To anyone running for political office:

Be on notice. I am a registered voter who chooses my candidate based on myriad issues. Going forward, I will be looking at the NRA ratings of any future candidates. I hope those running for office refuse any donations from that organization until we get sane gun restrictions, including, but not limited to:

• a longer waiting period for any firearm purchase,

• a ban on the high-capacity magazines — who needs 10, 20 or 30+ bullets in one load?

• an age limit on the purchase and ownership of all guns, not merely handguns, perhaps 21,

• an enhanced background check for ALL sales and transfers — yes, even in families and at gun shows,

• a total ban on bump stocks,

• a ban on assault-style weapons. (They are not needed by ordinary citizens to hunt or target shoot!)

We are long past “it’s too soon” — tell Sandy Hook it is too soon.

We are long past “these regulations won’t solve the problem” — they will solve some of the problems and doing nothing solves nothing.

We are long past “We need to solve the mental health problem” — yes, but what might that actually be, Congress? Have you done anything? President Donald Trump just rolled back the Obama-era regulations that made it harder for people with mental illness to purchase a gun! Great timing on that one.

With the actions of our out-of-control, narcissistic, self-centered president and the dysfunctional Congress, I, like many others are totally fed up with both houses and both parties’ leaders and with our embarrassment of a president!

Cynthia Magidson

Bend

Public deserves a better explanation

On Feb. 13 The Bulletin reported that after 20 months of paid administrative leave, Lt. Tim Leak would resign his position with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Department. The cost to the taxpayers for this latest employee issue is over one quarter of a million dollars. The long delay in resolving this issue, and it’s resulting waste of taxpayer’s dollars, is both inexcusable and unacceptable. While Sheriff Nelson is quoted as saying that he made a business decision to end the matter and move forward, he still has a responsibility to the taxpayers to explain why this decision wasn’t made 20 months ago.

Sheriff Nelson’s supervisors are the Deschutes County commissioners, and they should demand an immediate and public explanation from Sheriff Nelson. It would be only too appropriate to place Sheriff Nelson on an unpaid administrative leave until the explanation has been provided.

The only way the taxpayers of Deschutes County can stop this costly and improper use of paid administrative leave would be to pass an initiative with the next election. That initiative should limit paid administrative leaves to 60-90 days, and if a “business decision” cannot be made in that time frame, then any additional paid leave would be deducted from the appropriate administrator and the commissioner’s salaries.

The administrative leave/paid vacations at the taxpayer’s expense must stop or at least be used responsibly. Sheriff Nelson and the commissioners might do well to try one of President Donald Trump’s frequent business decisions — “You’re fired.”

John H. Larson

Bend

Walden isn’t responsive enough

I am writing in response to Sam Lytle’s guest column of Feb. 19th in The Bulletin. I too have had a similar experience when contacting Greg Walden. I have most often used email to express my opinions to our representative. In response I have gotten one specific email back from Mr. Walden on his views on the ongoing Russia investigation. Other than that I have never received any response that specifically addressed my concerns.

When calling, I have gotten the generic voicemail or when actually talking to a staffer getting the non-answer that Mr. Lytle detailed.

On the other hand when contacting my two Senators, they have replied with return emails expressing their views on the subject that I was concerned about.

I don’t often agree with Representative Walden, but he is one of my voices in D.C. and I expect more from him on his opinions other than his newsletter, which tends to be a calender of his activities with no opinions on the pressing issues of the day. The newsletter is fine as far as it goes, but I expect to hear his opinions when he is contacted by one of his constituents with our concerns and opinions.

Bruce Walden

Bend