Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor:
Here we go again, another election and the democrats are going to take your guns. At a recent Trump rally, Trump said, “If Joe Biden is elected he will take your guns and your second amendment rights.” If Biden is elected he can’t do either one! So once again Trump has lied to us. Or perhaps he really doesn’t know any better, for he definitely isn’t a scholar of our constitution. This is a tactic used to get you to focus on guns rather than the bread and butter issues that affect you and your family’s daily lives.
I’m 80 years old and have been hearing this b.s. for over 60 years. I have been a hunter since I was a boy. Many, many years ago I examined the U.S. Constitution to evaluate my rights to own a gun. So, what did I find out? Amendment 2 of the original “Bill of Rights” of the Constitution says, “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep an bear arms, shall not be infringed.” So, to take away these rights that Trump implies, look at Article V of the Constitution. The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary shall propose amendments to this constitution, or, on the application of the legislation of two-thirds of the several states shall call a convention for proposing amendments which in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states. So, it’s virtually impossible to eliminate your 2nd Amendment rights. The framers of the constitution purposely made it hard to put through an amendment. The U.S. Constitution is harder to amend than any other constitution in history. If Biden is elected and democrats flip the Senate, I think it’s possible to see some changes in our gun laws, such as background checks and restrictions on magazines and Military Assault weapons. Parents of children killed in mass school shootings are pushing these changes and the majority of Americans favor them.
Trump continually attacks our democracy and our election process (much to the delight of Putin). Bottom line is, as long as we are able to preserve our democracy and constitution, we will keep our guns. The truth matters. Vote Biden November 3.
Gary Cochran
Dear Editor,
Just some question.
If we are sincere about standing for the flag (as opposed to taking a knee), which flag are we sincere about standing for? Is it the American Flag as in “one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”? Or, is it the Confederate flag?
When we fly a flag that is half American Flag and half Confederate Flag, are we showing disrespect to all those “losers and suckers” that gave their life or a limb or eyesight or good health to preserve “our rights”? Are we showing any degree of disrespect to them?
Is it disrespectful to burn the American Flag as an individual rather than take it to the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to have it properly disposed of? If it is disrespectful to burn the American Flag, is it, also, disrespectful to modify the American Flag by putting a blue line through it or by only using half of it and displaying the other half with the Confederate stripes?
It the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars are legitimate organizations should they make a public statement about proper flag etiquette and examples of desecration of OUR flag? Would those organizations be imposing on an individuals’ right to burn and/ or desecrate our American Flag by issuing such a statement?
Is the action of a person flying a modified flag another way of saying “take a knee”?
Denny Longwell, US Navy Veteran 1966-71
Dear Editor,
I try my best to keep up on local politics. I am not always overly concerned with any one candidate over another, but recently I discovered that one local race in particular has been tilted in the favor of one candidate over his opposition in an unfair and possibly even an unlawful manner.
It is my understanding that in order to run on the ballot for Wetzel County Commissioner you must reside in the district you represent. I was looking through some election laws when I ran across an article that plainly explained the resident requirements for running for office.
According to the article it stated that an individual must reside in the district they are running to represent. The definition of residing was defined as actually living in the residence listed as their address. If that is the rule of law as I read it, I believe the Wetzel County Commissioners race has to be questioned based on that one principal of law. I know both candidates running for the position and I know where they both live. What bothers me about that is, one listed Hundred, WV., as his residence, which if true, would make him eligible to be on the ballot. If not true he should be disqualified. I see this as cheap, filthy, dirty politicals at it’s best.
While talking politics I would also like to touch on campaign signs being removed and destroyed. It has been common practice in the county commission race the past few elections to see this occur. I have also seen a new twist in local politics where a party turns from there own candidates and supports other partiy candidates with yard signs and in other ways. To belong to a party and hold an office in it should make one loyal to that party. Just my opinion.
James L. Fitzsimmons,
New Martinsville, WV