4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ APRIL 25, 2018
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
Opinion
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
The First Amendment
C
ongress shall make no law respecting an estab-
lishment of religion or prohibiting the free exer-
cise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of
the press, or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” —Thomas Jefferson (1800)
Unintended consequences of gun control measures
(Editor’s Note: Viewpoint submis-
sions on this and other topics are always
welcome as part of our goal to encour-
age community discussion and exchange
of perspectives.)
On the day I compose this letter, April
19, I had just gone outside and posted
my American flag on our front porch.
Why April 19?
Well, it was the anniversary of the bat-
tles of Lexington and Concord, the start
of the American Revolution. George
Santayana is generally credited with the
saying of, “Those who refuse to learn
from history are doomed to repeat it.”
Santayana didn’t actually say exactly
that, but it is close enough. On that date
in 1775, General Gage, the military gov-
ernor of Boston, at the behest of King
George’s government, decided to exer-
cise a 1775 version of “common sense
gun safety measures” (aka confiscation)
by sending a battalion of red-coated sol-
diers to Concord to grab a supply of gun-
powder and rifle flints that the Colonists
had cached in Concord.
They were also, if given the chance,
GUEST VIEWPOINT
B Y S TAN E ASTER
F LORENCE
directed to arrest leaders such as Sam
Adams and John Hancock.
This should have been easy, but it
wasn’t as the British soldiers ran into
unexpected opposition, first at Lexington
and Concord. The finest army in the
world at that time came up against a
group of farmers, merchants and mill
mechanics. armed with rifles, muskets
and “fowling pieces.”
These were people who were called
“rabble” by the British gentry. The red
coats marched on from Lexington, leav-
ing a few dead colonists in their wake,
but were stopped at Concord. Shots rang
out again and the British staggered back
to Boston, beaten and bloody while
being sniped at all the way back.
The war was on and a new nation was
eventually born.
Yes, the British did manage to get
some of the flints, gunpowder and
arms.
But was it worth it?
One would have to ask King George
and his Prime Minister, Lord North.
The war cost them 24,000 deaths and
about 100,000 British subjects fled to
Canada, the Bahamas and Britain. The
war cost the British over 250 million
British pounds in late 1700s currency,
not modernly.
They lost not only the war, but suf-
fered a humiliating loss of prestige, both
politically and militarily.
They lost 13 productive and valuable
colonies, populated by an energetic and
industrious people.
Those lost colonies went onto become
the richest, most powerful nation on
earth — all lost for a few barrels of flints
and gunpowder.
The point of this is for those who now
seek to disarm law abiding Americans.
Be careful of what you wish for; the
unintended consequences may turn out
to be too expensive.
USPS# 497-660
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L ETTERS
TO THE
P OLICY
E DITOR
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LETTERS
W ITHOUT A PADDLE
In reference to Ann Huntington’s let-
ter “She’s no Jay Bozievich” (April 18),
I’m glad Nora Kent is not like Jay
Bozievich. I disagree with what I feel
are Huntington’s ill-founded and base-
less insinuations that Bozievich is “in
bed” with the timber industry, and that
the accusations are reckless and inap-
propriate.
The reference that it doesn’t take a
rocket scientist or engineer to under-
stand the negative aspects of aerial
spraying epitomize the rash of political
nonesense out there; does anyone really
think you can spray all the trees from
the ground?
The last I checked, there were 335
million board feet of cut lumber in our
fair state — more than any other.
If we hobble the timber industry, we
will be up creek without a paddle. Even
the Register-Guard endorsed Bozievich
in its April 20 editorial.
—Joe Rafetto
Florence
N OT FEELING
REPRESENTED
I wonder if most of the folks in West
Lane County feel our current County
Commissioner Jay Bozievich really
represents us. I am speaking specifical-
ly of the citizens who live west of the
Coast Range mountains and not in
Junction City or Santa Clara.
We can observe his allegiance when
he obstructed the Citizen’s Initiative to
ban aerial spraying of poisons in our air.
What has he done to alleviate the suf-
ferings of the homeless population?
We do see him each time he wants to
be re-elected. I recall his prior cam-
paigns, which were flooded with Tea
Party money and characterized by neg-
ativity.
I, for one, do not feel represented by
the incumbent, nor have I for his term of
office.
I plan to give Nora Kent the opportu-
nity with my vote.
—Pip Cole
Florence
R OUNDABOUTS NOT
THE ANSWER
It’s deja vu regarding a roundabout at
Kingwood
and
Ninth
streets.
Roundabouts are the latest failed fads
for roads.
This is not to say that the intersection
isn’t a problem. The major problem is
the tall bushes impeding the line of
sight, causing drivers to creep out into
the road to be able to see the traffic.
Roundabouts traditionally require
large open space. Most important they
are prone to rear end collisions.
I know; I was rear ended at one.
A roundabout in this spot may intrude
on the properties. According to code,
the properties would have to have no
outbuildings within 15 feet of the new
boundary. Egress and ingress of some
of the properties may be impeded.
Traversing the roundabout with the
frequent semitrailers, fire trucks and
other emergency vehicles, as well as
cars with trailers and RVs will be prob-
lematic.
I wonder how the abutters feel about
bringing the traffic closer to their hous-
es?
I say it spells d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r.
There must be an alternative that
doesn’t require more problems than it
solves.
The city should first get permission
to remove the bushes and maybe install
solar-powered blinking lights to control
the traffic.
—George Goldstein
Former member County Roads
Committee
Florence
S TOP SIGN RATHER
THAN ROUNDABOUT
With the proposal of having and
roundabout at Kingwood and Ninth
streets in Florence, I must start with
driving to the Eugene airport. When you
exit Highway 126 and turn onto Green
Hill Road, a few miles up the road there
is this roundabout — and my first
thought is always “why?”
This is a rural area. But I assume that
Eugene had funds to spend on street
work and did not want to do so in the
city because it was already a traffic
mess. To consider a roundabout at Ninth
and Kingwood streets is a ludicrous
solution.
Public Works Director Mike Miller
said that Kingwood and Ninth street
corner is a “hotspot.” It seems like acci-
dents occur when a driver did not have
the right of way, disregarded the stop
sign, followed another vehicle too
closely, improperly changed lanes, was
inattentive or made a turn in oncoming
traffic.
“The beauty of a circular ‘traffic
calming device’ is that it keeps the traf-
fic in motion,” he said.
A roundabout requires that when one
enters an intersection they must turn
right and they will have three options,
all being turning right. They must look
left, right and ahead for cars entering
the roundabout and then make their
entrance.
How confusing will that be for most
individuals, locals or visitors who have
never experienced a roundabout?
I have not even mentioned the possi-
ble requirements for signage.
Why not just a stop light or four-way
stop?
—Win Jolley
Florence
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Send letters to:
nhickson@thesiuslawnews.com
WHERE TO WRITE
Pres. Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Comments:
202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
Gov. Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, Ore. 97301-4047
Governor’s Citizens’ Rep.
Message Line:
503-378-4582
www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office
Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office
Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753/FAX: 202-
228-3997
541-465-6750
www.merkley.senate.gov
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio
( 4 th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416
541-269-2609
541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
State Sen. Arnie Roblan
( Dist. 5 )
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@
oregonlegislature.gov
State Rep. Caddy
McKeown
( Dist. 9 )
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email: rep.caddymckeown
@state.or.us
West Lane County
Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
FAX: 541-682-4616
Email:
Jay.Bozievich@
co.lane.or.us