Letters to the editor: Williams column not thought through

Read Chuck Williams column about guns on campus. As a freshman at Columbus College in 1975 I had to take the dreaded Speech class. The first assignment was a demonstration speech about something we were proficient at. All I could come up with was that I knew how to properly clean a shotgun.

The day that I was to give my speech I parked off East Lindsey and walked all the way carrying a Browning semi-automatic 16-gauge shotgun, (not in a case) and nobody even looked at me funny. I put the gun on the floor next to my seat and when the time came gave my demonstration. After class I carried it back to my car.

At that time I don’t even know if there were laws against having firearms on campus.

I know this story has little to do with the current situation. Times have changed plenty since 1975. However, to object that a person with a concealed weapons permit duly issued by law enforcement should not be allowed to carry a weapon is not well thought out, in my opinion. If someone wants to bring a weapon onto campus for some criminal activity there is nothing to stop them. Just saying “Guns not allowed” will not stop a criminal because criminals by definition don’t obey the law. If for some reason a person with bad intentions does brandish a gun on campus with evil intent, then I would hope that a person with a CWP could help to stop that person before they could do harm. People with evil intentions will always go to the “gun free” zones to do their dastardly deeds because they know that everybody else is unarmed.

When the wolf comes you want to be sheep dog, not the sheep.

Wrong approach

I’m sympathetic with Parks and Rec Director Dr. James Worsley. Before he arrived, the city built a recreation facility that it can’t afford to operate. Now the problem has been punted to him.

But his idea of funding the natatorium through the hotel/motel tax is a bad one.

First, each of those pennies is restricted by ordinance and state legislation. The language is very specific on what that money can be used for.

More importantly, though, the tax is already funding critical tourism development programs that attract 1.9 million visitors per year for an annual economic impact of $340 million, supporting 4,477 jobs. Forty-six attractions and 48 hotels keep our tourism scene vibrant and they all depend on the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau to help generate business.

The CCVB has been recognized as one of the best in the nation. It has proven to be an excellent steward of those funds.

Remove one dollar from the H/M tax and $22 disappears from the local economy. We’d be eating our seed corn.

Plundering from this tax is a tired proposal attempted in the past by desperate institutions that have run out of ideas. Hotels and attractions have fought this flimsy notion before and they are ready to fight again. The city will need to fund its swimming pool some other way. This dog won’t hunt.

Help save pets’ lives

Just over five years ago, Columbus was not a good place for lost or homeless pets. In 2010, almost 7,000 animals lost their lives at Columbus Animal Care and Control (CACC). But a movement was coming. Policies changed; rescues were born and grew; volunteers put in tireless hours. Today there is collaboration and the animals are being saved!

Columbus had many local organizations in attendance at last year’s Best Friends National Conference. Conversations there led to the formation of the Pet Coalition of Muscogee and Harris Counties. Our mission is “Partnering to achieve a community where no healthy or treatable companion animal is euthanized.” Working together are Animal Ark Rescue, Animal SOS, CACC, Harris County Animal Control, Humane Society of Harris County, and PAWS Humane. Our first joint venture is weekday adoptions at Petsmart in Columbus. From 2-6, fully-vetted dogs from our rescues are looking for a loving family.

Last year, fewer than 1,000 dogs were killed at CACC. With strong public support, that number will continue to drop. But it will be more difficult to continue to make headway unless everyone will find just one thing they can do to help.

Adopt a pet. If you cannot adopt, foster. If you cannot foster, sponsor. If you cannot sponsor, volunteer. If you cannot volunteer: donate (every dollar counts). If you cannot donate, then educate, network, and spread the word.

Be a part in making our community a great place for companion animals to live. We urge you to contact your favorite local animal welfare group and ask, “What is one thing I can do to help?”

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 2:49 PM with the headline "Letters to the editor: Williams column not thought through."