Letter: Police use of Tasers on suspects

I think that the Long Island police should not be issued Tasers because the police can always shoot someone in a nonfatal body part to temporarily stop them ["LI cops embrace use of Tasers as tool against violent suspects," News, Oct. 28].

What a police officer cannot know is the height and weight of the person they are going to tase. If they guess wrong, the stun will either kill a person or do nothing to them.

James Millen, Rockville Centre

I think increasing the use of stun guns is a good idea. When a criminal is out of control and you don't want to resort to pulling a gun, the stun gun is a perfect weapon.

Even though some deaths did occur when Suffolk County police used Tasers, they seemed to have resulted from the actions that followed, including the use of pepper spray and violent reactions of the men attacking the police.

Tasers are a safe alternative for police in violent situations.

Victoria Donohue, Farmingdale

Hicksville corner needs better signals

I am writing to you about the Oct. 27 collision between a pickup truck and an SUV on West Old Country Road and South Broadway ["Three hurt in Hicksville crash," News, Oct. 28]. I drive through that intersection every day, and I think it's unsafe.

I believe there should be better traffic signals for turning. I appreciated this article and hope it will make people more aware of this situation.

Angela Cerbone, Hicksville

Question on raising retirement age

Retirement is what many people look forward to after many years of hard work. On Election Day, New Yorkers voted on whether to let some judges work until age 80 ["Split on extending retirement age," News, Oct. 28]. At such an old age, people should not have to work anymore. Working at 80 is a tough task for anyone to handle.

The judges' pride may make them work for 10 more years, but it may be too much and not what is best for them or their loved ones.

Maurice Rose, Valley Stream

Crackdown on motorcycle riders

I like motorcycles, and I think they're cool [" 'Reckless' bikers busted," News, Oct. 28]. However, I only like them when they are used in the right manner and respectfully.

I was very surprised to see that more and more motorcyclists are getting in trouble and getting tickets. It's much easier for a motorcycle to weave in and out of traffic and travel at high speeds than it is for a car.

I think it's good that more tickets are being written for motorcyclists, because they have proven to make the road an even more dangerous place.

Mike Mauldin, Levittown

Motorcycles have always put me in awe because of their big, loud engines and their ability to maneuver around the road. The main negative thing that comes with these awesome machines is biker gangs.

There are two types of biker gangs: the ones that are peaceful and ride on cross-country trips, and those that ride around looking for trouble.

The gang that caused all the trouble in late September on Henry Hudson Parkway is a good example of a bad group. Recently, gangs have been confronted by police, which makes me happy. One day, I would like to own a motorcycle without the threat of them being outlawed. I hope cops are able to crack down on the bad groups to keep our roadways safe.

Matthew Prusak, Hicksville

Lessons after superstorm Sandy

I appreciate articles that relate directly to my community and me. "Lessons in empathy" [News, Oct. 28] really connected with me because the devastation of superstorm Sandy has affected every Long Islander.

I have seen the hardships that my close friends faced. Some lost their homes or lacked power for days. The heartbreaking truth was that many people didn't have a warm place to sleep or the ability to have a warm meal. We will grow from this.

Takia Williams, Hempstead

Superstorm Sandy had many negative effects on the Long Island community and families. But the hardships taught many lessons and made people like me realize that everything you have can be taken away from you in a split second.

This story explained how teachers and students bonded over personal struggles after this disaster. Including Sandy in students' curricula, in subjects such as earth science, oceanography, meteorology and journalism, will likely teach students more than just a lesson for the week, but lessons for the rest of their lives.

It was also touching to see students wanting to help out because they saw the effects on students in their classes.

Leanne Eberhart, Freeport