LETTERS: Lesson of critical crash, illegal fireworks and more

Let accident serve as lesson in safety

With regard to the 11-year-old girl seriously injured by a car : I'll bet that anyone who drives has had the frightening experience of seeing someone at the side of the road and exclaiming in shock, "Oh my God, I didn't see her or him; I almost hit them."

I grew up on Long Island when there were few sidewalks (there still are relatively few), and few streetlights. A big difference between then and now is that we were taught to take precaution while walking on dark roads. We wore light-colored clothing and carried flashlights facing traffic.

This accident happened at 11:40 at night, a tragedy for sure. But it's one that could possibly serve as a teaching experience: Don't allow yourself to be invisible when walking in the dark.

Evelyn Bozler

Oakdale

Fired up over illegal fireworks

This Fourth of July I sat in my home, for which I pay very high taxes, listening to what sounded like World War III outside. After living in Queens for 20 years, I finally witnessed the city correcting the illegal fireworks situation, but not here on Long Island.

The bottom line is, it's illegal. Do I see patrol cars cruising the neighborhood? No. Why not?

I love fireworks and watched the Macy's show for years, but they are not appropriate in a residential area.

Linda Brandon

New Hyde Park

Not the last word on right to bear arms

The editorial "The Right to Bear Arms" noted that the recent Supreme Court ruling would leave the final ruling on gun regulation to federal judges as opposed to elected officials. I beg to differ.

Federal judges, including the justices of the Supreme Court, merely interpret the laws passed by the elected officials of the people.

It is clear, concise and unambiguous within the Second Amendment to the Constitution that the "right of the people to keep and bears arms shall not be infringed" and as such, it is a part of the highest law of our land. Although a long and arduous task, amending the Constitution is the only avenue available to infringe and/or repeal this right.

An amendment would have to be ratified as detailed in Article Five of the Constitution, and this process is only performed by elected legislative bodies. As such, this would provide elected officials the ultimate "final word" described in the editorial.

Michael C. Sena

Oceanside