LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — How about discount?

I can remember a time when we had a tenth of the current population in Northwest Arkansas and managed to meet all of our local government obligations with a 3 percent sales tax. But seeing how politicians are screaming that 9-plus percent now isn’t enough, here’s a solution that Arkansas residents and lawmakers alike should find satisfactory:

Make our salestax 10 percent, or even 11 percent, but give anyone with valid Arkansas proof of residence a 2 percent break. It’s not unconstitutional for hunting and fishing licenses, so why not sales taxes?

This idea occurred to me while searching in vain for a Saturday parking spot at Pinnacle Hills mall among the hundreds of Missouri cars. Not only would all of the Missouri folks who commute daily to Arkansas to work, shop, help clog our roads, and do everything else in their lives on this side of the line (except sleep and pay Arkansas property taxes) be picking up more of a fair share, but folks who don’t have any proof of citizenship would also be picking up more of the tax load. Anyone see any problems with that?

The idea is that you pay higher sales tax unless you show proof of residence. The onus of proof is on the consumer.

Retailers understandably wouldn’t be crazy about it (more paperwork), but big picture, we who live in Arkansas could watch a revenue increase come out of someone else’s pockets for a change.

RON ENDERLAND Bentonville Educate the ignorant

I’ve been watching the debate about gun control in these pages for the past few weeks. Although it has been rather illuminating for me, it has not been very informative, especially on the part of the gun-control advocates.

There has been one argument posited a couple of times that has rather disturbed me for the sheer fact that it showcases how little the gun-control advocates really know. That argument seems to be that the Second Amendment is only for “a well-regulated militia,” and a person does not have a right to bear arms unless they are in a militia. As I’ve stated before, I am all about the educating of the ignorant.

The militia is divided into the organized and the unorganized, with the organized being the National Guard and the Naval Militia. The unorganized militia is defined as those militia members “who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.” The militia consists of “all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and . . . under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States, and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.”

That’s the whole, complete definition. So if you are an able-bodied male between the ages of 17 and 45, you are in the militia. No joining up is required.

LONNIE HILL FayettevilleSaid with straight face

Surely Trevin Johnson could not have made the statement that homosexual rights are God-given with a straight face. I believe God’s word clearly states that homosexual activity is an abomination to him. Our Lord’s apostle, Paul, termed homosexual activity a vile affection. That’s good enough for me.

On another subject, I think the reason that liberals are crying for gun registration is that it comes just before confiscation. If they don’t know where the guns are, they can’t come and get them. If they know and they do come to get them, only the bad guys will still have guns because they don’t care a rip about the law.

JOHN G. VOWELL Little RockWhy such a big rush?

I just cannot believe that Dianne Curry and the Little Rock School Board, in their haste to replace Morris Holmes as superintendent, have formed a committee and are braggingabout their choices. Curry says “I made sure that we have a good balance of people.”

They also noted that the committee includes a pastor, a government leader and a Hispanic person, as well as retired educators.

I don’t like the tone, and the pastor is Phillip L. Pointer, senior pastor of St. Mark Baptist Church. He is very well-educated person and one heck of a preacher, but he has been in Little Rock less than a year. How can he know what is best for the students of the Little Rock School District?

If we had residency requirements, would he have been here long enough to vote? Now I am wondering if he is even registered to vote.

FRANKLIN FURLOUGH Little RockRights are imperiled

This legislature session’s attempts to push through the “pro-life” agenda is appalling. It matters not your opinion on abortion. This is about constitutional rights. The pro-choice stance is constitutional. The anti-abortion one is not.

Seventy percent of Americans polled want Roe v. Wade left alone. These zealots continue to waste time in GOP-controlled legislatures nationwide passing, and spending taxpayer funds to defend, bills they are very well aware are unconstitutional. Read the Casey ruling of 1992. They are attempting to use unlawful bills to push their ideology onto other citizens. When medical rape is included, that fits the very definition of terrorism. They cannot legally change the law without a constitutional amendment, which will not occur because of that 70 percent.

If the thought of a state passing a bill prohibiting you from owning any weapon absolutely enrages you, you should be the same about this behavior. I spent years in uniform defending our Constitution and my daughter is out of the state doing the same thing now. While her life is on the line protecting our freedoms, these ideologists are doing their best to deny her, illegally, in our very own state. Shame on them all.

If it were possible to change the law, it would have already been done in other states usually controlled by the GOP. It has not been successful in one single state.

Wake up to what they are spending taxpayer time and dollars on, folks.

CINDI COBB Heber SpringsPiece really delivered

Kudos on your editorial piece relating to the Postal Service’s critical need to eliminate Saturday delivery.

As a longtime mail-industry veteran, that view paralleled perfectly with most major customers of the USPS. Those opposing this change have a dog in the hunt that is purely counter to the best interests of a healthy and viable postal system for all users.

SCOTT SCHUH Little RockEconomy’s not better

President Barack Obama has claimed the economy is getting better. However, as of this writing, there is a gas station in Fordyce that is charging $3.79 and 9/10th cents for a gallon of gas.

The price of gas has gone up 40 cents per gallon in the last week. How dare he say the economy is better?

People are struggling just to make ends meet and are praying they can pay high utility bills, buy food, pay for high-priced drugs, and the price of gas is now skyrocketing. Where is this improving economy? Where are the jobs he promised?

It is past time for our Congress to wake up and help the Americanpeople instead of themselves. I love America, but I despise what is happening to her. It is time for all Americans to be honest and tell our elected officials we are tired of the untruths coming out of Washington. I will assure you of this one thing-the next time I go to vote, I will think long and hard on the record of the one running for an office.

May God have mercy on America.

FREDDY BOEN FordycePit Hogs, Red Wolves

I think this would be a good year for House Speaker Davy Carter to introduce and for legislators to pass a bill for the Hogs to play Arkansas State University in all sports. It’s time for legislators to support Northeast Arkansas the way they have supported Northwest Arkansas.

Coach Bret Bielema said he wouldn’t mind having a state rival, and he’d play anybody, anytime, anywhere.

I’d like to see Liberty Bank Stadium enlarged so ASU could get in the Big 12 or Big East someday, and it would be great if Corliss Williamson could coach at Bud Walton.

Bills on guns, abortion and Medicaid are important, but I’d like to see the Red Wolves get a fair shake, and I’m sure many Razorback and Red Wolves fans would happily sign a petition to let them play.

LARRY SIMMONS Charleston