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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2015)
4A • April 17, 2015 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com Proposed gun control legislation one of contradictions T he 2015 Oregon Legislature is shaping up to be one of FRQWUDGLFWLRQV ± PRUH JXQ control for those who obey the law but possibly more govern- ment protection for those who have broken the law. We’re about to increase back- ground checks on private gun sales, which will do nothing to stop felons from continuing to LOOHJDOO\REWDLQDQGXVH¿UHDUPV At the same time, legislation has been proposed that would make it harder for an employer to do a crim- inal background check on felons. Yes, this is a very contentious legislative session. Many bills are on a fast track. If we don’t slow down and become more thoughtful, we’re going to pass some bad laws, and citizens will pay the price. Last year during the legisla- ture’s brief 35-day session, state Sen. Floyd Prozanski (D-Eugene) tried to rush approval of a gun control bill to expand background checks. He needed just one more vote, and I declined to give it. I didn’t think his bill would reduce crime. I wish all it took to change human behavior was passing leg- islation. It doesn’t work that way. Prozanski is back this year with a similar bill, and this time he has the votes. That doesn’t mean he has a good bill. His Senate Bill 941 requires that any time a private citizen VHOOV RU WUDQVIHUV D ¿UHDUP ERWK the seller and buyer/recipient must go to a licensed gun dealer, and pay to have the buyer under- go a criminal background check. On the face of it this seems rea- sonable. Think about it, though. If you know you have a criminal his- tory, you’ll bypass this law: Have somebody else buy a gun for you, or obtain one on the black mar- ket. It’s already against the law IRUH[IHORQVWRSRVVHVVD¿UHDUP Yet, how often do we read about ex-felons committing a crime, and they’re armed? It takes more than laws to disarm a criminal. However, a law can disarm a non-criminal. Under the proposed legislation, a gun owner with no FULPLQDO KLVWRU\ FRXOG ¿QG KLP Guest Column Given Prozanski’s legislative history, I have to ask: Does he real- ly want to go after violent felons? Or does he want to cause problems for legitimate gun owners? Two years ago Prozanski served on the governor’s Com- B Y mission on Public Safety, where SEN. BETSY he worked on House Bill 3194. He JOHNSON pushed unsuccessfully to reduce the sentences for some robbery, assault and sexual abuse crimes. Even more revealing, Prozans- ki wanted to expand expunge- Does [Prozanski] really PHQW ± D ZD\ IRU IHORQV WR ZLSH clean their criminal history to want to go after violent KHOS WKHP ¿QG KRXVLQJ DQG HP felons? Or does he want ployment. Now here he is spon- to cause problems for soring a bill that requires back- ground checks on gun purchases. legitimate gun owners? What good does it do to require background checks, if you’re also self in violation if he loans a helping felons rewrite their crim- KXQWLQJ ULÀH WR D IULHQG ZLWKRXW inal records? D EDFNJURXQG FKHFN 2Q D ¿UVW As it is, the public might be offense, the punishment could be surprised how often expunge- one year in jail and/or a $6,250 ments and sealed records are al- ¿QH 2Q D VHFRQG RIIHQVH WKH lowed. I checked with one of the punishment could reach 10 years District Attorneys in my district LQSULVRQDQGRUD¿QH ±&ODWVRS&RXQW\¶V-RVK0DUTXLV ±DQGIRXQGWKDWKLVRI¿FHDORQH grants at least 100 expungements or sealed record requests a year. Once an adult’s criminal re- cord is sealed it may not appear on the Law Enforcement Data System, the National Crime In- formation Center, the older Ore- gon Judicial Information Network or the newer Odyssey court sys- tem. Prozanski’s bill does not ad- dress this. There are aspects of his gun ELOOWKDWDUHZRUWK\±IRUH[DPSOH prohibiting persons undergoing court-ordered outpatient treat- PHQW IURP SRVVHVVLQJ D ¿UHDUP +RZHYHU FRQ¿GHQWLDOLW\ ODZV PDNH LW GLI¿FXOW WR HYHQ UHYHDO who is mentally ill. The bill does nothing to protect the public from a person whose mental illness ex- presses itself in violence. The overriding intent of Prozanski’s bill is not directed at violent behavior but at making gun ownership more inconvenient for the law-abiding. See Guns, Page 