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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 18, 2016)
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon LETTERS Continued from page 2 To the Editor: Sisters VFW Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86 are again honored to sponsor Memorial Day 2016 at Sisters Village Green at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 30. This is the 150th anniversary of this national holiday, which was established originally to honor Civil War soldiers who died in the conflict. This year we will be privileged to have in our audience Bob Maxwell, who is the oldest living recipient of the Medal of Honor (World War II). We invite Sisters residents to attend this special event. A barbecue will follow the service. Bill Anttila Commander Sisters VFW Post 8138 • • • To the Editor: I recently read the essay “Dawn and Mary” by Brian Doyle about two women who died trying to stop the shooter at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Last week’s article in The Nugget Newspaper, “Arming Teachers” by Craig Rullman, tries to make the case that if these women were armed they might have been able to stop the gunman. He says we “need to have this conversation . . . in the most realistic terms possible.” I agree. So let’s imagine, as Mr. Rullman asks, “if one of those teachers was also armed.” Imagine you’re the teacher at Sandy Hook in the first classroom where all 15 students were shot and killed. You have a concealed weapon. The killer comes into your room with the gun pointed towards you. You immediately see the threat, reach for your gun (concealed under your jacket, not in your purse or in a drawer), but the gunman, using a weapon that fires a bullet every two seconds, shoots you multiple times before you can even think. How else is this scenario going to play out? Believe me, Mr. Rullman, I understand, and I think most of us do, the “horrific BACK/NECK/SHOULDER PAIN? We can help you! Sisters Acupuncture Julia l WielandTSmith l d S h L.Ac., A LMT T Greg Wieland L.Ac. consequences of violence.” Of course, we understand. And I don’t want to be a “sheep” hiding while kids are being slaughtered all around me. And I would feel safer hiding behind a gun. Of course, I would. But, I’m not safer and perpetuating the myth that more guns is the answer detracts us from finding real solutions. So while we’re having this conversation in the “most realistic terms possible,” let’s talk about real solutions and not just parody the NRA’s only talking point: watching violent Hollywood movies and video games makes the US more violent – ignoring the fact that these movies and games are watched all over the world. The NRA wants us scared. They want us to buy more guns. Let’s talk real solutions like banning all semi-automatic weapons. Begin with a buy-back program that worked so well in Australia. Why do we need bullets that go through walls and car doors? Why do we need high capacity magazines? We should at the very least think of ways to slow down shooters so they can’t kill 15 children in 30 seconds. Guns should be licensed like cars and the owners tested on their use and safety. I could go on. But, let’s be honest. Some gun rights advocates don’t want to talk about taking away guns because how will they defend themselves from the government? So we continue on down this road: more and more guns, more and more gun violence because we have to be prepared to defend ourselves from an imaginary threat instead of dealing with the real threat we face right now. But we can have our freedom and still try and stop bad guys from getting guns. The two aren’t mutually exclusive. The rights of a minority of gun owners with paranoid personal visions of what America should be shouldn’t outweigh the rights of the rest of us to live in a society where mass murders aren’t an almost daily occurrence. Terry Weygandt Let us show you how much you can save this year! 521T523T1523 Call 541-588-6245, for a free quote! — Licensed since 1989 — www.farmersagent.com/jrybka 352 E. Hood Ave., Ste. E Experience Counts! Eurosports offers music The early evening summer music series at Eurosports Food Cart Garden begins with a variety of musical performers and a bonus: a one-hour play. The series evolved to give people a chance to enjoy free, outdoor events at a more convenient time. All events are outdoors, family- and dog-friendly. People can eat dinner if they’d like and enjoy 30-plus craft beers. On Friday, May 20, from 5 to 7 p.m., Erik Himbert starts off the season. Brad Boyd, owner of Eurosports says, “We wanted to start with Erik because not only is he a local, he is our most-requested performer. He’s an amazing singer- songwriter and his covers really get people dancing.” Himbert moved to Sisters several years ago and is the music teacher at Sisters Christian Academy. A snowboarding accident paralyzed him in 2009 and became a catalyst to strengthen his relationship with music. Erik describes his music as “Songs of life and love and mystery ignite with passion.” At approximately 7 p.m. visitors can enjoy a free, one- hour play encompassing the history of Deschutes County. “The Faces of Deschutes County” is a theatrical production produced in conjunction with the Deschutes County Historical Society. The three-act play highlights issues, ideologies and people and what motivated residents to split apart from the then-larger Crook County to create a new county. Characters include former publisher of The Bulletin, George Putnam, who was married to Amelia Earhart. Boyd explains, “We want people to think of the garden space as a community space. When we were approached to host the play, we immediately said, ‘yes.’” Friday, May 27, at 5 p.m. sees the reunion of two long-time Central Oregon favorites, Peter Heithoff and Patrick Lombardi, two-thirds of The Haymakers, who have played the Sisters Folk Festival several times. Heithoff owns Bend Instrument Repair and is a long-time luthier. He was the model for a Dennis McGregor folk festival poster featuring a stand-up bass. Lombardi was a model for the 2008 poster featuring a blue-guitar-playing blues musician. Eurosports Food Cart Garden is located at the corner of Hood and Fir, 223 E. Hood Ave. Admission is free. GET READY FOR SUMMER TRAVEL S Tires, Suspension, Brakes & Alignment DAVIS TIRE 541-549-1026 Serving Sisters Since 1962. 188 W. Sisters Park Dr. In Sisters Industrial Park across from SnoCap Mini Storage 257 S. 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