Violence in society
TO THE EDITOR: I applaud the Press-Republican for not placing the recent Colorado shooting on the first page. There are “copy cats.”
However, our society has tolerated gun violence and institutional violence to the point of normalcy. The editorial “Coverage of mass shooting” leaves readers with inadequate and misleading descriptions.
Fifty-three percent of our tax dollars goes to military spending. The United States spends more than the rest of the world combined for its military.
Violence done to others has perhaps immunized us into not caring. Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya and now Central Africa are just recent examples. We should know that violence begets violence, but sadly our military investments and defense-related jobs blind us to our final product.
Domestically, it’s not the mentally ill who commit violent crimes. They’re far more likely to be the victims. The general public commits far more violence. We’re shooting and killing more than 170 persons each and every week here in America.
The hard truth is that gun deaths are us.
Press coverage ought not be extensive. It’s all too common.
PAUL WAGNER
Plattsburgh
Dozer success
TO THE EDITOR: The sixth-annual Dozer Day was held June 2 and was a big success due to everyone who attended, volunteered organized and sponsored.
A special thank-you to our main sponsors: Kiwanis Breakfast Club, Graymont Materials, Nortax Equipment, Milton Cat, Airborne Speedway and Huntley Trucking.
We would like to thank many others: Action Auto, Pennysaver, Roswell Beeman Trucking, Casella Waste, Clinton and Essex Sheriffs Departments., Clinton County Firefighters Association and departments, Clowney Electric, Cocktails, Cumberland 12, CV-TEC, Dannemora Federal Credit Union, Dave Brown, Della Suzuki, Denton Publications, Deyo Trucking, Dibble Equipment, Dig Safe NY, Dragoon Farm Supply, Duquette Steel, Durocher Auto, Eye Care of the Adirondacks, Forrence Orchards, Freihoffers, Fuller Excavating, FW Webb, Glens Falls National Bank, Griffith Energy, Hall Communications, WJOY, KOOL 105, WOKO, Harmony Golf Club, Rick Harvey, Haun Welding, Hill Top Energy, Hynes Electric, J & S Steel, Keeseville Kid’s Cove, Kneucraft, Kubricky Construction Corp., Lake City Choppers, Leon Blair, Loreman’s Sales Center, Luck Builders, Maine Drilling & Blasting, Marty’s Carpet, Merriloons, Morrisonville Septic, Jim/Julie Mussaw, North Country Club Restaurant, Northern Sanitation, Northline Utilities, NovaBus, State Police Troop B, Pavers & Patios, Pecks, Pepsi Cola, Plattsburgh/Saranac Lake Building & Construction Trades Council, Polsinello, Pure Flow, R.R. Charlebois, Sheldon Truck, Stewart’s Shops, Subway, Taylor Rental, Tim/Lynn Patno, Troy Belting, United Health Care, Warren Tire, Wells Communications, Westelcom, WIRY.
We donated $23,000 to these organizations: Clinton County Advocacy Center, CVPH Children’s Mental Health Unit & Families Helping Families, JCEO Summer Camp, Journey into Reading, Mountain Lake PBS, Family Promise, NAMI Childhood Depression/Suicide, North Country Association for the Visually Impaired, Imaginarium Museum, ACAP Afterschool and Ted K Center.
Planning for next year’s event has started; we hope to see you on June 8, 2013, for the seventh-annual Dozer Day.
TONIA FINNEGAN
Plattsburgh
