at distressed prices and use these already built units to attract teachers to the Land O' Lakes area?

Not all teachers have the same housing requirements. Some have families, and some are single. Surely someone in government could do the analysis and work with lending institutions to come up with a very cost-effective solution to this problem.

NED DIETZ

Trinity

The writer is president of the Supervisors Bargaining Unit.

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