Poland Township, where the living can be hazardous

Poland Township, where the living can be hazardous
EDITOR:
I am writing in regard to an ongoing and unsolvable problem pertaining to hunting within the distance of our own backyards in Poland Township.
Poland Township caters to the hunting population while not considering the safety of the families that live close to both the hunters and target shooters. The laws governing the shooting "rights" of those mentioned have been in place since much of this land was farmland many years ago. However, since that time it has been developed into residential property and the laws need to be changed to reflect the change in development and occupation of families within those areas and to protect our rights and those of our children. This is not the case.
We have recently encountered individuals that were hunting in a field approximately 60 yards from the back of our house. These individuals were hunting geese and had decoys planted to attract them. Not only did we have to endure the loud noise generated from the gunfire, we then were exposed to the cruel reality of the hunters pursuing the geese while twirling them around to break their necks. Believe me, we made sure that our 4- and 5-year-olds were not able to witness that inhumanity. We were unable to let our children go outside to build a snowman. Should we have to worry about that?
We were informed that target practice on one's own property is perfectly legal. Please keep in mind that the gun used rattled our walls while we had a newborn trying to sleep during the day. I contacted our chief of police to discuss this matter. He explained to me that these changes need to be made on a state level and gave me the phone number of the Department of Natural Resources/Division of Wildlife. When I contacted them I was told that the changes need to be made on a local level.
The township wants to collect our taxes, but we don't have a voice. We have contacted law enforcement and trustees, but were told the laws are as they are. We don't have an appropriate forum to voice our concerns and to protect our rights as homeowners in Poland Township.
According to Ohio Revised Code 2923.162, no person shall discharge a firearm within 100 yards of a cemetery. What about the houses with living people? Also, under 2772.06, it is stated that no person shall hunt, shoot, or kill game within one-half mile of a township park. However, you can shoot that close to children playing in their own backyards.
There is a real discrepancy between the law and our rights. We don't believe these laws will be changed until there is a fatality. I don't want my child to be the fatality that changes that law. Therefore, we will move. We advise all people considering moving into Poland Township to consider these hard facts.
MARIA SEBASTIAN
Poland Township
You say living in a fantasy, I say trapped in a nightmare
EDITOR:
My letter is in response to the Jan. 27 letter published in The Vindicator headlined, "Democrats Fried Their Brains, Now Living in a Fantasy World & quot;. Since the letter writer described the fantasies of Democrats, I think it's only fair to look at the fantasy world of this Republican administration.
Another headline in the same paper read, "G.M. reports quarter loss of $4.8 billion. & quot; Prior to that it was Ford Motor Co. laying off 30,000 employees. This cannot be true. President Bush said, "The economy is at an all time high & quot; and that there are "5 million new jobs & quot; with the "lowest unemployment in 5 years. & quot; He also says we've curbed abortion and the war with Iraq is going well.
How's that for fantasy? The jobs he speaks of are at McDonald's, low unemployment figures are because everyone is out of benefits, American big businesses are simply moving to Mexico, and instead of killing an embryo, he's waiting until it's 18 years old and then putting it in a war he started for no justifiable reason just to get it killed or maimed in the name of freedom and democracy. All the while, he elects to unconstitutionally wire tap private citizens' phone calls to curb terrorism in this country.
Even the staunchest Republicans in Congress are waking up to the fact that this president is a make believe dictator who has no clue how to run this country.
I, for one, am tired of anybody coming up with their "fantasy" excuses for keeping this man in office.
WILLIAM HUNTINGTON
Youngstown