Innocence lost

EDITOR:

In the wake of recent robberies in our neighborhood, something wonderful has been lost. The small-town community feeling of safety and trust that we have enjoyed so in Gardnerville is gone, perhaps never to return.

If the smallest piece of wood is on the floor of my garage and interferes with the complete closing of the garage door, the door opens up again fully. I didn't notice this and the door was open the whole night in early April. My garage was entered and boxes disturbed. As I couldn't identify if anything was stolen, I didn't make any report. I just became very careful to be sure the door was shut each night.

Then, on April 7 at 3:30 a.m., a group of youths dressed all in black were seen entering my back yard. A neighbor called 911, but since they took too long to arrive, the youths were already gone.

I park my car in my drive way. On the morning of April 9, I found the windshield of my car broken. It happened during the night.

On several occasions. I have observed a small group of unkempt and unwashed teenagers, dressed shabbily in all black, smoking something and half-lying down on the sidewalks of Douglas and Hussman streets in Gardnerville. Are these our own high-school students? Are these the ones responsible for the recent spate of robberies in our town?

Whoever is responsible, our security and trust have been broken. We no longer live in the safe little town that we have enjoyed for so long.

When I reported the vandalism to my car, the deputy recommended that if someone enters my premises, I should first call 911, say something so they hear my voice, and drop the phone. They will then come as soon as possible. However, due to restricted finances, there are only three deputies for the whole Valley. For this reason, it could take some time for them to get there.

The visiting deputy also informed me that Nevada residents are allowed to purchase and possess a gun, and that no license is required. We are recommended to take a little training course to get certified but are not required to do so, as long as we keep the gun visible when we have it outside of the home. We can carry the gun in public (in a holster) or in our car legally as long as it is in plain site. He recommended that if my gun is in my car and I am stopped by a policeman, to tell him right away that I have a gun and point it out.

He told me that if anyone enters my home, including my garage uninvited, and poses a threat to me or my family, that I have every right to shoot them. He said, "If someone enters my home uninvited and poses a threat, they will never have the chance to do that to anyone again." For all-purpose "stopping power," he recommended a .357 magnum.

Robert Frost

Gardnerville