Hobbit chuckle
Shining light
I WANT to thank the member of your editorial staff for the deep chuckle that reading the heading to this morning’s editorial ‘‘Be yourself: Even if it’s a tough hobbit to break.’’ produced. The fun we can have with the English language! Thank you again. AS AN owner of property in Franklin Road since 1998 I can confirm that at no stage have I personally ever been coerced or pressured into participating in putting up Christmas lights on the properties ( Bright lights big pity, Dec 30). Nor have I ever heard anyone ever say that this has happened to them and in particular none of my tenants have ever been coerced into taking part in what we all think is a really enjoyable and community spirited venture. Our participation has always been totally voluntary.
When I first arrived on Franklin Rd I received a polite note in the email from Ross Thorby letting me know about the yearly venture and that if I wanted any more information please call him and he provided his phone number. In my view there was nothing untoward in that note and, in fact, I was grateful for it so that I could prepare for putting lights up.
I am so disappointed that all the goodwill exhibited annually by Ross Thorby individually and the Franklin Rd owners and occupiers collectively is so terribly undermined by the comments attributed to Vincent Warner. recruits. As a regular visitor to the Royal New Zealand Police College, I never cease to be extremely impressed with the physical appearance, general demeanour and overall quality of trainees.
I take issue with Laws’ sweeping statement that ‘‘today’s cops’’ are ‘‘less physically able’’. With today’s development of the various forms of martial arts many recruits are already skilled in these areas prior to joining the police. Combine this with the training and you have a member much more competent than his counterpart of years ago. MICHAEL LAWS left out a very salient point in his pleading for armed police, probably deliberately. If the officer in Dargaville had a handgun taken from him rather than a taser, he would probably be dead now. Tasers are more difficult to use than a Glock, which simply requires the trigger to be squeezed. In the US, most police deaths caused by offenders are carried out with their own guns.
Then there’s the absolutely pathetic training regime our police have in firearms use, probably the worst in the world. Being proficient in firearms use requires constant practice at the range, not once a year if you’re lucky. I’m sure we all remember the embarrassing debacle shown on TV of officers firing multiple rounds at a dog at very close range and not one of them hitting the target. Such poorly trained officers should be armed with shotguns, not pistols and rifles.
We have a very long way to go before our police can be trusted to routinely carry arms. anyway. I could make a cellphone recording tomorrow and allege it was a police officer, blame the police and grab some limelight, too.