Letters

Valley Fire Department actions appropriate

Spokane Valley Fire Department is acting appropriately to stop unconstitutional computer use.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…”

The Constitution does not allow one religion to be favored over another, even when the religion is Christianity.

Free speech is about an individual using their own resources. The use of official resources implies that the public taxpayer-funded institution endorses a particular religion, which is not constitutional.

When an employee disregards official orders to cease the use of institutional computers for inappropriate behaviors, he deserves sanctions.  He does not have the right to appropriate public resources against orders.

 Washington state law has prohibitions on state resources, including computers. This should also be the model for taxpayer-funded Spokane Valley Fire Department, although it is not a state organization.

According to state law, “A state officer or employee may not make private use of state computers or other equipment to access computer networks or other databases including, but not limited to, electronic mail and electronic bulletin boards for personal use unrelated to an official business purpose.”

Margaret Mortz

Spokane Valley