Letters To The Editor

Law and justice

Somehow, the system is not working

There’s another one. “Convicted felon sought,” reads the headline in the Aug. 15 paper. A 22-year-old nicknamed Uzi who has 42 criminal convictions is sought.

Forty-two criminal convictions and he’s roaming the streets?

This is not the only case. Every week or two it seems that some convicted felon is sought who has had dozens and dozens of prior convictions. Do you see a pattern here?

Either sentencing guidelines need some work or they aren’t being enforced.

I don’t know which is correct but I would be interested in hearing how and why a 22-year-old with 42 criminal convictions is being given the opportunity for 43, 44, 45 and 46 - the four new felonies the police would like to chat with him about. Raymond M. Tansy, Jr Spokane

Demeaning decision defies logic

Having suffered through the Rose Bird dynasty, finished a law enforcement career and just enough law school to be dangerous, I find myself somewhat sensitive to court opinions. This one was particularly important to me. Not because I knew Trooper Linda Huff, I didn’t; not because I know anyone in any law enforcement position in Coeur d’Alene, I don’t; and not because I know or have any information regarding the presiding judge, I don’t.

This was important because it was so simple, so clear, so not confusing, so without any extenuating circumstances. Yet this morning I read that Scott Yager is sentenced to life in prison in lieu of receiving the death penalty.

If it were not so tragic it would merely be curious as to how a person could justify this logic in regard to this outcome. First, Judge James Judd apparently believes that since the killer didn’t know Huff or single her out personally, he merely killed a police officer. Therefore, he didn’t deserve the death penalty. (I wonder how many assailants know a victim officer before killing the officer.) In other words, the killer didn’t kill a person, he killed an officer of the law. Apparently, officers of the law are not individuals, or if they are, do not have a life as valuable as a person otherwise employed.

Secondly, even though, as I understand it, the killer stepped over Huff’s incapacitated, then-unarmed body and executed her, this court concluded that since the killer might be under the influence and a little stressed that day, it somehow mitigated his responsibility in this killing.

The bottom line is that this was a pro-con capital punishment issue. It’s more than unfortunate that the court could not have followed law and functioned as it was designed to. As a community member - and we as a community are responsible - I apologize to the Huff family, the Idaho State Patrol and all others in law enforcement. As a community, we have demonstrated again that law enforcement is a dangerous, thankless job. Nolan Woods Hayden, Idaho

Twisting until the facts go away

Ours is a society built on the rule of law. Where does that leave us when the words have no meaning any more? Certain words in our law obviously have no meaning to Judge James Judd.

Judd doesn’t consider 17 bullet holes to be atrocious. I guess Trooper Linda Huff didn’t bleed enough.

Judd doesn’t consider reloading a gun and assassinating a person with a deliberate shot to the head to be a disregard for human life. I guess Huff’s pleas for help weren’t sincere enough. Judd doesn’t consider being in uniform at a police station during the middle of an assigned shift to be official duty. I guess Huff should have left her badge on her desk.

I apologize to the family of Linda Huff for using such painful images. But I am disgusted that tax dollars will continue to feed, clothe and house someone who has brought this kind of pain and fear to our lives: Judge James Judd. Gary L. Hartford Cheney

`Terrible decision’ sends message

Police officers have a thankless job. They work long hours, weekends and generally holidays, creating stress on their family. The pay they receive, to say the least, is minimal for the job they perform and the risks they encounter. Considering these facts, most officers perform this service to their community happily and with no regrets.

How do we repay officers for this vital service? How most of you answer this question I will never know. Unfortunately our court systems have answered this question loud and clear.

When you allow a convicted murderer, Scott Yager, to live after he has taken the life of a police officer, you send a message to the Law enforcement community as well as to criminals. This shows a lack of respect by the courts for our police officers, their families and their lives. This was a terrible decision that will certainly hurt law enforcement for years to come.

My heart goes out to the Huff family, for their loss and for this decision made by one man. Shawn M. Eixenberger Pinehurst, Idaho

Yager is getting what he deserves

Life without parole. Seems funny that folks don’t seem to realize what that sentence really means. This miscreant who shot Trooper Linda Huff got just what he deserved.

Here is a person in his 30s. He now gets to spend every day for the rest of his life as a guest at the Crowbar Hotel. Gee, wouldn’t that be something to look forward to? If he would have gotten the death sentence, it would be like maybe 15 years of appeals. Millions of taxpayer dollars spent. This way, he gets up each morning knowing that as it is, it is as good as it is going to get.

