Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

If you don’t have a gun, here is a way to ruin someone’s plans for you. Wasp and hornet spray typically shoots 20 to 30 feet and is a lot more accurate, while the pepper or mace spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you.

The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until the police arrive or they can get to the hospital for an antidote. Wasp and hornet spray is easy to find and more effective than mace or pepper spray and doesn’t attract attention like a can of pepper spray would.

I keep a can in my car, one in the kitchen and one in my bedroom. I even made a holster for a can that hands on my belt, so if I’m working or want to take a walk, my hands are free and the can is at my fingertips.

I remember hearing of a young woman from out east that was attacked by a large coyote while hiking in the forest and was, I believe, killed. This could have saved her life. How many times don’t we hear of people or kids that were torn up or killed by pit bulls.

When I was about five years old, my brother’s friend told me to chase a big dog off his lawn, that was supposed to be the town’s pet, but the dog turned on me and bit me in my throat. The doctor said it was only a half inch from my windpipe, and that it could have killed me. I have had a fear of dogs ever since.

We never know what an animal will do. I remember hearing of dogs that killed babies, I believe out of jealousy. If you have a baby and a dog, don’t forget to give your dog some attention too!

I know from experience, I had a German Shepherd that was outside a large window of our house, and when I held our newborn son up to show him off, the hair on the dog’s neck stood up. I knew that I would have to give the dog equal attention.

Imagine what a shooter would think when he burst into a classroom or store, thinking that everyone is helpless and fearful only to be confronted by three, four or more students starting to spray him? Instead of being fearful, those students would now feel pretty brave having a weapon of their own.

I would suggest having a baseball bat nearby as well, to keep the culprit down until the police arrive. I believe the shooter would be on the floor before the police could be called. If a gun was involved, someone else could accidentally get shot, property damaged, plus the noise. This would be quiet and no one else accidentally hurt.

Think about all those school and store killings, that could have been avoided. For in store or at home defense, I think people would hesitate using a gun for fear of hurting someone else, or damaging something, and the noise, plus the fear of getting arrested or sued.

I know that I would hesitate, and I would be afraid of shooting out my patio doors. That’s something to think about!

I think it would be a good idea to have students write a farewell letter to family, friends, and loved ones that they appreciated along life’s walk. I am sure those students and adults that died in past shootings would have liked to have said their goodbyes if they had had a chance to do so there is no guarantee of tomorrow for any of us; we take life for granted too often.

It would be good for all of us to realize that we might not have tomorrow. Where will you spend eternity?

James A. Keller, Sr.