TO THE EDITOR: The Enquirer last week did a nice series on how hard it is for felons to go straight and return to society. Now with the Riley and Sanders' slayings in Hamilton, is it time for a lengthy report on how repeat felons can never return to society and do little but repeattheir crimes?

It would seem they use prison as a graduate facility and come out ready and able for bigger, better and worse adventures. I hope all the liberals who pity the poor, misunderstood habitual felon hold their candlelight vigils for the three most recent victims and their families. I won't hold my breath.

James Wakefield, Hebron, Ky.

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Too much segregation, not enough integration

In response to the article "Rights: Another fight brewing over Article XII" (Feb. 17), having a family member who is gay or lesbian is comparable to having a family member who is an alcoholic. I may disagree with the behavior they have chosen, but I love them and will stand by them.

People should not receive special treatment from society just because they are different. Whether they are gay or lesbian, black or white, male or female, they should each be held to the same laws and standards. Everyone preaches about how we need to integrate, but it always seems organizations are trying to be more segregated these days There are boundaries and laws for reasons.

Laura Day, Oxford

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City should take lead in rights for everyone

While the people of Cincinnati are trying to rid the city of hate, we seem to be taking two steps back in the process. Everyone in the city has the right to be protected from discrimination based on color, creed, gender and religion.

However, if you are a homosexual, you are on your own. P&G should be commended for its efforts in changing that in the company. It has taken great strides to include gays and lesbians in its diversity and in its benefits plans.

The city of Cincinnati should step up to the plate and include homosexuality in talks of fighting discrimination.

Amanda Jones, Hamilton

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Blood-alcohol level needs to be lowered

Recent studies have shown that motor skills show serious signs of deterioration at blood-alcohol content levels as low as 0.05 percent. The current Ohio law allows motorists to operate their vehicles at a limit double that amount - 0.10 percent. As a result, Ohio ranks among the highest of all 50 states when it comes to alcohol-related fatalities, contributing more than 600 deaths of the more than 27,000 total drunken driving deaths across the country in 2001.

It is time to make the roads of Ohio safer by adopting the measure that is on the table at the Statehouse in Columbus - it is time to lower the legal alcohol limit to 0.08 percent. More than two-thirds of the states have already passed similar legislation, and the results are irrefutable: significant decreases in the number of drunken driving accidents and total alcohol-related fatalities have been recorded in those states.

Kevin Ellerbrock, Hamilton

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Architect Hannaford deserved recognition

While I enjoyed the three articles on the 125th anniversary of Music Hall, I couldn't believe that the renowned architect, Samuel

Hannaford, who created this treasure, wasn't even mentioned. While I didn't know this man, I did know his widow, his daughter and his three granddaughters. In fact, his youngest granddaughter was a very good friend of mine in my childhood.

I had the privilege of playing in the house that he built for his family. It had a large circular porch in the front and six smaller ones around the rest of the house.

Thanks for sending my thoughts back to the good times of my youth.

Mary Ann Sidenstick, Mariemont

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Advice for Reds' fans: Skip season opener

The Reds are the real losers. My advice for people in Reds country is to the people across the country who bought Reds tickets without the intention of attending the game.

All fans should stay at home and watch the game and let all those scalpers eat their tickets. And the Reds, although selling out the game, will have a lot of empty seats, hurting their concessions and other areas.

Brian Walker, Bridgetown

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Back the sheriff, not the cowardly citizens

In his Feb. 24 column, Leonard Pitts states "Bush seems to think he is channeling Gary Cooper in High Noon."

I would like to remind Pitts that the real villains in that Western were the cowardly citizens of the town. They would have preferred to be bullied, or even killed, by a handful of evil men, then to stand by their elected leader (the sheriff). In the end, the person who saved the hero (Gary Cooper) was his new bride, a Quaker who did not believe in violence. She shot one of the evil men when he was about to murder her new husband.

It took great courage for the new bride to do what she ultimately had to do. It will also take great courage on the part of the American people to stand by their president, their commander in chief, as he fights evil people in a courageous effort to protect the United States, our friends and our allies.

Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden are evil men. They and those who follow them are not going to go away because of people waving cardboard signs attached to wooden sticks marching and chanting, "kumbayah."

Unless the columnist is willing to face a future that ensures the annihilation of Israel and biological, chemical and even nuclear attacks on U.S. soil, I suggest that Pitts stand by his president and not with the cowardly citizens of this nation or of the world.

Donald Pollard, North College Hill

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Concealed weapons bill invites hostile society

Once again, legislators in the House and Senate have introduced bills that would allow the carrying of concealed handguns by the citizens of Ohio (HB12, SB24). And, once again, groups on both sides of the issue will begin another round of debate.

Curiously, one very influential group has yet to weigh in on the issue: business.

Odd, considering that companies in virtually every industry will be adversely affected if a concealed carry weapons bill passes in Ohio.

If Ohioans are permitted to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public, businesses face the prospect of having armed employees and customers in their stores, medical facilities and offices and on factory floors. In the absence of a company policy that prohibits concealed weapons, companies will be forced to admit permit holders and their guns into their places of business. Even with a policy prohibiting guns, enforcement imposes additional burdens on employers that are costly, unpleasant and likely to result in legal challenges.

If our current law is repealed and CCW passes in Ohio, it will give a whole new definition to the term "hostile environment."

Lori A. O'Neill, President, Million Mom March, Greater Cleveland Chapter

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Outrage needs to be unmasked over Jacko

Thanks to Laura Pulfer for once again bringing light to a very important subject. In her Feb. 20 column about Michael Jackson, she poses the question, "So does this feel right to us? The masks. The sleepovers. Are we brave enough to try to look out for the welfare of children, even those who do not technically belong to us?"

As a nation, we should be outraged that a grown man can get on television and admit to sleeping in the same bed with 12- or 13-year-old boys who are not his children. If we seriously believe this man is not a pedophile, then we should all be wearing masks ourselves - to hide the shame.

Kelly Allen, West Chester