Liberals are conspiring to take guns
Pat Williams, in his Nov. 12 guest column, castigates the National Rifle Association for “espous(ing) the politics of resentment and becom(ing) the pawn of one political party.” He then goes on to assure us that the federal government “never (has) and (is) not now conspiring to take our guns.”
In this construction he follows the meme of the Democratic Party as stated by Barack Obama, John Kerry and Al Gore, as well as Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus, that the gun rights enshrined in the Second Amendment have to do only or primarily with the use of guns for hunting.
For the past 30 years and better, liberal groups such as the Brady bunch and its clones have worked hard to elect people to local, state and federal offices who are antithetical to a broad interpretation of the Second Amendment. One would have to wonder why that would be if it wasn’t to pass laws to limit those rights. Obama’s activities on the board of the Joyce Foundation gives clues as to where his heart lies, as does his hiring questionnaire litmus test as to whether the applicant or his relatives have now or ever have owned guns.
So yes, Williams, I believe that the liberal wing of the federal government is conspiring to eventually take our guns. They just haven’t got the job done yet and, with the continued vigilance of the NRA and each of us members, they won’t.
Dennis Elliott, Lolo
His spark was contagious
Nov. 20: The day feels like an oxymoron because it has been sad but celebratory all at once. Noah Ginnings was a friend of mine for five-and-a-half years. Honestly, the number means nothing because some of us knew him for nearly his lifetime and others knew him from a fleeting conversation.
I feel inadequate in writing of him, and as my memory cached the moments we shared, I couldn’t help but feel like my emotions were melodramatic. Then I realized that it’s unfair to think that way, and I am so humbled and special to have known him as the friend he was to me. I truly believe that no matter how well anyone knew him, we all felt the same way when we were around him. We felt a little cooler, a little happier, and I always felt funnier because joking with him was like a slightly vulgar ping-pong match.
We all loved Noah. Even if you feel like you could have known him a little better - don’t. My hope is that everyone can take a part of the Noah they knew and loved, or the part they were just getting to know, and let it live inside them. That way he can live indefinitely with all of us.
How you do that is up to you, whether it’s playing in a pick-up basketball game, starring in a YouTube clip, unintentionally using unfortunate language around parents and their children, heckling University of Montana athletic competitors, wearing a utila-kilt, giving big hugs, laughing to the point of tears, or being lewd to a point of self-satisfaction and breaking barriers of hilarity.
He was amazing, inspiring, and his spark was contagious within other people.
He made me laugh like none other.
We will always love you, Noah Ginnings.
Morgan Stier, Missoula
Leaders should take Boy Scout pledge
After living more than 80 years, I must relearn many things. The Boy Scout pledge was to honor God and the country. A handshake was as good as a legal contract. Today everything requires a legal document to assure performance.
During the past 80 years our country has fought many wars. World War II had a clear objective and support of the population. People endured food and gas rationing. Troops were sent overseas to fight battles. The tour of duty was as long as the troops were needed. The president and the secretary of defense did not visit the troops. Meals were prepared by military cooks. No private company, like Halliburton, was there. This change has come with a high price.
It’s remarkable to defeat the enemy and then have to get the Iraqi Cabinet to agree to let the U.S. troops stay in their country. The troops are in a different type of engagement. There is nothing normal about this war. Our servicemen are fighting a group that doesn’t wear a military uniform. In WWII, it was easy to identify the enemy.
In the past, a bonus was given as a reward for exceptional service to a company for improving the company’s profit. Today bonuses are given to executives who lead their companies into bankruptcy.
I have lived through 10 presidents. For years, I thought one had to be exceptionally brilliant to hold such a job. But my belief began to change with President Nixon. Today I feel that I am smarter than the president. At least, I know the Arab culture better.
We were much less informed 60 or 80 years ago, but the basic values that were taught would serve us well today. It would be appropriate for our politicians and president to take the Boy Scout oath and live by it.
Glade W. Roberts, Missoula
Preliminary screening not approval
We were very surprised to see the headline, “Bitterroot Resort given initial OK” in the Nov. 12 Missoulian.
The first part of the article gave the impression that a 99-year permit for the use of public lands on Carlton Ridge and Lolo Peak is very close to being granted. Some readers were evidently given the impression that the resort had already received the permit. (Letters, Nov. 21)
In reality, the “approval” granted last week was only a preliminary screening of the resort’s latest proposal. The permitting process requires another level of in-depth screening to determine whether the proposal meets the specifications of the current forest plan, whether the proposal is in the public interest, and whether the resort has the financial resources to execute the plan and make it financially viable over the long run. A part of the screening process will be an environmental impact analysis, which makes any final granting of a permit years away. The public will still have the opportunity to say whether they want to grant the resort exclusive commercial use of an area that is currently used by the public for free.
This past weekend, we were hiking up on Carlton Ridge and were once again struck by the number and variety of hunters, hikers and backcountry skiers enjoying the area. Over the years we have hiked and skied this area year-round. How very sad would be the day when we would be shut out because an exclusive 99-year lease had been granted to sell and control access to this very special piece of public land for the enjoyment of a privileged few.
Jim and Janet Surrena, Missoula
Project would do wonders ... not
This is in response to Tom Mazurek’s letter (Nov. 21) concerning the Bitterroot Resort.
I completely agree with Mazurek. This new resort will do wonders for the Missoula community. First of all, this community is too small. This town needs growth. It needs more business and more jobs and more wealthy out-of-state tourists. I want Missoula housing to become completely unaffordable to native Montanans, as well as the hippie sustainable types always preaching about recycling and sustainability and local this and local that. Who needs those people?
Mazurek mentions that this new resort will bring jobs. It will! All the little green outdoor types can work minimum wage jobs pouring Moose Drool and Starbucks for the wealthy who can afford to ski here. That is exactly where I want them, serving me and my rich friends. These plebeian types will not be able to afford the exorbitant lift ticket prices at the Bitterroot Resort. Good! Stay at Snowbowl.
Jim Gill is the chief honcho in charge of development for the Bitterroot Resort. Tom Maclay picked a real winner in this man. Gill has found success at both Breckenridge and Jackson Hole, two wonderful examples of what Missoula can hopefully one day become. Breckenridge is such a charming mountain town. I love to get seaweed facials and microdermabrasion wellness treatments after my days there on the mountain.
Do Missoulians really want to keep living in the Stone Age? This town needs more martini bars, more Hollywood faces and more publicity from Powder Magazine. Let’s face it, folks, Whitefish has us beat. We need more Yellowstone Club and Paws Up types out here in Missoula if we ever hope to get respect from Californians, East Coasters and corporate America. Do you really want Missoula to remain a little secret to the rest of America?
Michael Shaw, Moiese/Missoula
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