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SUPREME COURT BULL’S EYE

It was refreshing to read in Tina May’s anti-gun/anti-self-defense rant [“Aim’s a Little Off,” July 3-9] that Salinas Police Chief Daniel Ortega supports allowing law-abiding citizens to own handguns. Frankly, it’s only common sense.

May points out that handguns were banned in Washington, D.C., to combat crime. The ban seems to be working wonderfully. Washington, D.C., has one of the highest murder rates in the country. All the ban has done is ensure that victims will be unable to defend themselves.

What amazes me is while anti-gun zealots would deny people the means to defend themselves, they always oppose punishing criminals more harshly. May whines that guns bought for self-protection can be stolen and used by criminals. Should one’s gun be stolen, another one can be purchased. It would be the same response should a vehicle or stereo system be stolen.

May fears that because of the Supreme Court ruling, some of her friends or neighbors may buy a gun. Anyone wanting to purchase a gun for protection wouldn’t have been waiting for a Supreme Court ruling to do so. However, if May is afraid one of her neighbors may have a gun, there’s a simple way for her to stay safe. Don’t break into your neighbor’s house. --Brian L. Burleson | Seaside

AN EASY READ

Thank you for your beautiful and informative article on Crosspulse [“Body of Music,” July 3-9].

Opening windows to the world for Monterey County residents is the mission of the Foundation for Monterey County Free Libraries, which funds summer reading at the county libraries. Your article did that for Monterey County Weekly readers in addition to the families who will attend the Crosspulse programs.

Thank you again for your support of summer reading programs for children and teens at the Monterey County Free Libraries. --Ruth Paget | Youth Services Librarian, Monterey County Free Libraries

FIRST-HAND PLEA

I don’t smoke, but I continue to breathe air polluted by toxic second-hand smoke because I’m a renter in an apartment building. While my neighbors believe they have the right to smoke in their unit, my right to breathe smoke-free air has been disregarded. On some days I cannot only smell the second-hand smoke, but I can see it drifting into my apartment.

Smoking in an apartment building does not only affect the smoker. Drifting toxic chemicals indiscriminately affect neighbors. Second-hand smoke seeps into and out of apartments through shared circulation systems, open windows and doors, light fixtures, plumbing ducts, and even gaps in baseboards. And according to the U.S. surgeon general, continued exposure to second-hand smoke increases the risk of heart disease and lung cancer. There is no safe level of exposure.

Home ownership should not be a prerequisite for living smoke free. It’s time to protect everyone from second-hand smoke, including the nearly 14 million Californians who rent. --Syd Watson | Salinas