The right to bear arms in national parks; Scott Brown’s vote on the ‘jobs bill’; taxing online purchases

Guns in the parks

Re “Guns now OK in U.S. parks,” Feb. 22

After reading this article, I ask myself: “Why?” Why the need for someone to carry a loaded weapon into a national park? What is the fear these people feel, that they believe that they must carry a weapon -- in some cases a concealed and loaded weapon -- into a park?

Individuals may now also carry these weapons into the restaurants, gift shops and hotels located within these parks. Gun advocates will point to the 2nd Amendment -- “the right to bear arms” -- as a justification. I say there is enough bloodshed in this country because of the use of firearms. Stop this senseless worship of the gun.

Hugo Pastore
Torrance

Wow! Now it’s OK to pack heat while gazing at the geysers of Yellowstone.

Humans can bear arms. Does that also make it legal to arm bears?

They may need it!

Bruce Mitchell
Oxnard

The Times misses the big picture on Americans carrying guns in its rush to portray a “sky is falling” alarm on guns in national parks.

We have been conducting an experiment across the United States for the last 20 years as states permitted citizens to acquire licenses and carry guns concealed. About 40 states now have laws that allow any citizen who is not disqualified to carry a gun under “shall issue” regulations.

Guess what? The continuing predictions of blood in the streets have not materialized. California is now one of the few states not liberalizing its laws and seeing lower crime numbers.

There won’t be blood in the national parks either.

Jim Dodd
San Diego

Tax breaks don’t equal jobs

Re “Legislating jobs,” Editorial, Feb. 20

I have more than 40 years of experience as an owner, principal and consultant to a wide variety of small businesses. I can guarantee that no small business will ever hire an extra employee to get a tax break. They will hire new people when their order books are full again.

The only people who think this boneheaded idea will work are those who have never had to manage a profit-and-loss statement -- Congress and economists.

James W. Taylor
San Clemente

Scott Brown’s bravery

Re “Brown’s honeymoon is over,” Feb. 24

A senator vote against his own party? Heaven forbid!

Scott Brown’s decision to vote alongside Democrats to block a Republican filibuster on the jobs bill may not have been a smart career move, but it demonstrated his sense of independence and bravery.

The Republicans’ outcry may be justified -- their expectations and hopes for Brown were seemingly dashed in one unexpected turn of events. But can they really complain? One of their criticisms of Obama’s administration is that it hasn’t done much to help America’s fumbling job market. But once Congress attempts to pass a jobs bill, the opposing party complains that its filibuster was busted?

Brown and the four other Republicans who voted to advance the jobs bill have proved that politicians are not robots with preprogrammed votes hard-wired into their heads, but rather human beings who pay attention to constituents.

K.S. Korinn Lee
Chino Hills

Looking online for revenue

Re “State surfs the Web for tax revenue,” Feb. 20

This Democratic bill to tax purchases made by Californians at Amazon.com is just one more example of the anti-business and anti-taxpayer attitude shown by Democrats in the Legislature, even in the face of rising unemployment. God forbid some out-of-work Californian saves a little cash by shopping online.

How many more jobs will be lost, and how many more companies will move to more business-friendly states, if Amazon follows through on its threat to cancel contracts with the California companies it does business with if the law is passed?

We know the threat isn’t an idle one because Amazon canceled contracts with businesses in other states that passed identical laws.

Before this half-baked law is passed, I propose the Democrats add language to the bill to provide a knife to each person who voted for it so they can cut off their nose to spite their face.

The second Tuesday in November can’t get here fast enough as far as I’m concerned.

Jim Valencia
Chino Hills

Californians must realize that there is a distinct connection between all those closed businesses (and lost jobs) in our state and the convenience of online shopping in which no sales tax is paid.

If Californians united in a boycott of Overstock.com and Amazon.com, I don’t think it would take too long before those companies saw the virtue of the state’s position.

I for one am making a concerted effort to buy Californian.

Sandra Smith
Yorba Linda

Putting a price on safety

Re “Toyota’s focus was recall costs,” Feb. 22

The fact that Toyota did a cost analysis regarding how much it would cost to recall its defective cars reminds one of the infamous Ford Pinto document that showed Ford would save millions if it didn’t fix the problem, let injury- and death-producing accidents occur and paid the victims.

It just goes to show that corporate greed is valued in business over human life and limb.

Allen P. Wilkinson
Laguna Woods

City Hall still doesn’t get it

Re “The shrinking view from City Hall,” Opinion, Feb. 21

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s Op-Ed article does not ring true.

He lists parking lots and meters among the city’s money losers. Parking lots and meters are famous for being cheap ways of making money. You wonder if he’s going to try to get the city to sell them to some of his cronies.

Selling city property is a stupid idea, especially in such a depressed market. The city gets a one-time infusion of cash, but the next year the city has neither the property nor the money. What do you do when you run out of things to sell?

To really get rid of the fat, you should start where most of it occurs -- at the top. Cut down on City Council junkets, staffs and budgets, and the discretionary funds council members spend as political patronage.

Alas, the council members will not sacrifice for the sake of the city, and there is no one to bring them to heel.

Ricki Vancott
Los Angeles

Hit or miss

Re “Israel relies on a deadly specialty,” Feb. 23

A tiny Middle East nation continues to act with impunity in breaking international law with the alleged assassination of a Hamas leader. And of course, the U.S. will not express an opinion, for fear of offending powerful Israel backers. I wonder if we have any Hamas leaders in this country eligible for assassination? Or better yet, why don’t we ask the Mossad to assassinate Osama bin Laden in return for the $3 billion we give Israel for no good reason? Sounds like a good deal -- we get rid of our mortal enemy and the Israelis can earn their keep.

Lou Del Pozzo
Pacific Palisades