5A Between the Covers ESTHER MOBERG Spring has sprung and so has a new seed program Ready for the spring? At the Seaside Public Library, we are starting a new pro- gram called The Gardening Seed Exchange. Other librar- ies throughout Oregon have similar programs, including the Tillamook Library. The idea behind the program is to encourage local gardeners to cultivate and share seeds that are heirloom seeds. You may also have a special variety of plant or seeds that you want to share that can’t be found at our local gardening store. Many gardeners regrow their ÀRZHUV RU YHJHWDEOHV IURP the same plants year after year. Because the plants are grown in our climate, they often become hardier and more resistant to our local spores or other diseases. If you were unable to attend our kickoff event on April 4, stop by the library to pick up the seed packets and more details regarding how the seed ex- change works! The kickoff event had de- tails regarding how to save seeds and best practices for storing seeds, as well as the difference between heirloom, hybrid, and other seeds. We will be trying to highlight the gardening program at the li- brary throughout the growing season this year. Start your non-hybrid plants now and keep us in mind this year. A special thank you to Coast Hardware for donating seed ESTHER MOBERG packets to help us get this program started. Handouts and seed packets for storing your seeds will be available at the library. Another program we are very proud to support here at the Seaside Public Library is the ROCC program or Rural Outreach in Clatsop County. This is a program we have been doing for the past 3 to 5 years. Working together with WKH¿YHVFKRROGLVWULFWVLQ&ODW sop County, and the two other public libraries in our county, we work together to help all children in our community have access to library services regardless of their location and socio-economic needs. Any child in the county that goes to their closest public library can get a library card. We also provide a countywide summer reading program because re- search has shown that children who do not read during the summer months can regress as much as an entire grade level in just one summer. We be- lieve in supporting the efforts of our teachers and schools. Literacy is an essential tool for success in life. We have been supported by grants over the SDVW¿YH\HDUVEXWQRZZHDUH asking for continued commu- nity support. If you or children you know have been impacted by this program or you simply believe in supporting literacy for youth in Clatsop Coun- ty, please consider donating to the Rural Outreach pro- gram. For more information you may contact the Seaside Public Library’s director. Do- nations may be made to The Friends of the Seaside Library, a 501(c)3, and mailed to the library at 1131 Broadway in Seaside. Programs are just one way that the Seaside Library serves and supports our com- munity. This month at the library, we will be hosting author and Professor Peter Laufer from the University of Oregon speaking on his book Organic: the truth behind food labeling. He has done extensive research in tracking down exactly what the label means and whether every item is truly organic that is la- beled organic. This event will be held on April 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the library’s commu- nity room. Scene and Heard CLAIRE LOVELL Braving the elements part of life, especially on the Oregon coast Where did “back in the day” come from? Our ex- pression was “in the good old days,” which is still useful. Often, they are from movies or popular books and people just pounce on them. So long, Don Don Church has died not long after his wife, Betty Jean. When I took post-grad- uate work at the high school for my nursing diploma, Don was my chemistry partner. If it hadn’t been for him, I probably would never have passed the course because he did most of the work. We also were partners on the centennial program for Sea- side. Don was the last one to go in his family and though he was not the same guy we used to know, his friends will miss him. Rest in peace, Don. and even pants. One of my kids thinks fondly of those he wore to deliver papers when boys did such things. He was fully protected. Weather a mixed bag Thursday, March 27 was a gorgeous day with the tem- perature