Letters to the editor: Opposing views on Costco in Camarillo; the facts about AR-15s

Ventura County Star
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Costco in Camarillo is a win for all

Re: Joan Handzel’s July 16 letter, “Report needed on gas station”:

In response to Ms. Handzel’s letter regarding Costco store and gas station coming to Camarillo, I wish to provide you with some information.

First, there will be a reduction of traffic on the 101 Freeway northbound from Camarillo to Oxnard and beyond, since Camarillo residents will no longer be going to the Costco Oxnard location.

Second, and most importantly, the sales taxes in Oxnard are the same as they are in Los Angeles County, which is 9.25%. However, the taxes in Camarillo are 7.25%. I don’t know about you, but I like saving money and not having to travel long distances to do my shopping and get gas. In other words, Costco coming to Camarillo is none other than a win for all residents.

Felicite Barton, Camarillo

Camarillo doesn’t need Costco

Re: Joan Handzel’s July 16 letter, “Report needed on gas station”:

Costco should not be built in Camarillo. Not only will it destroy the character of our city, which will be forever lost, but there are several pairs of hawks and falcons which hunt in the fields where Costco proposes to build. These majestic animals have the same right to the earth as humans and Costco will rob them of their home. With this kind of development, Camarillo will become just another ugly Los Angeles-type sprawl. There is a Costco in Oxnard. Who in heck needs another one?

Jane Alstott, Camarillo

Cleaning up ‘facts’ about AR-15s

Re: Tom Elias’ July 18 column, “Appeals court finds way to keep AR-15 ban”:

In regards to some of the “facts” Mr. Elias presents about AR-15s in California, there are some he got wrong and others he omitted. First, AR-15s are not banned in California and anyone can purchase one if they pass an FBI background check and wait 10 days. The versions we can legally purchase here just differ slightly in a certain number of scary looking accessory features that do not affect their performance. And due to recent court rulings, it is currently legal to possess a large-capacity magazine in California.

Second, the vast majority of mass shootings are committed with pistols not rifles. According to FBI statistics from 2019, out of 13,927 gun homicides only 369 were committed with any kind of rifle (bolt action, semi-auto) because they simply aren’t the weapon of choice for criminals. And I’m not aware of any murders committed by fully automatic rifles since they were outlawed in the 1930s. I say this because many people think semi-automatic means the same as fully automatic.

Third, in the last year of the so-called “assault weapons” ban (2004) there were 393 homicides committed with any type of rifle. In 2019 there were 364 homicides committed with any type of rifle. What this tells us is that since the assault weapons ban expired there have been fewer murders by rifles and this is despite the fact that there are probably 20 million more AR-15s in people’s homes than there were in 2004.

And finally, there have not been 242 mass shooting events in the U.S. since the beginning of the year. Mr. Elias is not relying on the FBI definition of a “mass shooting,” he is likely referring to the much looser definition used by Gun Violence Archive, which tends to juke the numbers a bit.

Alan Garner, Camarillo

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Letters: Opposing views on Costco in Camarillo; the facts about AR-15s