Seems just to me! Charles E. McCollim Spokane

Judge doesn’t comprehend basic things

Hail to the criminal defense and spineless judicial system of Kootenai County! Since Judge James Judd did not believe the murder of Trooper Linda Huff was heinous, atrocious or cruel, maybe he should refer back to the dictionary for definitions of those words.

Judd spoke of the lack of depravity shown in Huff’s murder. Who else but someone depraved and with utter disregard for human life would lie in wait like a predator, wound his victim, then take the time to tell her why he was going to kill her as she lay wounded and defenseless in front of him?

Not depraved enough for the death penalty? Then what is, judge?

Scott Yager made a conscious decision to deprive Huff of her life, and her family of a wife and mother. He has yet to be anything but dazed and expressionless, showing no remorse for his actions, for the pain he has caused all those who have been touched by this tragedy.

Judd, you chose a poor arena in which to force your personal beliefs upon the rest of us. You have cheapened and degraded the lives and the calling of the men and women in law enforcement. They are the ones who put their lives on the line every day and night so that you and I and even the defense attorneys, who put criminals back on the streets, may sleep safely and soundly in our homes.

Wearing the uniform, bearing the weight of the badge, upholding the law, protecting and serving - that is why Huff was murdered. She was on duty.

Would it have been different if it had been a judge walking from the courthouse to his car?

Judd chose to give Yager a life sentence. Yager could have given Huff the same consideration. No matter what becomes of Yager now, our judicial system has again failed us. C.M. Oyler Coeur d’Alene

What if the victim was a judge, judge?

I am writing to add my voice to the chorus of outrage over Judge James Judd’s decision in the case of the savage murder of Trooper Linda Huff. Scott Yager is a savage murderer. Nothing more. He is someone who has violated both the laws of our society and shown he is incapable of living among its members.

What purpose would his death would serve? The purpose would be to eliminate a defective member of society. It would also offer the Huff family and law enforcement a sense of justice. Finally, it would serve to remind society that cop killing will not be tolerated and that cop killing constitutes a special breach of the law.

Anyone deranged enough to kill a cop represents a greater threat to society than a routine murderer. I would not argue that a Cop’s life is worth more than a common citizen’s. But I do argue that anyone who kills a cop is that much more of a violent degenerate and deserving of extreme punishment.

Judd has also violated an unspoken bond between the judiciary and law enforcement. In such a clear-cut case, this bond should have been upheld.

If Yager had hunted down and killed a judge, I would bet my 401k that Yager would have fried.

I am neither a cop nor am I related to one. I am just a regular taxpayer. Michael J. Doherty Moses Lake

Idaho viewpoints

Clear the way for privileged characters

Re: “Alltus: Judge could revoke hunting license” (Aug. 14).

It’s sad the judge can’t revoke Alltus’ legislative license, also. Does Alltus really expect us to believe that he doesn’t know that it is illegal to kill more than one elk and illegal to use another person’s tag for one of the kills? He says the purpose of that law is,“… for poachers.” I have always thought a poacher was anyone who took fish or game illegally. However Alltus apparently defines a poacher as anyone other than an Idaho legislator who takes fish or game illegally.

Maybe he needs to read the Idaho big game hunting regulations. As I read them there is no exemption from any game laws for legislators, even Republican Idaho legislators!

But all will end well. Alltus will take his cause (definition) to the gathering of the Big Right Wing, commonly called the Idaho Legislature, and have the law changed to read, … it is admissible for any licensed and tag-carrying Idaho Legislator to take as many fish or kill as many deer, elk, moose, upland, migratory or tweety birds as they wish as long as they don’t tell anyone outside of the Idaho Legislature or the Idaho Fish and Game Department, including their wives.

I expect the BRW will extend the boundaries of its hunting and fishing rights to neighboring states, as well as California and Alaska. After all, when God is your hunting partner there is no limit. Don M. Frank Post Falls

Children’s Village grateful for help

On behalf of the board of directors, staff and our children, Children’s Village would like to thank Coeur d’Alene High School’s Vikings football team. This team of young men spent an afternoon cleaning up our yard. They mowed, cut and pulled weeds and raked. Our yard looks wonderful.

