Socially, handguns may not belong in some places, like supermarkets
Last week, as I was shopping in a Gig Harbor supermarket, I was shocked to see a man striding confidently down the aisle with a large handgun holstered at his hip. I’ve never in my life seen someone carry a gun into a supermarket.

While perhaps this practice may meet the legalities of Washington’s open carry law, does it meet the standards of social and civic etiquette?

While one may legally wear shorts and a T-shirt to a formal wedding or a fancy restaurant, one does not do it, for other reasons.

We all have experience with people who are certain that social conventions do not apply to them. We do not normally admire such people.

Supermarkets are filled with shoppers of all ages and often small children in shopping carts. I’m guessing that few, if any, of us wish to see people jauntily sporting guns while we shop.

Perhaps he was on a mission to test the limits of societal disapproval, on behalf of the NRA? Or he enjoys shocking people or rubbing his rights in the noses of others?

But if he’s just afraid to enter a supermarket without arms, perhaps his wife could do the shopping for him.

Donald Heinz
Gig Harbor

State legislators need to focus on budget issues, not gay marriage
As the legislative session starts in Olympia, taxpayers want creative ideas from our elected officials that balance a budget, reform state government and do so without an increase in taxes.

The economy and jobs are the No. 1 issue, and my desire is for our elected officials in the 26th Legislative District do all they can to help businesses in Washington state by focusing 100 percent of their energy on the economy and job creation.

Now is not the time for social issues, like gay marriage, which will only be a distraction to the issues they need to solve first.

In a recent interview, Gov. Chris Gregoire said “they can do both.” But the recent special session proves they can’t.

Budget issues will be very contentious, and bills that don’t create jobs or balance the budget must be deferred.

State Rep. Larry Seaquist and Sen. Derek Kimer both support gay marriage and have said they will vote to approve such a law. Please call and tell them to work only on bills that balance the budget, reform state government and create jobs.

Marlyn Jensen
Gig Harbor

University Place City Council doesn’t ‘feel comfortable’ about GH
Are we at war with University Place?

While I watched the debate of last week’s city council meeting regarding where council members should gather this year for their annual retreat, the locations were narrowed down to two sites: The Best Western Wesley Inn in Gig Harbor or the Alderbrook Inn on Hood Canal.

I really don’t care that the City of University Place wants to waste their taxpayers’ money to stay at a four-star hotel but, given that, you would think they could at least have the good-neighbor attitude to keep those precious tax dollars in Pierce County.

In the end, all but one city council member, Javier Figueroa, voted to spend more money to travel farther away so they wouldn’t be bothered by interruptions. Read that as that pesky citizen input.

The most outrageous comment that was made during the public discussion was spewed by council member Kent Keel, and it went something like this: “These things are taped so ... I mean, just for the record ... there is just something about Gig Harbor and U.P. You know, I just don’t feel comfortable in giving money to Gig Harbor. I just can’t do that ... ”

Followed by uproarious laughter.

But wait, it got even better when the newly elected Mayor Ken Grassi followed with his closing comment to Keel: “Good man!”

I think I’ll start shopping at Trader Joe’s in Silverdale instead of U.P., just to be fair.

Good luck with that retreat.

Randy Boss
Gig Harbor

Reality ‘doesn’t negotiate’  with socialist governments

I don’t understand why the political cartoon of Kim Jong Un (Gateway, Jan. 4) shows him quoting Al Gore.

Regarding our own national leadership, I’ve already received all the change, in exchange for folding money, I anticipated from President Obama. Socialism was a proven failure long before his efforts.

But I don’t believe in the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny either.

Reality can be a stern taskmaster. It does not negotiate.

Kurt Mach
Gig Harbor