Letters for Thursday, November 27, 2014

• Taxpayers deserve better treatment • Ferguson situation a sad one

Taxpayers deserve better treatment

I am writing concerning the Hanalei Transfer station. I tried to dump green waste. I was not allowed to dump. The dump area was dry and yet they said it was unsafe. I called DPOW and they were rude. I am a taxpayer who pays their salary. I see commercial landscapers dump with no charge.

Bill Smith, Princeville

Ferguson situation a sad one

It is so sad to see the recent riots in Ferguson.

The rioters and looters are burning and destroying businesses in black neighborhoods. Some businesses will close or leave. Other potential business owners will be afraid to set up shop in this area and will pursue their business dreams elsewhere, away from this (or any) black neighborhood. The bottom line is that these rioters are destroying the current and future economic opportunities of black people. 

Michael Brown was clearly a dangerous criminal. Darren Wilson likely did what he was trained to do in that dangerous situation. For these reasons, the grand jury decision not to indict Wilson seems appropriate. My question is, “Why are the police trained to shoot to kill, whenever they open fire?” Some argue that a “shoot to wound” strategy would be more dangerous because officers might start shooting more often. 

Others argue that a “shoot to wound” strategy would still involve some deaths. I respect and appreciate those who serve us as police officers. They are risking their lives to protect us. However, I think that it would be helpful if there were some shooting training that was different than just “shoot to kill.” 

In some situations, it will be necessary to shoot to kill as rapidly as possible. However, in other situations where the threat is not as extreme, the officer could wait a moment to allow the earlier shot to take effect. The aggressive criminal could be neutralized, but still might survive. 

Mark Beeksma, Koloa