hovering around 70 degrees. I guess all the spring break kids thought it might continue. On Friday, every- one was at the beach but the weather became a day from “H-E-double hockey sticks.” People in cloth hoodies were braving the elements — rain, rain, rain and more rain! There were people with 9- or 10-month-old babies riding on their shoulders in clothes suitable for sunny days — no sweaters, no hats, just this deluge running off their hair. What our town needs is a foul weather shop, selling boots, umbrellas, real raincoats and It is up to you Clatsop County voters To the editor, Our freedoms guaranteed by our Consti- tution are being whittled away by the liberal democrats. Are we once again to allow the liberals to take away our freedom to choose? Presently the voters of Clatsop County choose the Port of Astoria’s commissioners from a slate of prospective candidates. Both petitions that are being presented, if passed, will take away our freedom to choose whom our Clatsop County Port commissioners should be. The Port is an important source of revenue for the whole county, not just Asto- ria or Warrenton. We should be allowed as a county to choose who these people are who will be the administrators of this public ser- vice, the Port of Astoria. Dianne Widdop, mayor of Gearhart, pro- poses that the governor of our state appoint the commissioners. Apparently, she believes that the voters are not intelligent enough to make good decisions or the right decision. Mr. Taylor who is the chairman of the Dem- ocratic Party of Clatsop County believes that, again the voters need help, so we should di- vide the county up into districts. If this passes, you will only be allowed to choose a candidate from your small district, not the whole county. Will we allow the liberal Democrats to take away our freedom to choose? It is up to you Clatsop County voters to stop them now. Don’t sign the petitions, read them, be in- formed, by all means, but think of what you will give away if either proposal passes. Karen Custer Seaside Sounds of spring I feel sorry for the astro- naut twin who is going into space for a year. He took off on March 28. He says be- sides his family, he’ll miss the sounds of life — bird songs and the like. I understand. CLAIRE LOVELL Out one window I watch two collared doves, sparrows, Sou’Wester hats. Remember juncos and chickadees at the the oilskins of the old days? bird feeder. Another window They were long and waxed shows a wild currant bush with galoshes-type fasteners, where humming birds hang ZKLOH WKH ¿VKHUPDQ¶V KDWV out. A third one, at the kitch- went down the back a ways. en sink, reveals a birdhouse Where are they now? Also, on with nesting sparrows and all the once-were list, were yel- those feathered friends. Sing low, rubberized coats, hoods out, it’s cool. Author discovery I think it’s too bad when the library tosses out a book from a talented Oregon au- thor, although their loss is my gain. I had never heard of Wm. Corbin so I had Gary “Google” him and found that his name is really William Corbin Mc- Graw. He and his wife both did a lot of writing. William began as a newspaperman. I forgot her work. He also served in the Navy for a couple of years in the 40s. Then they bought D ¿OEHUW IDUP LQ 2UHJRQ DQG retired to write and raise their two children. The McGraws (Eloise Jarvis Corbin) both died in the 90s. I was hoping he was still alive. When I like anyone’s work, I usually write to tell him or her so. The book I found was “Smoke,” a kids story about a German Shep- Letters to the Editor Call before you dig! town through your muck! To the editor, Sring is in the air and gardeners in Seaside will soon start working in their yards. If that work includes digging, NW Natural reminds \RXWR¿UVWFDOO±WKH8WLOLW\1RWL¿FDWLRQ &HQWHU±WRORFDWHXQGHUJURXQGJDVDQGRWKHU utility lines. This is a free service and it’s not only a smart thing to do to help prevent damage, it’s the law. Once you call, a technician will visit the property within two business days to locate your gas and utility lines. If a gas line has been accidentally dam- aged, remember to: Smell. Go. Let us know. If you smell rotten eggs or hear a hissing sound, immediately leave the area on foot and then call 911 and NW Natural’s 24-hour emergen- cy line at 800-882-3377. Be safe this spring and be sure