Make chem attacks Class A felonies
Dear Sen. Karl Rhoads: I am sure that you and everyone in the Legislature has been horrified about the chemical attack at Ala Moana (on Jan. 23). This comes a year after the chemical attack in Mililani. I know that in discharging your duties, you have to balance the heat of the moment in terms of public opinion and whether to make changes to the law, and I appreciate that.
However, these crimes are so horrific that they were once unthinkable in Hawaii or certainly something that only happened in some lesser-developed country. Currently, Sec. 707-710(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, makes an assault that results in “serious bodily injury” a Class B felony.
I submit that given the horrific nature of a chemical attack — and the permanent physical and emotional scars that will haunt victims for the remainder of their lives — warrants harsher measures. Because the attacker chose to use chemicals, the attacker knows that it will cause unbearable pain and disfiguring injury but not death.
The attackers are cruel beyond measure.
In that regard, I respectfully request the Judiciary Committee consider amending Sec. 707-710(b), HRS, and make any chemical attack a Class A felony, without the possibility of parole. The main purpose of this amendment is to deter future attacks.
Weak-minded attackers need to understand that if they pursue this route, their criminal conduct will not be forgiven for the remainder of their lives.
I would note that buying any kind of chemical that can maim or blind is too easy and readily available, which is beyond regulation or legislation. But the Legislature can make it crystal clear what the consequences will be for this kind of horrific criminal conduct.
Thank you for your kind attention to this request.
Ted H. S. Hong
Hilo
Media literacy should be taught in schools
I was glad to see that CU Hawaii is promoting financial literacy in our schools. Children today grow up in a society were predatory lending has not only been legalized, but is promoted openly by the government — student loans, for example.
As important as financial literacy is, media literacy is even more sorely needed.
Finland includes media literacy in their school curriculum. I believe the United States obviously and desperately needs such a program starting at an early age.
Our news media has morphed into an entertainment media where anyone can hear the lies they want to believe, simply by changing the channel. The goal is not to inform, but rather to arouse emotions and coincidentally sell a certain brand of soap.
Statements by governments have gone beyond spin, to include preposterous lies. Then these fantasies are picked up by media outlets and presented as facts. The result can be throngs of angry people protesting things that never occurred, often resulting in tragic violence.
The introduction of artificial intelligence makes having a reasoned, healthy skepticism even more important.
Today, the answer to the question, “Who are you going to believe: me or your own eyes?” may have to be “neither.”
Michael Mentnech
Hawaiian Paradise Park