Cannabis
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I THANK Health Minister Michael Ferguson for his response.
I agree that care must be taken in the availability of medicinal cannabis and it is pleasing to note that the Therapeutic Goods Administration process of assessment appears to be occurring.
It is to be hoped that its positive report is not too far away.
— DICK JAMES, Launceston.
Surprise
SANTA posts an early surprise.
A Launceston man has had his lost wallet containing cash and cards returned (The Examiner, December 18).
In this day and age that's a marvelous example of honesty.
Good on the person who returned it.
The thief who stole from George Town's Julie Nesbit should take note.
— A. R. TROUNSON, Needles.
Thank you
THANK you Patrick Billings for the article (The Examiner, December 19) on the Sydney seige.
I am born and bred Tasmanian and a long term reader of The Examiner but I have never written a letter or email.
Nothing has ever moved me enough to do so, and it is probably not in my nature.
The article by Mr Billings has moved me enough to send this email.
You have given my feelings a voice, your words have articulated what many must be feeling.
I am from a generation (mid-40s) that are open to all the new technology, embrace it and use it, but still old enough to be troubled by the level of hype and dramatisation.
Many of the points you made helped me process my feelings of lamenting the loss of 'newsflash' to 'around-the-clock coverage'.
I particularly liked your last two paragraphs.
It was an excellent piece, balanced, obviously deeply thought about, emotionally intelligent and I thank you for helping me, and no doubt many readers, to process my feelings about the terrible events in Sydney.
— LEANNE GROVES, Evandale.
Muslims
TO S. Goebel (letters December19) I don’t condone spitting on Muslims or anyone else and I agree most Muslims want to live peacefully, but you have failed to grasp the outrage and sense of disbelief of people regarding the actions of someone who was welcomed into our country, given sanctuary and a new life, then repays that generosity with an act of barbarism.
We should all be concerned by the fact that Man Haron Monis had a website preaching his radical views and hatred of us and our country, that website received 14,000 likes from within Australia.
It should also be noted that the slaughter of 132 schoolchildren and their teachers in Pakistan, the beheadings in Iraq and other atrocities are being carried out in the name of Islam, so while I don’t condone the reaction by a small amount of people, I can certainly understand and share their anger, their grief and their fear that this may not be the last attack on our people and way of life.
— K. FOLEY, Launceston.
Guns
NSW Liberal Democrat, David Leyonhjelm, has called for American style conceal carry laws in the aftermath of the Sydney terror outrage. Citing the American example where citizens in the US are allowed to carry guns for personal protection, he reckons that Australia would be a safer place if victims could fight back. He does have a point. Of course the avid gun controllers won’t see it his way.
Statistics are dragged out to demonstrate that since 1996, and the Howard confiscatory gun laws, there have been fewer gun killings than previously. But have there been fewer murders? It seems that near a day or week goes by when someone is killed; not by a gun, but by other weapons of choice.
There are plenty examples from America where the mere possession of a gun has prevented a crime. With conceal laws in place the terrorist wouldn’t know who was armed and ready to fight back.
On the heels of the Sydney tragedy there were 141 killed at a school in Pakistan. How many at the school were armed and ready to protect the children? None, I would imagine.
It is time for governments the world over to get out of the way and allow citizens the right of self-defense. One more incident, and this matter will be on the agenda at the next election
— JAY NAUSS, Glen Alpin.
Councils
THERE are arguments for and against the merging of councils.
The most obvious for is the economy of scale, but there are those who say that in large councils the population centres benefit at the expence of outlying areas.
Well, here's news, it happens with smaller councils as well.
I have been trying to get a dangerous road junstion re-aligned for many years but because it is on the outside edge of the George Town municipality it is not considered important.
Meanwhile a few kilometres away in the Launceston municipality, any problems with the roads are promptly fixed.
Judge for yourselves.
— MALCOLM MCCULLOCH, Pipers River.
Social media
SADLY the Lindt Cafe incident has allowed politicians and public commentators to make offensive comment via social media and the like.
Some have realised how stupid they have been and retracted their comment.
Rational people in Sydney have reacted completely the opposite.
Says much about the people who seek public office in this country and their thought processes.
— PETER M. TAYLOR, Midway Point.
Feral cats
YES, feral cats are a problem but how did they become feral?
Could it be because people dumped them?
If compulsory desexing is brought in this would stop any further dumping of unwanted kittens.
The previous government's by-laws were useless because there were no penalties if cats were not desexed.
Cheaper desexing would be helpful and it would be hoped that the RSPCA or vets would assist in this.
No unwanted kittens means less cats in the bush doing their best to survive.
Since the cat shelter in Upper Burnie was closed by the RSPCA in 2012 there is just nowhere for unwanted or stray cats and kittens to go, which means uncaring people just dump them.
Surely the RSPCA could see their way to opening something in the Smithton to Burnie area?
What are they doing with the funds that are collected on fund raising days?
There must be something they can do to alleviate this problem and help the wildlife.
— BARRIE TAPP, Senior Investigations Office, Animal Cruelty.
Hostages-Coulson
THE hostage situation caused by Man Haron Monis raises many issues.
Man Haron Monis had his own medieval interpretation of Islam so it is simplistic to blame the religion for the Sydney tragedy.
But it does raise the issue of how to ensure that only mentally stable people are admitted as refugees.
That is a big ask with so many having endured trauma, something which elicits our sympathy and desire to help.
PTS is only now been seriously recognised among returned servicemen but it seems obvious many refugees also suffer.
So is this regarded as a reason to accept or deny admission?
It boils down to which is more important, to extend a welcoming hand to those who have suffered with likely PTS or is it too selfish to expect immigration to refuse entry because anyone could potentially become anti-social?
Could the mental instability of Man Haron Monis have been detected earlier or was this an untouchable area because of his religion?
Should all potential refugees be required to pass some sort of mental stability examination?
— JOHN COULSON, Dilston.