Letters to the editor — June 14

Range would ruin feel of park

Regarding Sunday’s editorial about Clovis City commissioners considering funding a shooting range at Ned Houk Park:

There are other important things to consider besides the taxpayers having to pay to maintain the facility, although that is certainly important.

When my husband was alive, he and I enjoyed taking picnic lunches to the park to enjoy the peace and quiet of the surroundings. He also liked to fish in the lake there.

I can’t imagine families taking their children to the playgrounds and hearing the rat-a-tat-tat of gunfire in the background.

As you pointed out, there are other facilities in the area where gun-owners may enjoy firing their weapons.

I hope the city commissioners will carefully consider all aspects of having such a facility in a public park before making a final decision.

Carolyn Stag

Clovis

Better uses for gun range money

I want to express agreement with the Sunday Opinion piece “City shooting itself in the foot with range plan.”

As a retired veteran, I believe in supporting and defending the Second Amendment, and I am already a member of one of the local gun ranges.

Annual membership for this range is quite affordable for all, so no need for another.

The city doesn’t need to compete with small business.

If our local government has enough time and money to consider a gun range, then why not consider using money in a more positive way such as taking those 720 acres and developing camping sites for family and visitor entertainment?

The salary proposed for range personnel can pay for camping park rangers.

While you are at it, use some of that land for youth soccer fields and dog parks that are only used a couple months out of the year, and reopen the municipal golf course that was used year round.

Want more suggestions? Well, let’s stop talking about there’s nothing for kids to do and use that $1.8 million to expand recreational facilities for the youth. Talk to the youth and they will tell you what they want.

Whatever happened to the expansion of the Clovis Aquatic Facilities?

Want more? How about if we use those funds for supporting our local schools to pay for more teachers, tutors, educational resources and extra-curricular programs.

Let’s provide more for our families in poverty. I’m sure you see people in need standing on the streets.

The list goes on and on for better use of taxpayer money.

I call on citizens to propose other ideas. Let’s get our priorities straight for a better city.

Phil E. Williams

Clovis