Stay generous
I would like to respectfully respond to the letter from Bob Akamine titled “No acknowledgment” (Your Views, Dec. 7).
First of all, thank you very much, Mr. Akamine, for your generosity to The Food Basket. I’ve been donating to that organization for years, either by donating nonperishable food at drop-off points or through payroll deductions.
My adult daughter used The Food Basket when she was struggling with trying to put food on the table for herself and her young family.
I hope that you will continue to be generous the person that you are, Mr. Akamine. And, please know that you are truly appreciated even if there is no acknowledgement.
Kevin Thompson
Keaau
A great charity
I had to sit right down and refute the letter from Bob Akamine complaining about not receiving acknowledgment from The Food Basket (Your Views, Dec. 7).
As it’s my “favorite” charity, and I personally see the tremendous and direct benefits provided to our community by stretching their donated funds, I must take issue with his comments on two points.
Firstly, I did (and do), in fact, receive letters of thanks and receipt. I have no reason not to believe Mr. Akamine’s claim of not receiving one, but it may just not have arrived by the time he felt it should have.
Secondly, even if an acknowledgment never was sent, I also send a check which, after it’s been cancelled, would serve just fine as a receipt for tax purposes.
The Food Basket is one of the hardest-working, efficient and necessary charities serving our island and certainly does not deserve to be “thrown out with the bath water” because they’re slow with the paperwork. A phone call would surely speed that up, if paperwork is so critical.
Mary Serion
Ainaloa
Guns in public
To carry or not to carry a gun? I can see both sides of this issue, good points and bad points. So many restrictive places where carrying a firearm is not allowed. Public buildings, parks, schools, churches, elderly homes, even commercial establishments, if they choose not to have firearms upon their property.
Then why bother to get a carry permit with all these restrictions?
Crime has and does happen in these named restricted areas, not just here, but worldwide. Many may have recalled an incident where a school teacher on Oahu was casually eating her saimin at a strip mall and was suddenly attacked by a male unknown to her with a knife, and sadly she died from her wounds.
Maybe the outcome would have been different if there was a bystander who had a permit to carry and reacted in time, saving this woman’s life. Not only is carrying in public meant for self-protection, but it can apply for defending others.
We can create hundreds of scenarios of where and when to shoot and not to shoot, but great responsibility lies upon the individual who chooses to carry a firearm in public. This permit is not for intimidating anyone.
One worst case scenario? “Sir, thank you for saving the life of this victim from a brutal attack. However, you are hereby under arrest for carrying in a restricted area, and your permit to carry may be revoked.”
If this happens to a person who has a permit to carry, do not argue with the police. They have a job to do.
Rick LaMontagne
Hilo
