Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

Thanks for the Memories

My friend from Philadelphia had forwarded me your kind article on Scott Helvenston this morning ["A Friend Lost," Slant, John King, April 15, 2004]. I really believe it is possibly the best article I have read on Scott to date. Scott was indeed an energetic, vital man, a true warrior who possessed a true zest for life and a love of his children and his country.

Let me tell you of my connection and that of our office here to Scott. My boss, Garth Estadt, was a member of the Delta team on Combat Missions (CM). It was through this challenge that we here at the office became acquainted with Scott. He was definitely "the man to be noticed" on the show along with a few others, but definitely Scott became noticed; he was a love-him-or-hate-him kind of guy. Our clients here at our agency voiced many an opinion pro or con about him. Throughout this show, we here had the honor of becoming acquainted with many of the guys on CM, and of all of them, Scott became "our man." After the show, the friendship with Scotty went on and we all become true friends with him. He always said that the three of us here at the office were the people he could count on the most, and he did.

I think the high point of our years with Scott came to fruition when he came to visit us last May. I myself had had in my mind that Scott would be a super-giant getting out of the vehicle, imaging him to be over 6 feet tall. We laugh here to this day that, when he did get out, I commented to our group, "Where is the rest of him?" He just appeared shorter than I had imagined. I think now that the rest of him was made up with his wonderful smiling face, the special personality that he possessed, his love of life and his love for his friends and family.

In a message received here at the office after Scott got to Iraq, he commented that he was settling in and would send us his permanent address. Little did we know when that message was received that our dear Scott would indeed have a permanent address, there obviously was another plan for him we were not aware of. There will always be a void in our lives with Scotty gone. What person who knew him would not miss such a man? I think we can honestly say that knowing him was indeed an honor to have made the acquaintance of such a wonderful friend, and we only regret our time with him was not longer.

We here sincerely thank you for such a terrific article on Scott. I think many people that he touched can echo your comments on Scott. There is a benefit fund for Scott's two children. We are planning a benefit here in Northeast Pennsylvania for sometime this spring or summer.

Thank you again sincerely for remembering Scott. We all share this loss, and I wish that more people had known Scott -- the warrior, the trainer, the family man and one of the most colorful characters there was. Farewell and Godspeed, Scott.

Ann Marie Michlowski and Dawn Chopyak

Via E-Mail

Bad Tax

["A Good Tax," Gale Warning, Daryl Gale, April 15, 2004] is a wonderful example of how not to solve the problem of gun violence. Simple solutions for complex problems rarely work. The premise that we need another law that penalizes the wrong people is seriously flawed. If you take the time to check, you will find that the National Rifle Association and the gun lobby have no problem with laws that punish criminals.

Taxing ammunition only impedes gun owners who buy through legitimate channels. Criminals tend to acquire their supplies through other illegal means.

There are thousands of laws on the books to deal with gun violence. The problem is in the criminal justice system. Because of severe crowding and budgetary concerns, judges are reluctant to sentence people to prison for any but the worst offenses. Possession of an illegal gun gets a slap on the wrist. We are forced to wait until someone is murdered before criminals are appropriately prosecuted.

Disarming citizens only jeopardizes their ability to defend themselves while leaving criminals free to victimize society with no fear for their own safety. The police cannot be everywhere and 911 only alerts the Medical Examiner's Office where to pick up the corpse.

Since 1996 the city's homicide rate has fallen because the state legislature made it easier for honest Philadelphians to obtain a license to carry firearms.

Please do not get us confused with the ones that need to be incarcerated.

Morris Klein
Philadelphia

Shattered Lives

I read your sensitive article ["Shattered Lives," Helen i-lin Hwang, April 15, 2004] in the City Paper giving an update on the condition of the girl who was attacked at the Free Library's Independence Branch and the lingering effects of the trauma on her family. I use that branch and have been struck with how well this small library serves the Chinese community with its Chinese-language materials. I hope the Chinese community can be made to feel safe again and comfortable to use this library. I surely hope this little girl gets all the help she needs to reclaim her happy childhood, and that her family can get the material and emotional support that they have been sadly lacking. Would you please reprint the Asian Bank information so that your readers can properly address checks? It is clear by your article that this family needs more support than they have received so far, and could surely use more funds directed their way.

Elizabeth Flower
Via E-Mail

Donations can be made to Asian Bank -- The Support Fund, c/o Asian Bank, 1008 Arch St., Phila. PA 19107.