Letters To The Editor

Thu., April 6, 1995

LAW AND JUSTICE

Basic rights are in jeopardy

Jimmy Marks was right, you know. If police can forcefully and illegally enter Gypsy homes without a search warrant, seizing property, they can do exactly the same thing to you and your home any time they so desire.

If school authorities in Vernonia, Ore., can order compulsory drug testing for athletes, they can expand the rule to include all students, as could school authorities nationwide.

And, if authorities in one area of public life may flout constitutional guarantees and protections with impunity, what is to prevent similar abuses by other public officials?

For example, should random drug testing become compulsory for all students, why may not a city council or an ambitious police chief initiate a similar program for all citizens? Picture yourself in a shopping mall, being taken aside by police into a special room, then being told to urinate in the presence of the police officer. You better not have eaten poppy seed rolls that day!

Read James Otis’ arguments against the Writs of Assistance, Feb. 24, 1761. Drugs may be a horrible problem, but erosion of or loss of freedoms, enumerated and unenumerated in the Bill of Rights, might even be worse.

The Fourth (search and seizure) and Fifth (due process) amendments are presently under attack in schools, in Congress and in court. If you fail to defend them now, they may be unable to defend you later. Al Mangan Spokane

Anti-gun people wrong two ways

The constant attacks on our Constitution by Walter Becker and Edward Keeley (Letters, March 30) are despicable.

Becker’s assertion that the Supreme Court denies an individual the right to bear arms in the Second Amendment is false. In fact, all indications show that the Supreme Court affirms an individual’s right to bear arms, as does the history, concept and wording of the Second Amendment, along with scores of objective studies done by law professors and other scholars.

Keeley says we weren’t “duped” about “assault weapons.” Oh really. Why, then, did Tom Foley allow floor debate on the assault weapon ban to continue, illegally, after the ban had been defeated? Threats were made to two congressmen who then changed their votes, allowing the ban to narrowly pass. Why did NBC show machine guns being fired and then tell its viewers the guns were “semiauto assault rifles”? Why were National Rifle Association ads totally censored by the media?

Keeley wants one rational reason for “assault rifle” use. Here it is: Thomas Jefferson said the primary reason for the right to bear arms is the prevention of tyranny. That is why Americans should be allowed to own military pattern rifles - rifles that were once sold to us by our own government. Rifles incorrectly called assault rifles that are used in a safe, responsible manner by millions of Americans.

Let’s stick to the facts about the Second Amendment, not the pseudointellectual propaganda of extremists whose only desire is to disarm the citizenry. Curtis E. Stone Colville, Wash.

Selection obviously political

Some letters in the paper since Mike Padden was appointed District Court Judge make one wonder about the intelligence of the local people.

Of course the appointment was all political. It’s obvious the commissioners didn’t rely on qualifications or Padden would have been toward the end of the list. I doubt if the commissioners are qualified to appoint someone to the District Court or any other position.

Some writers actually say Padden will be a great judge, as he won’t coddle criminals.

Don’t people know that the state Legislature makes the laws governing the judicial system? After 14 years in the Legislature, I’d say Padden was part of the problem.

If you don’t like the sentencing guidelines, write or call your legislators. They are the one who wrote the guidelines. Don’t blame judges for something they have no control over.

When contacting your legislators, suggest they change the process of appointing replacements for elective offices. They should go strictly on qualifications, not political party or any other self-serving reason.

The current system isn’t fair to intelligent, hardworking, decent individuals who deserve to get ahead in their field. People should be rewarded for their qualifications, not because of who they know or what they can do for someone. A.C. Johnson Spokane

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Lowry changes certainly called for

When Gov. Mike Lowry says he’s changing his behavior, that statement clearly indicates to me his behavior needs to be changed.

Why does the state of Washington put up with this? There are other, more-meaningful and important ways to be in the headlines. Jo Barnes Duhrkoff Omak, Wash.

Cannot believe allegations

Regarding the firing of Don Andrews from St. Patrick’s School (Spokesman-Review, April 1): I’ve known Don Andrews for several years and have never known him to be anything but a fine, upstanding and very, very inspirational principal, as well as a professor at Gonzaga University. I question the allegations against him and support him in everything he does. He is a wonderful man. Christine Bubb Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Salvage bill critic no conservative

In his April 1 letter, “Timber first, children last?” William K. Steele implies that he voted Republican and even read the Contract with America.

This must be an April Fool’s joke. It is obvious that he isn’t conservative, but a poor loser in elephant’s clothing.

His letter goes on to criticize a salvage timber bill which he alleges supports wealthy corporations - all at cost to women, infants and the poor. If passed, this bill will result in the employment of countless people who pay taxes that provide income for families, communities and timberdependent economies. Their taxes will also provide a commodity, restore damaged streams and habitats, replant steep slopes that would otherwise be mud slides, replant grasses and other vegetation, create wealth, pay state sales tax, contribute money for schools and roads, etc. Waste not want not?

Without this bill, it will all go to waste. There is an element out there trying to stall any and all harvest. And you think they care about people?

Meanwhile, we have unemployed forest products providers receiving less than welfare recipients - no subsidized heating, rent, food stamps, medical and dental care, free breakfast/lunch at schools or free college educations. Renea Martin Colville, Wash.

Reevaluate smokejumper program

The Forest Service smokejumper program was developed in the 1940s. Its purpose was to transport firefighters to fires in remote areas in a timely manner.

In the 1940s, helicopters didn’t exist. Much more country was inaccessible. Communication and fire detection systems were primitive. Organized fire crews did not exist. Jumpers did not fear hazardous terrain and conditions. Aircraft-delivered fire retardant didn’t exist. Back country installations were served by pack strings. Policy was to extinguish all fires, even in the remotest areas.

