Letters on immunization, gun bill, lifesaving granddaughter, lost dog, funeral respect

Need to immunize nation’s children

There are diseases that can be completely prevented with proper immunization of our nation’s children. Yet thousands of deaths occur annually because of poor vaccination status. This also puts at risk those individuals who are unable to be vaccinated because of low immunity or being allergic to certain vaccines.

I urge stronger regulations regarding religious exemption to immunizations. A parent’s signature should not be the only requirement to excuse children from having vaccines.

Have we not learned from the Ebola outbreak and the recent measles outbreak that our borders can’t protect us? I also urge the health community to educate parents that immunizations are safe and effective and that the benefit outweighs the risk.

Gun bill is insane

I read that our Legislature is considering a proposal that would allow individuals to carry a concealed firearm without a permit or training (Feb. 1 Eagle). That is a disgusting and insane idea.

The proposal seems to be partly predicated on the assumption that this will help lure the gun-manufacturing industry to Kansas. This sounds, at best, like a desperate attempt to justify inept budgetary decisions made at the state level. At worst, it’s another interesting form of prostitution.

There recently was a fatal shooting at a bar in Winfield that involved a person allegedly carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. It would seem that we’re taking one more step back in time to the days of the wild, wild West.

I wonder what is next for citizens who have no desire to own or carry a handgun. Will we at some point be required to carry a concealed weapon?

Teen to the rescue

I woke about 4:30 a.m. one day last week looking for a cough drop because I had been sick. My husband woke up and showed me where they were. We each got a cough drop, and he fell back to sleep with one in his mouth.

At the same time he woke up coughing and gasping for air, our granddaughter, Katy Clare, wandered into our room looking for our dog. She immediately started the Heimlich maneuver on him, and the cough drop popped straight out and went flying across the room.

I’m so thankful my husband is OK, and I can’t even begin to say how proud I am of our granddaughter for staying calm and using training she learned in a Red Cross babysitting class.

Katy is already in a nurse’s aide class at Campus High School and wants to become a pediatric nurse. She is one of many wonderful teens out there doing good deeds that go unnoticed because of all the negative stories on the news.

Helped a lost dog

The other evening, while I was taking my two dogs for their nightly walk, a small SUV stopped. The woman on the passenger side asked if I had ever seen the dog in the back seat. After peering in I could see that it was a male yellow Lab. The woman said that she and the young woman driving had found the dog wandering in a nearby street and wondered if I knew where it belonged.

My dogs and I know our area well – some black Labs, a few Chihuahuas, a German shepherd, a Weimaraner and other small dogs but no yellow Lab. I offered what little advice that might help.

I forgot something very important. I forgot to tell these two women that they were my heroes. They took the time to rescue this collarless dog from the middle of the street, then drive around and try to figure out where it might belong. Would it have gone home on its own? Maybe, maybe not.

Over the decades I’ve heard so many sad, sad stories from people who have lost their dogs and don’t have a clue about what to do. I hope these two heroes were successful.

Show of respect

I would like to express my admiration for the people of Wichita. My uncle died recently, and the funeral was last week in Wichita. As we processed from the church to the cemetery southwest of town, I was moved to tears by the respect the citizens of Wichita displayed for the funeral procession.

All oncoming traffic came to a standstill. People on the street stopped walking until we passed. A power crew stopped repairs and stood at attention, hard hats over their hearts.

None of you knew my uncle or our family, but each of you profoundly touched our lives by your respect that day.

I thank you. You did your community proud.

This story was originally published February 6, 2015 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Letters on immunization, gun bill, lifesaving granddaughter, lost dog, funeral respect."