Too easy to buy guns

My heart goes out to the friends and families of the slain students and faculty at Virginia Tech. This tragedy should resonate for years to come and affect how we as Americans consider the future of firearms regulations. Far too often, the ease in which an individual can purchase a firearm leads to unimaginable or horrific consequences on our streets and in our homes.
Authorities report that gunman Cho Seung-Hui was able to purchase a powerful Glock 19 handgun and 50 rounds of ammunition after displaying only three forms of identification and undergoing a quick background check.
Because Virginia laws do not require a mandatory waiting period, firearms can easily be dispensed and unfortunately can lead to violence that crosses state lines and erupts in our city.
This latest tragedy should be a rallying cry to our elected officials not only in Washington but also in our home state and city to significantly strengthen federal laws, and determine what we can do as New Yorkers, to protect our citizens against these lethal weapons.
Alfonso Quiroz
Jackson Heights

Beware of balloons
I like the idea to establish the first Saturday in April in New York City as the observation date for the Chinese tradition of Ching Ming as reported in the article “Ancient tradition comes to Maple Grove” of the April 12 edition of The Queens Courier.
The only problem I have with it is the release of helium-filled balloons into the atmosphere which have been known to pose a danger to wildlife and marine animals.
Perhaps Fred Fu of the Flushing Development Center (with the help of our Borough President Helen Marshall) may be able to find a manufacturer that makes environmentally-friendly helium filled balloons to be used during next year’s April celebration of Ching Ming.
Ciro Di Donna
Whitestone

Deal is a deal
Business and the Flushing community support the development of Municipal Lot #1; the development will open up the area for all to use, with retail, hotel, office space, movie theatre, etc. However, that does not mean that TDC Development should renege on its original commitment.
John Liu is absolutely right in saying that a deal is a deal. This developer as well as other developers submitted proposals to the city, from which it accepted the present proposal of 2,000 reduced-rate parking spaces, and 85,000 square feet of community use facilities. Keep in mind the proposal was submitted by the developer; they should know what they were proposing and the related costs.
For TDC to back down now to 1,600 spaces; charge market rates for parking, and a reduced 55,000 square foot community center, without giving others the opportunity to revisit and perhaps resubmit a better proposal is wrong.
TDC cannot say his parking rates are still cheaper than elsewhere in the city; Flushing is NOT Manhattan.
John Liu wants the best proposal for Flushing. If it is deemed there are no alternatives, only then should TDC Development be allowed to continue.
John Ngai
Rego Park

More on Landmarking
Imagine a group of strangers so infatuated with your home that they demand you not change the color of your door or a single shingle or brick without their permission. To enforce their demands, they urge unelected bureaucrats to determine that you do not actually own the exterior of your home; restrictions are imposed with fines of up to $15,000 per day for non-compliance; you are deprived of an opportunity to vote on the matter but encouraged to attend “public hearings.”
All of the above will be reality if the NYC Landmark Commission imposes landmark designation on our neighborhood.
“Infatuated strangers” who wish to own and control the rights to the exterior of our properties should offer fair market value for those rights, perhaps tax deductions, abatements, or other consideration; anything else is expropriation.
Individual rights (property rights) are inalienable. When you begin making conditions, reservations and exceptions, you admit man’s rights may be violated at someone’s discretion. The Constitution protects our individual rights, limits the power of society over man and provides a moral code for a civilized society; you cannot demand any action from another man, except through his free, voluntary consent. The alternative is mob rule.
Letters from Councilmember Avella reveal his obliviousness to the principle enshrined in the Fifth Amendment. His response to my concerns is “you will have an opportunity to present your views at a number of public hearings” and assures me “if enough property owners oppose the designation it will not occur.” Instead of affirming and asserting Constitutional protection of our property rights, his alternative is to consign them to the mercy of those who may or may not attend a public hearing.
Have “public hearings” superseded the Constitution?
Ed Konecnik
Flushing

Fan of Tony Avella
I think the City Council needs to be reformed. They need to earn our respect and change how they conduct business, for it can no longer be business as usual. They did not deserve the last raise they voted for themselves.
City Councilmember Tony Avella is proposing 16 reforms, including banning members from having another job and from accepting trips paid for by outside organizations.
Well we finally have our knight in shining armor who cares about this great city of ours. I have found Avella to be true to his word and not afraid to speak his mind, even if it is not popular. If anyone can get the City Council to do the right thing, I believe it is Tony Avella. I think he has what it takes to be our next mayor.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose