CHP, gun owners, vaccines

Deadly cycle on the freeways

Re “After big rig crashes, Caltrans grinding I-5 pavement to improve tire traction” (Page 1A, Dec. 30): The problem is not slippery freeway roads. It is once again trucks driving at excessive speeds on Interstate 5 where the truck speed limit is 55 mph.

This cycle repeats itself about every five to seven years. We have a period of trucks driving as if they are at a raceway, some horrific deadly accidents, then the CHP enforcing truck speeds for about a year, followed by a gradual resumption in trucks weaving through traffic (like the cars) and driving at excessive speeds.

Hopefully the CHP will resume monitoring truck traffic and keep truck speed at a maximum of 65 mph before we have a few more horrific crashes.

Crackdown needed on I-5

Here is a “Quick Fix”: The CHP should have a massive crackdown. Go after any and all violations. This includes speeding, unsafe lane changes, texting/cellphone usage, putting on makeup, whatever. Any ticket for anything other than speeding also should have “Speed unsafe for condition.” If the person is upset, the officer should say, “Press hard, 4 copies. Tell it to the judge.”

If they started issuing tickets, the word would get out by social media to slow down. The CHP is aware of the problem. By not doing anything about it, it is responsible.

Gun owners aren’t uncool

Re “NBA scores by exposing guns as uncool” (Editorials, Dec. 29): At first I was annoyed by the comment that guns are “not cool.” But it occurs to me that maybe I like that idea.

The great unwashed who base their life decisions upon the opinions of sports figures probably should not be playing with firearms anyway. Maybe this will keep weapons out of the hands of those who give firearms a bad name.

As for the rest of mature, sane, lawful Americans, we will take courses on safe handling of arms. We will learn about the legal liability of using the weapon. And we will spend many hours at the range so that in the event we must ever use deadly force, we will hit the bad guy and not anyone else.

Firearms and the 2nd Amendment

People who question access to firearms always seem to be belittled or slandered by a minority of opponents. It is true that the U.S. Supreme Court in 2008 interpreted the Second Amendment as an individual right. But Justice Antonin Scalia’s majority decision also described laws authorities could legally adopt to restrict the sale of firearms.

Those who fear regulation always seem to ignore the part of the ruling that said that “the Second Amendment right is not unlimited.” Any citizen who understands the court’s ruling and believes reasonable steps can be taken to reduce injuries and deaths due to gun violence should be given a fair hearing.

A lot to learn on vaccines

Re “What I learned in the vaccination wars” (Op Image, Dec. 29): Asserting that opponents of Senate Bill 277 “nearly undid decades of public health work” demonstrates that Shawn Hubler has learned nothing new about the vaccine debate.

The California Department of Public Health reports personal-belief exemption rates have actually declined, with 92 percent of kindergartners and 98 percent of seventh-graders fully vaccinated. If vaccines are truly effective, this small percentage won’t threaten fully immunized children who remain the vast majority.

The medical community should conduct independent vaccine safety testing, not studies funded by drug companies or using researchers receiving speaking fees from the vaccine manufacturers they are testing. This could reassure doubting parents. It’s easy to say that adverse vaccine reactions are acceptable collateral damage until it is your child that is damaged or killed.

Misleading ‘Buzz’ headline

Re “Oil state’s leader grateful to Brown” (Capitol & California, Dec. 28): The headline of Jim Miller’s “Buzz” piece about Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin’s letter to Gov. Jerry Brown seems to imply that she was thanking him for his “climate change” policies. However, a closer reading reveals that her letter was only about Caltrans’ earthquake expertise. The letter is not an endorsement of Brown’s anti-oil and gas drilling policies, and the article is misleading at best.

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 4:01 PM with the headline "CHP, gun owners, vaccines."