Letters to the Editor: June 11

Guns are not evil Everyone I know is upset mass shootings are occurring in the United States. They want to prevent this violence and are searching for answers. Almost all shootings are associated with mental illness or gang activity. Rational people do not shoot other people. There are reasons for criminal behavior. Do we hear from the sociologists and psychologists on probable causes? Probably not. It is very complex how an innocent person grows into a criminal lashing out with deadly force. Our legislatures are full of lawyers who want to pass laws to prohibit bad behavior. Murder is already illegal. Having a gun on school property is illegal. Discharging a weapon within the city limits is illegal. Did that stop anybody? It just provides good sound bites in an election campaign. Where are our parents and our schools? Are they teaching morals and ethics? Are there any attempts to identify and help those that display bad behaviors? Teaching children to be good citizens should be job one. Guns are portrayed as evil. If we could just get rid of the guns, then magically there is no crime. It would take a whole page to explain why this is false. Lots and lots of guns are in private hands for a variety of reasons. They are easy to obtain and relatively cheap. You can even make them at home. The borders are open and guns pass through as easy as drugs. Even if a ban on guns would deter crime, there is no practical way to do it. Please remember the vast majority of your gun owning neighbors are good law-abiding citizens. A 2017 Pew Research study has some interesting findings on gun ownership in the U.S. that says 42% of U.S. households own a gun. Two-thirds of gun owners cite protection as the major reason for owning a gun. Thirty percent of adults currently own a gun with another 36% that could see themselves owning a gun in the future, leaving only 33% that could never see themselves owning a gun. This means 67% of U.S. citizens favor private gun ownership. Charles Shanfelt Findlay Fond memories of a great man The passing of John Kovach brings back fond memories. Early in the 1980s when Findlay and Hancock County was facing huge challenges relating to the commerce stability and economic development for the area, strong positive action had to be taken. First it was another petroleum company trying to take over our local and critical to the area and state, Marathon Oil Co. Then a remarkable group of private and public sector leaders got together to plan a vision for the future of the community and area, which was badly needed. To accomplish this vision, an organization had to be formed, which was called the Findlay Industrial Foundation and Community Development Corporation. Then a strong and responsible leader had to be hired to address the needs and action required to move the vision forward. John Kovach was that leader that was hired. With the strong collective support of the private sector and cooperation of the public sector, Mr. Kovach did a marvelous job in leading and preparing this community for the next several years and what we in the community enjoy each day. Yes, FIF/CDF led by John Kovach and the board of directors, laid the foundation for what has become a leader in economic development. John also turned Findlay and Hancock County into an international business hub. The community had a 400 plus acre "bean field," which was called "the Industrial Park." Nothing developed at all, zero infrastructure. Now that field is called "Tall Timbers Industrial Park" providing over 4,500 needed jobs. A foreign trade zone FTX 151 was secured and has contributed so very much to the economic success of the community and surrounding communities. John, working close with National Lime and Stone Company, developed an incredible medical park located at Lake Cascades. This medical park serves hundreds of patients each year from not only Hancock County, but much of Northwestern Ohio. Another dream that became a reality. He leaves a large footprint as he passes. We, and this community, thank you John for a job extremely well done. May you rest in peace. Carl Palmer Chuck Bills David Kuenzli Bill Ruse Frank Guglielmi Ivan Gorr Ken Zirkle Dick Beckett Tom Moorhead Jim Koehler and Puck Rowe