Rick Notkin: It is up to the individual to keep themselves safe

To The Daily Sun,

“Never again” are words that recall a horrific event in our past that no reasonable person want to see repeated. Unfortunately, just speaking the words accomplishes very little. That phrase must be backed up with the willingness to act.

It is heartwarming when local leaders speak against anti-Semitism (Nov. 11 story in The Sun). It helps to support the sense of community. Mayor Andrew Hosmer said that “children learn better when they feel safe.” No argument here. However, there is no right to “feel safe” nor to be safe. 

Rep. Chris Pappas said “The lesson from history started with stamping out history, where we see it …” What does that even mean? The lesson that I learned was that a disarmed people are easy to murder.

If I am attacked because I am Jewish, words will likely be useless at the time.

I am sorry that I have to say (again) that police have no legal duty to protect individuals. I must say (again) that I hold Gilford and Laconia officers in very high regard. I feel certain that, were one present at the time, he or she would help me. 

Speaking of words, does any reasonable person not understand the phrase “from the river to the sea”? Unreasonable people suggest that the meaning is vague. I don’t know — the extermination of all of the Jews in Israel sounds clear to me. You?

A comment on the piece from Nov. 14 on the shooting in Maine. A tiny number of people believe that “gun safety” advocates like Rep. David Meuse have any actual interest in safety. The rest of us know that the term “gun control” doesn’t poll as well as “gun safety.” After pushing for a “red flag” law, Meuse acknowledges that Maine already had a similar law that wan’t used. So more unused laws would help how?

Rick Notkin

Gilford