To the Editor:
This is regarding the rejection of my application for CCW. I’m writing this because I want to be fair to law-enforcement. Although I totally disagree with their decision (the sheriffs department evaluation of my moral character), given the opportunity to speak with Sheriff Captain Garo Kuredjian I found him to be very cooperative and sensitive to my concerns. He clarified that my rejection was due to medications I currently take. I thank and applaud him for taking the time to return my call and gave me an opportunity to express my disappointment. He was very easy to speak with and never gave me the feeling of being given a bums-rush. So in the end I thank Captain Garo Kuredjian for being supportive of me and my concerns. God Bless him and law enforcement.
Dmitri E. Gurkweitz,
Fillmore
VIETNAM VETERAN 1967-1968 and Proud of it!

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To the Editor:
It seems to me there has got to be a better way to honor the honorable and to grieve the horrendous than to take the Stars and Stripes to half-staff. According to USA Today, our last three Commanders-in-Chief have made this order 174 times - including over this past Flag Day.
The reason a flag is lowered should be obvious. In fact, it used to be that school children knew why a flag was flown at half-staff. Now, however, parents and teachers often do not know the reason. That being the case, whatever good intentions our leaders may have, something is lost in translation.
While I agree that one of our President’s roles is to comfort us, I believe a more important function is to inspire and bring hope for good days ahead. In John F. Kennedy’s words, we must: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”
This being the case, I would like to suggest that we fly our flag high every day of the year – and also hoist a ribbon or banner beneath which would be flown specifically to indicate the honor due at times of significant loss. I would love to hear ideas that others have about how we could do better in this regard.
Respectfully,
Stephenie Thomas,
Fillmore