to call before you dig. Teresa Accuardi NW Natural Community Affairs Manager I realize it is your right as American citizens to be able to protest the way any government body is handling the events of the time, but for, what appears to be, a personal vendetta is wrong. Mr. Jessie, if you think it is so disheartening to have one person on the council with whom you cannot agree, perhaps it should be you who re- signs. I did not vote for a bunch of “children” who cannot get along with one another, and embarrass MY town where our family has had a presence since the 1800s. This goes for the entire council. As for the dissidents, this recall is going to FRVWWKHWD[SD\HUVRI*HDUKDUWDFFRUGLQJWRRI¿ FLDOVDERXW,¶PVXUHWKHFLW\FRXOG¿QG better use of these funds! My suggestion is: the petitioners should personally have to pay this cost. Perhaps, next time, you might want to wait until whomever it is you don’t like comes up for re-election and mount your own campaign to re- place them. This is the true American way. In the meantime, let’s all try to play well with others. Preston Devereaux Gearhart Thanks for return of wallet Tsunami evacuation To the editor, We would like to thank the anonymous per- information critical son who found my husband’s wallet on March 27 in Gearhart. The contents were mailed to Seattle, all cards intact. Cathy Hughson Seattle ‘Let’s play well with others’ To the editor, To Harold Gable, Dan Jessie and the rest of the Gearhart dissidents. I would like to thank you, as one of the silent majority, for raking MY To the editor, In the previous edition of the Seaside Signal, there was an article regarding the controversy of providing tsunami evacuation information to Seaside’s hotel and motel visitors. Having worked at a Seaside motel, I know that many of the staff is completely in the dark regard- ing a tsunami’s impact and what to do to help guests become aware of actions they must take to provide for their safety. The idea, suggest- ed by some, of not providing this information herd dog who escaped from his master and was lost in the woods for a long while, starv- ing some as he lived there, eating whatever was available. (More next time.) Laugh line: Here’s a tasteful joke from my sister, Blanche. Two old sisters, Cora and Dora, feeling the pinch of pov- erty as they were widowed, threw their lot in together and shared everything — even a set of dentures. Cora, returning from an afternoon tea, put the teeth in their usual resting place. In a few minutes, Dora, on her way to a party, took the dentures for herself, after which she opened her eyes widely and exclaimed in a VDWLV¿HG YRLFH ³0PPP Macaroons!” because it might scare guests is an idea that is almost beyond belief. Shall we take down all WKHH[LVWLQJ¿UHHYDFXDWLRQLQIRUPDWLRQ" During Seaside’s recent election for mayor, I was asked only one question in the single town hall that was conducted, “Why are you opposed to rebuilding the Avenue U bridge since it is functionally obsolete?” I replied, that “functional obsolescence does not mean structural obsoles- cence and that bridge rebuilding priority should be given to the Broadway bridge, which is struc- WXUDOO\GH¿FLHQWDQGWRWKHEULGJHDWWKHQRUWK end of town.” What I wasn’t given time to ex- plain was that these two bridges play a critical part in the Seaside tsunami evacuation plan while the Avenue U bridge — because of its location — plays no part in an evacuation plan. Using tsunami inundation maps from the State of Oregon, the City of Seaside devel- oped evacuation routes and erected signage. The object of the tsunami evacuation plan for a Cascadia Fault earthquake is to walk to high ground (80 ft. elevation) within a 15 to 20 PLQXWH SHULRG 6LQFH D UHDVRQDEO\ ¿W SHUVRQ can walk about three miles per hour, that puts the maximum distance to safety at one mile. Those near Avenue U and west of the Necan- icum River are about three-quarters of a mile from high ground if they proceed south and then west along the cove toward Tillamook Head. If they follow the city’s existing tsunami evacuation signage and map, they will walk inland one and a half miles and will not reach safety in the required time. Even if you believe that the tsunami danger in Seaside is overstated, the published maps and signs must show the correct route to safety. John Dunzer Seaside
