Letters: Firearms bills are unreasonable; Daugherty leaves major void

Firearms bills are unreasonable

I was horrified to learn that the Pennsylvania state Senate approved a bill that allows Pennsylvania citizens to carry a loaded firearm, openly or concealed, and without a permit.

This legislation was supported by Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward and by Jake Corman, president of the Senate, and confirmed candidate for Pennsylvania governor. The bill will likely pass the House of Representatives, with the support and leadership of Kerry Benninghoff.

A companion bill also would forbid and punish municipalities that impose rational restrictions that exceed state laws. Our elected officials seem to be oblivious to the extent of gun violence, death, and catastrophe. Is it too much to have some reasonable limits in the interest of safety and security while still honoring the constitution?

Thank goodness Governor Wolf will likely veto these bills.

Daugherty leaves major void

We’ve all felt the sting of death. The death of Pat Daugherty stings differently. In Pat’s “Tavern family” he was the ultimate ambassador. His family included students, athletes, coaches, visitors, alums, townies and anyone he met. As a member of PSU’s Athletic Search Committee, coaching hopefuls accompanied Sue Scheetz, Richie Lucas, Diana Knepp and me to their “final interview” ... at The Tavern. PD made sure every candidate felt special. I fondly remember our hoops family eating training table at the Tavern. The wait staff ( generations of locals and undergrads) reflected PSU’s best course — “Daugherty 101.” In these divisive times “Daugherty 101” would be invaluable. Everyone who dealt with Pat learned how to serve people (not meals). By his vision he (and Bill Tucker) built community. His smile was contagious. He was an environmental steward. He loved his wife, his family and his final earthly home (the Kepler farm). My wife and I celebrated her first day and her last day on the job ... at the same Tavern table. Despite the passage of decades we enjoyed the same entrees, the same endless sides, and PD — unchanged despite a significant passage of time.

The Tavern was Penn State — with the history and a glimpse of the real Penn State.

Whether from Seattle or Spring Mills, when PD said, “Hope to see you again” he meant it.

For 30 years he showed us “a life well lived.” In Happy Valley “Mayberry” ain’t never gonna be the same.

Decision time with James Franklin

Time to face the measurable reality that James Franklin cannot consistently have his football teams compete for Big Ten crowns. No more contract extensions. Time to move “in another direction.” Or, accept mediocrity year in, year out? We Are! Growing weary!

Corman must act like a leader

The piece in Sunday’s CDT highlighted the gift ban bill and the current reluctance and/or silence of our leader Jake Corman to divulge a position on legislation limiting gifts to elected officials, of which he is a major recipient. I therefore suggest some considerations for Jake to help him in his “dilemma.”

1. Surely Jake knows better than to look a “gift horse in the mouth”and surely must know the motives of the various donors. I further suggest he must realize that his position of power makes him more “deserving” of the largess of donors than the average Pennsylvania citizen. The donors do not care less, they care a great deal.

2. The leader he professes to be would suggest that he should lead by example for the benefit of his constituency, as some of his “minions,” namely Cutler, Benninghoff, Ward and Kaufer, all Republicans, have supported the bill.

3. Jake currently has, and has had for many years, a sinecure (a job for pay requiring little work) and spends his time on junkets, speaking engagements, political posturing, and so on. He needs no supplementation to that sinecure by gifts which only his position of power help facilitate and seemingly justify.

4. Jake reported gifts in 2020 on his annual statement of financial interest. Big deal! How does that make him more virtuous or sacrosanct than the honest American taxpayer not the recipient of donor largess.

C’mon Jake. Step up and do the right thing which should be your duty as “leader.”