POV
of all countries and their stance on capital
punishment. You will find there are other
industrialized nations that do in fact have
capital punishment. While I agree with much
of your article, especially as it relates to the
video and movie industry, the portrayal of
America negatively and without regard to fact
by the press and many politicians becomes tiring to this veteran. BOB MEANS, LARKSPUR
Jim, as to your POV, I had a conversation one
time with a friend of mine. She was confident
that execution was the correct thing to do to
hardened criminals. When I explained it was
much more costly to keep them on death row,
she quickly changed her mind. The pocketbook seems to lead the way. MAR YLEE S TANLE Y, SAN
RAFAEL
Jim, you raise many valid points in your
POV article but merely gloss over the most
important one by saying “too many deranged
people.” The fact is that in our country we do
not recognize the number-one medical issue
that negatively affects our society: mental
illness. From slight depression to full-blown
schizophrenia, no disease affects us more. Yet
we still don’t talk about it, there are no three-day walk-for-the-cure fundraisers. Mental
illness is still something families, in general,
don’t talk about. We need to embrace it and
institutionalize some of the most afflicted in
health care facilities, not jails, where many
end up. We need to ensure those not locked
up are taking their conventional meds so that
they continue to function without symptoms.
I support near-absolute gun control but know
that the inanimate object does not kill, the
mentally ill person does. In every mass shooting those who carried out the heinous crimes
were suffering. That’s just my point of view.
ANN MANNIX, VIA EMAIL
Dear Jim, you write like a true liberal who
only knows things in the abstract, who thinks
that piling up law upon law is going to change
people. Too many laws stifle people. Tell me
though, when, in the history of mankind,
have we not had violence? I am the daughter
of a history professor and know world history
pretty well. Maybe violence in this country
will cease when we cure the people by restor-
ing the nuclear family, when people get a little
education, when the horrible law of welfare
is repealed, when people have faith in tomor-
row and in their own strength — not in a
government that gives them handouts and
keeps them in complete dependency. NATALIA
SE T TEMBRINI CASILLAS, VIA EMAIL
Just a note to compliment Jim Wood on the
POV gun editorial in Marin Magazine. My
wife was one of the people who helped ban
gun shows at the Civic Center and on county-owned property many years ago. She is now on
the “danger” list of the NRA. Keep it up. JULIAN
LIFSCHIZ, SANTA ROSA
Amsterdam Update
Your story about Amsterdam (“Adventure in
Amsterdam,” February 2013) stated there is
presently a ban on selling marijuana to foreigners, but a recent well-publicized note from
Mayor Eberhard van der Laan indicates things
may have changed: “It has been decided that
Amsterdam law enforcement authorities will
not attach any priority to enforcing the local
residence requirement.” JANNA BARKIN, VIA FACEBOOK
Taken to Task
I enjoyed your POV article “On Thin Ice”
(January 2013). Lindqvist’s reasoned knowl-edge-based comments are a refreshing change
from the chants of the catastrophic “man is
causing it all” climate change true believers
here in Marin and on the national political
stage. Thanks for interviewing him and for
passing on the highlights to your readers. I’d
guess that you likely received a fair number of
responses that took you to task for even printing the interview. LEO ISO TALO, SAN RAFAEL
LET TERS TO THE EDITOR Your comments
may be edited for clarity and brevity. Send
letters to Marin Magazine, One Harbor Drive,
Suite 208, Sausalito, CA 94965, or email us at
letters@marinmagazine.com. Please include the
town where you live and a daytime phone number.