Today, high-speed helicopters deliver firefighters and equipment to fires. Effective fire retardant is dropped by huge helicopters and four-engine jet transports. Much country has been roaded and large, high-tech ground tankers are available. Organized crews exist throughout the West. Effective, high-tech communications and fire detection systems exist.

The Forest Service is promoting “let-burn” policies in wilderness and non-wilderness areas. Dead timber is being left in the national forests. Huge snag fields exist, and jumpers are complaining about the hazards of jumping and firefighting.

Millions of dollars are spent on training, outfitting and supporting only 400 jumpers. It may be time to abolish the program. Mike Munro Libby, Mont.

Canadians fight forest fires better

I would like to put my two cents’ worth in about our forest fire fighting procedures here in the Northwest.

A friend of mine from Canada told me about their method. Believe me, their losses are minimal and they have far more roadless areas than we do. They call it the “rap-attack” approach.

Their first priority is to put the fire out as soon as possible. Helicopters are dispatched within seconds after a fire is reported, with firefighters who rappel down ropes to the immediate area of the fire. They have their equipment with them, so it is not scattered here and there by parachute. They don’t spend hours and sometimes days deciding where to send in supplies, drawing up battle plans and getting permission from various agencies. They just do it. And they cut their losses to almost nothing.

Why don’t the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Natural Resources take up this practical method? Is it too easy or is it perhaps just too inexpensive? James A. Nelson Spokane

Eco-elitists have cozy setup

With reference to your recent article about the enforcement of federal protection for transplanted wolves, this is but the tip of a dagger pointed at our forests.

Environmentalists are introducing wolves, caribou and grizzlies to the Inland Northwest, but they don’t want to buy the land for these animals. They expect private landowners to manage their land for the benefit of these projects without getting one cent for their trouble.

Furthermore, much of this reintroduction stuff is done for the benefit of biologists on state or federal payrolls.

Here’s the way it works: By paying their salaries, we subsidize the biologists’ masters’ theses or doctoral dissertations that are their personal fringe benefits of working on these projects.

Private landowners further subsidize these projects whenever grizzlies or wolves interfere with the normal economic use or enjoyment of the land.

Then, when the biologists get their advanced degrees, guess what? We owe them a pay raise! This is another example of government by the bureaucrats for the benefit of the bureaucrats.

Don’t think that reintroduction is the last act of the eco-elitists. It’s merely the foot in the door for lawsuits closing huge portions of public lands to hunters, hikers, fishermen and loggers. This is a long-held dream of the eco-elitists.

The wolves will become the spotted owls of the Inland Northwest. G.L. Nelson Colbert

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Pope wrong about birth control

Normally, I would ignore the pronouncements of Pope John Paul II concerning reproductive issues as the desires of someone who wishes to increase the membership of his church through procreation. However, if the summary of the latest encyclical, as reported in the March 31 Spokesman-Review, is correct, then I must respond.

Ironic as it may be that poverty and birth control are mentioned together in his list of causes of violence, I find it so outrageous that he could place the latter therein that I am going to suggest to my Catholic friends that they discontinue their financial support of the church and instead give their money to charities which directly assist the poor.

Birth control, far from being a cause of violence, is one of the few means of controlling its spread while we attempt to alleviate the underlying causes, such as the breakup of the family.

Although Pope John Paul may preach that the use of birth control is a sin, the real sin is to engage in sexual intercourse without using birth control, unless both participants in that activity have made the conscious decision that an offspring is the desired result. Few, if any, of our contentious social problems will be solved until each human conception is a thoughtfully pre-planned event. D.F. Cooper Spokane

Kids’ needs not being met

Recently I went to my daughter’s kindergarten class to help with a dessert project for the homeless. I had children yearning to sit on my lap, asking to hold my hand, and challenging me to chase them on the playground at recess. I kept wondering why all these kids were searching for touch and attention, especially from a stranger?

It was obvious that many of these kids are lonely and in need of encouragement and appreciation which is lacking in their home life. In reflection, it just makes me sad. Lisa Marks Spokane

Parental carelessness must end

I watched the Gordon Elliott program one recent morning. I wish more people, especially young parents, had had a chance to see it, too.

Elliott had John Walsh and parents of missing children on the show. It made me realize just how fast a child can be taken away from schools, homes and even parked cars.

I have seen children left in cars while mom runs into the store for “just a second.” I once parked at a store where I noticed a small child of 3 or 4 alone in the car next to mine. I went into the store and when I returned to my car 10 or 15 minutes later, the child was still alone. Even if the car was locked, it would take just an instant for someone to break in and take that child away.

I have seen children playing at parks, left in cars and even a few playing near roads.

Parents, wake up! They can disappear in a heartbeat. It’s time to realize that the world is no longer a safe place. Anything can and will happen. It takes just a blink of an eye to lose a very important part of your life. Betty Randall Moses Lake

Support critic doesn’t know us

I was outraged at the letter from Laura Roberson, “Custodial parents not all virtuous” (March 31). She doesn’t sound like she is from a family that receives child support. I am.

I am 19 and now attending college, thanks to the emotional support of my mother, a child support recipient. She is a full-time student trying to improve the lives of her children. My mother only receives child support for my younger sister, and she had to fight for that because he is out of state.

She, like many other divorced mothers, lost her job due to unforeseen circumstances. Mom was injured and then laid off. The next job she had could not cover what we needed to live. She had to use the child support to buy food and pay the bills.

Aren’t food, water and electricity part of the “quality of life” that children are guaranteed at birth? My family thinks so.

We are all happy and healthy in a home of love and support that has given me what I need to succeed. If what Ms. Roberson says is true, then my mother is guilty of “stealing” from us. Debra Beckwith Chewelah, Wash.

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