Honesty best policy with kids, even if bad
I was appalled recently when parents were advised not to bring students to the open forum to discuss the Ooltewah crisis. This was a futile attempt to protect children from things they already hear about every day. Further, children are the ones most affected by this, and they need to know what is happening and what adults are doing about it.
It reminds me of former neighbors who were overprotective and would not allow their 13-year-old son to watch movies rated higher than PG. One day the neighbor kid kept using the "F" word - not having a clue what it meant. My son had to explain to him that it was inappropriate and why. My son could do this because we had had previous open conversations. It just doesn't work to hide the "facts of life" from children.
I find that being honest with kids, with age-appropriate levels of disclosure, produces better results. I once heard that, "The truth will set you free, but first it's going to be very uncomfortable." It's high time we face our problems, even if they make us squirm. We need to squirm now or be horrified later.
Tom Bissonette
Background check facts are needed
I recently read the letter to the editor and was quite shocked at the lack of knowledge the writer and the general public have about background checks.
Since 1993 with the passage of the Brady Bill, anyone purchasing a long gun or handgun must complete a background check. In Tennessee the background check is conducted through the Tennessee Instant Check System or TICS. Other states have the national instant check System or NICS.
Only federally licensed dealers can conduct these background checks, and this so-called "gun show loophole" does not exist! Guns may be purchased on the Internet but be shipped to a licensed dealer, who then must conduct an instant check before he or she can deliver the firearm to the customer.
I sure wish people like this writer would check out the facts before they spout off about guns and background checks.
Richard Genter
Man of guns vs. man of peace?
How rich the irony of having U.S. Rep. Fleischmann speak at the MLK Day mural dedication at Bessie Smith Hall.
Fleischmann gets an A+ rating from the NRA, accepts campaign donations from the NRA, fights tooth and nail against any common sense gun regulation such as background checks, and here he was at a ceremony honoring a man who spent his time on this earth dedicated to peace and whose life was cut short when he was murdered by a gun.
Kevin DiStasio
Greenholtz asset to Drug Court
Citizens of Hamilton County have benefited from the Drug Court that works within the county's Criminal Court for the last 10 years. The two-year recidivism rate of only 7 percent proves this program is a success in addressing addiction, the underlying problem driving criminal behavior.
As the director of Drug Court, I am honored to have Judge Tom Greenholtz and his deep commitment and experience in this valuable program. His compassion, enthusiasm and demand for personal accountability is unquestionable. This is evident in that clients who ordinarily do not take on the wreckage of their past are now employed and are paying their child support, their restitution and their court fines. They are driving with a license and insurance. Their drug use is drastically reduced, if not completely absent.
This specialized court is an additional docket, which Judge Greenholtz takes on as well as his regular docket. We all appreciate the additional commitment Judge Greenholtz has for this program. It is an honor to work with this gentleman as he serves our community. Judge Greenholtz is a tremendous asset to the Drug Court, to Division II and our community.
Elaine Kelly
Little backed for Criminal Court
I have known Mike Little personally and professionally for several years, and I cannot think of a more qualified candidate to be Criminal Court judge. Mike has spent his career as an attorney handling the most complicated criminal cases in state and federal courts. He always has vigorously and thoroughly represented his clients, and he always has taken the time to provide advice to less experienced attorneys beginning their careers.
Mike's experience, knowledge and temperament would benefit all of us in Hamilton County. I would kindly request your vote for Mike Little as Criminal Court judge.
Kimberly Greuter Court is calling for Patterson
I want to take a moment to weigh in on the upcoming Criminal Court judge election in Chattanooga.
Only one candidate has the authentic capacity to serve from a position of experience as a criminal judge and, just as importantly, to lead and impact positive change by actively advancing a safer culture for Chattanooga, and that person is Boyd Patterson.
He is a community builder, has extensive on-the-street experience crucial to understanding crime and will make an excellent judge not just in dispensing of justice but in collaboratively building a better community.
Patterson has deep experience in criminal law. He has served as a public prosecutor, and was, and still is, the lead expert on the reduction of gang violence in Chattanooga.
He has answered a calling to fight crime. Being a Criminal Court judge requires a true calling (rather than an appointment grounded in connections and political aspirations). No other candidate comes from this important point of view.
Patterson is Chattanooga's only choice for a qualified Criminal Court judge. He has the passion, deep experience, knowledge of community, important social network and deep relationships with law enforcement that can truly impact Chattanooga in a powerful way.
David McDonald
Greenholtz best choice for court
I recently had the pleasure of speaking at length with Criminal Court Judge Tom Greenholtz. He is actively involved in the Drug Court, a very successful local program of helping drug-dependent people he sees in the courtroom.
Drug addiction is one of the root causes of crime, especially in young offenders. He is passionate about turning their lives around through a support program to break their criminal cycle of addiction. As a pharmacist, I am also interested in the area of pain management, the prevention of illegal drug use and the treatment of addiction.
I admire Judge Greenholtz for his efforts and passion in correcting the lives of the offenders that he monitors in the Drug Court and also in referring offenders to CADAS (Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services), here in Chattanooga. I strongly recommend voting for Tom Greenholtz, to allow him to continue this vital work.
Dr. Ron Morin
Righteous Jetton assessor pick
I have never engaged in any campaigning or other politically motivated things, I am not involved in politics, and the only reason I am writing this letter is because I am convicted about the character of Sterling Jetton.
A lack of excellence is prevalent everywhere, and you are likely to gain more resistance from pursuing excellence than if you just went with the flow of our culture. We need men who, although in the world, resist the world by yielding to a savior - Jesus Christ - who leads by the power of his spirit.
We need men who reject passivity and embrace swimming upstream for righteous endeavors that protect what is just. Sterling Jetton will love and serve you with the love of Christ, regardless of your beliefs. Sterling has laid down his old self-interested life and yielded to "The Man": Jesus.
I am talking about a man who will do uncommon things for common people and will not tolerate average from himself, whether you are watching him or not. I am talking about a man who will serve our community with honesty, integrity and boldness independent of your social, racial or financial status.
Richard and Brooke Henderson