The problem goes beyond guns

I am writing this letter because, although my heart is full of pain and sympathy for all of the families who have lost their loved ones in the past few months to such violent acts, it angers me to the point that my blood boils every time I turn on my TV and radio.

I know it just so happens that these “crazed men” have chosen to use guns as their weapons of mass destruction and I do believe that something has to be done, but have any of you ever stepped back for one minute and really put some thought into your whole gun control issues?

Maybe you should start by taking a look at all of these video games that a child can play, at any age, that are so full of violence. They are shown exactly how to kill people. Not just shown, but they are allowed by their parents to practice this for hours at a time on a daily basis! And yet these are the parents who are the first ones to yell gun control when they are the ones buying these games and letting their young children play them. Give it some thought. Maybe those video games should be banned.

Or maybe it is all of the violent movies, music videos and cartoons we let them watch that make these children grow into such horrible humans. Again, parents letting their children watch these.

I, myself, did not let my children play those awful games or watch violent shows. However, my husband and I did teach each of our children to use a gun. You see, we are an American family that hunts to put food on our tables each night like so many other families in this great United States of America. We taught all three of our daughters — that’s right DAUGHTERS — gun safety and even put them through hunter safety courses at a young age. Now all of them are grown and know how to use guns to provide for their families and protect themselves and their families from crazy people.

I pray that our great nation never has to go to the extreme of taking away our freedom to own a gun. If you remove guns these crazy people will just find other ways to kill. I suggest that maybe parents should learn to be parents! Teach their children and entertain their brains with knowledge instead of video games and TV baby sitters.

I pray for the families all over our nation who have lost loved ones to violence, but I saw a great saying the other day that said, “Every time you hear about a child or innocent person being killed by a drunk driver you don’t go talking about banning cars or drinking, do you?” And I believe we do have a law stating you are not supposed to drink and drive! Just some food for thought.

Denise Mohr

East Wenatchee

A valuable business resource

Some Wenatchee businesses are missing out on good, dependable, ambitious, long-term employees.

Where are these workers, you ask? They are trying to get jobs through Development for the Disabled and businesses like Service Alternatives. My daughter is among these chosen people. She has worked for Denny’s, Tony Roma’s and many other jobs in western Washington for many years.

A little over four years ago we moved to this area and we love it here, but my daughter has been unable to get a job, which is very depressing for her as well as anyone else. She loves to work and feel productive and works very hard when she has a job.

I wonder if many businesses here have looked into employing these dedicated adults. They not only do a great job, but are proud to please their employers. They have job coaches that come to the job with them to train them so you, as an employer, are not giving up time to train these individuals. The job coaches stay with them until they are completely trained. If the employer has any concerns the job coach will work with them to make sure the employee understands and does a good job, before going on to help someone else.

These “handicapped” people are very capable of doing a lot of different jobs. If you have any questions, please consider calling one of the agencies that help these people. Aren’t we all handicapped in some way? I surely am. So put your heart out there for these wonderful people and I am sure you will find a very dependable, productive employee and you will find rewards you never thought possible.

So as they say, ”Hire the Handicapped” and you shall be blessed!

Sue Henson

Entiat

Turkey tradition touches lives

For a number of years now, Clete Wise, with the Chelan County PUD, has coordinated a Christmas turkey drive. This has been a special event that has touched the lives of countless families at Grant Elementary, East Wenatchee and other schools throughout the Wenatchee Valley.

In his yearly email to our school, he states:

“It’s been 10 years since our friend and co-worker Art Bainard has passed away, and it is our privilege to carry on the amazing gift he started by donating turkeys to those in need in our area. It’s that time of year, again, to get our numbers together for turkey deliveries. Some of you need them for Christmas gift baskets, while others need them for food banks or for your organizations. We are blessed to be able to provide you with these. They are funded through donations primarily through employees at Chelan and Douglas PUDs and also various donors in our valley, as well.”

In these years of dwindling resources for our families, a “BIG” thank-you to Clete and those who have been a part of this wonderful Christmas tradition.

John Charap

School Psychologist

Grant Elementary

East Wenatchee