The team touched the lives of the children in our community by helping to provide them with a beautiful and safe play area. Children’s Village wishes the team a fun and successful year. Sheilah J. Stone Administrative Director, Children’s Village, Inc., Coeur d’Alene

Government and politics

Term limits hassle pure static

Term limits are as big a shot in the foot as Initiative 695. It is easy to pontificate about public service. The fact is, you can’t appreciate its intricacies until you’ve been immersed in it. Public service calls to mind the old parable about the Army Corps of Engineers’ hydrologist sent to the Everglades on a land reclamation project. His final report concluded: “I found myself totally diverted from draining the swamp by a belt-buckle-deep population of alligators.”

Most of us have to earn a living. Yet, we demand a person in public office put his life on hold, divest himself of any remotely imaginable sources of conflicts of interest. Effective public stewardship is a long-term commitment. Let senators and representatives serve for 25 years or until an onset of senile dementia, conviction for serious criminal offenses or loss of election, whichever comes first.

Term limits are an excuse not to think, reason or be involved. People who do will let George do it. Brehon K. McFarland Colville, Wash.

Don’t trust Clinton with surplus

At the National Governor’s Conference in St. Louis, President Clinton again attacked the GOP tax cut plan as “fiscally irresponsible” and claimed would “drive up interest rates.”

First, go back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, when there were double-digit interest rates. President Reagan cut taxes dramatically and interest rates went down and kept going down, even during the Bush administration.

Secondly, in Clinton’s first budget in 1993, in which he slapped a huge tax increase on the American people, he and then-Treasury secretary Lloyd Bentsen locked in interest rates short term (10 years) instead of long term (20 years). at the end of 10 years, these interest rates that are financing the debt will go up, causing the national debt to go up. if anybody is fiscally irresponsible, it’s Clinton.

This president has 81 new spending programs that he wants to spend this supposed surplus on. I believe there is no way he will let any American taxpayer keep any more of what they earn and none of this surplus will go to debt reduction.

Republicans should stand firm and get as large a tax cut as possible. With a budget of $1.7 trillion, this bloated federal government doesn’t need any more money. Mark E. Duclos Spokane

Other topics

Turn straw stubble into product

As a Canadian attending the Ecological Society of America meeting in Spokane, I was surprised to read about the controversy over the burning of wheat stubble. Given the well established environmental and health impacts and the fact no one makes money burning straw, why isn’t the debate focused on alternative commercial uses of cereal straws?

In many parts, Canada’s grain region farmers sell their cereal straw to straw board plants that make high-quality composite board. One tiny farming community in Alberta anted up a few hundred thousand dollars, got a bank loan and built their own strawboard plant in an effort to diversify and to make use of an existing resource. Another larger commercial venture uses hundreds of thousands of tons of straw.

Cereal straw is an important renewable resource that has the potential to replace a lot of wood fiber that comes from our beleaguered forests. Ironically, I heard that message at an agricultural symposium in Canada several years ago. It was delivered by an American farmer. Stephen G. Leahy Ontario, Canada

Tongue-freezing precautions needed

Last weekend we had relatives visiting from California. They had their 7-year-old grandson with them and we had a picnic at a local park on Aug. 8. While there, a scooter selling ice cream Novelties came by and three children ran to get treats from it.

The visiting child chose a “bubblegum treat,” which he unwrapped and put in his mouth to enjoy. The bar was so cold, however, that it stuck to his tongue and lips, and removing it caused him to lose a layer of skin and bleed profusely for a short time.

The following day, we called the ice cream vendor to let them know about the incident and warn them that precautions were necessary so this wouldn’t happen to others. We were undiplomatically told that there is a statement on the wrapper warning kids about this problem.

I have since purchased a bubblegum treat and read what it says: “Notice: This product, when extremely cold, may stick to tongue. Allow to warm slightly before eating.”

My dilemma is this: How many 4- to 7-yr old children, or how many adults, would read an ice cream treat label before opening it and eating it? The method of chilling the treats needs to changed or a verbal warning needs to accompany these sales.

As trivial as this may seem, it is a very unpleasant experience for a small child to go through. Joyce L. Roden Spokane

Renaissance Festival a delight

This is to inform you of the great time we had at the Northwest Renaissance Festival at Nine Mile Falls, northwest of Spokane.

The festival is set in the year 1530 with a cast of over 50 actors to entertain you. As you enter the village of Pleasance (ticket gate), the story unfolds and the plot continues throughout the day until its climactic Royal Joust. Fun was had by grownups and kids alike. It was such a wonderful day that everyone should mark their calendar yearly to attend this affordable, family friendly festival.

We are so lucky to have this wholesome fun so close to home. Louise Jackson and Annette Griffard Coeur d’Alene