Re: Tattoo may mark old feud with deputies, July 9.
Editor: A convicted felon died the night of Sept. 12, 2002, because of a bad choice he made. He was not gunned down, nor was the intent to kill the primal focus. The intent was to remove yet another convicted drug dealer off our streets with the hope of zero injury, much less the thought of death.
This man was a convicted drug dealer, and there should be no focus on the color of his skin. Black, red, white, blue, or purple, all people make their own choices, and with that they also choose their destiny. It is simply a matter of time before our dedicated experts in the field of law enforcement are able to clean up our communities.
Since the Sept. 12 incident, there has been much recent speculation, even several supposed links alleged to Bo Harrison's death, and many articles written by various reporters, some not always accurate and some on occasion leaving out much needed information for most to form an intelligent determination of what is fact vs. alleged possibilities.
The most recent one disappointed me a great deal. The article emphasized the tattoos on the man charged with killing Harrison, and the most disturbing quote made was the intent to "kill a green and white."
Harrison was an exceptional man, an exceptional law enforcement officer, a friend to everyone of all colors. In fact, he was one of the last officers to leave the hospital the night of Sept. 12, when my brother, Cpl. Gordon G. Larkin, took a bullet in the head from Daron Teree Black.
There were many people quoted in this story, some of whom stated that the Sheriff's Office could have arrested Daron Teree Black at a convenience store just moments before the search warrant was executed at his home. I can only believe that to serve a search warrant in a public place could possibly endanger innocent civilians.
So thank you to the Sheriff's Office for the expert training that you do (demonstrate) as you continue to to protect those of us who choose to live a life free of crime. We all have good qualities; even drug dealers, I would suppose, have some good attributes, but we all don't choose to violate the law. This should be the only element that separates people.
Not color, not socioeconomic status, not ethnicity, nor religion but the fact that God gave us a brain to make choices and those who choose to make the wrong choices must suffer the consequences that surround that choice.
Through all of this I have learned much from my brother, who taught me in the time of need to always pray for those who choose to make bad choices and for their families who don't always assist or support those same choices, regardless of the color of their skin. And this is the overall focus that I think all of us should go away with and build future relationships upon.
-- Susan Larkin-Douberley, Dade City
Please stop lumping Elfers with New Port Richey
Editor: We would like to let everybody know that Elfers, Florida, is not in New Port Richey. We were here before New Port Richey or Holiday.
We don't like the St. Petersburg Times always trying to make us New Port Richey.
-- Connie Veal Sprouse and Naomi Levet, Elfers
Selfish smokers should stop whining about ban
Editor: Enough already with quoting these poor cry baby smokers who feel that they are just victims of our new Florida law regarding public smoking. This law was 50 years overdue. What about the dead millions who might now be living happy lives had the law been enacted in 1950?
I smoked for 35 years and am now paying for it at 75 years of age. Thank God, my sanity was restored and I was freed of that horrible addiction in 1976 (not in time). Although some of us have breathing problems as well as other health problems directly related to smoking and second-hand smoke, we can be grateful for our competent legislators who had the courage to bring us this law for the benefit of future generations.
It is a little sad that we have to enforce this law to stop the selfishness and selfcenteredness of immature addicts. But let's enforce it anyway. Who says so? Seventy-one percent of us say so!
Thank you governor, senators and representatives for helping your ungrateful constituents, as well as the thankful.
-- Charles J. Vinzant,New Port Richey
[Last modified July 23, 2003, 01:18:16]
