Bill of Rights eroding, but no need to worry
To the editor:
We need not worry. Our Constitution has built-in protection against a government that might try wielding unconstitutional power. We have placed nine people at the helm in the Supreme Court to ensure that Congress and the executive branch adhere to the guarantees placed in our Constitution by our founders, because we the people run this country — not the politicians. Be assured, these judges are not swayed by political affiliations. After all, politics, by one definition, is a combination of two words: “poli,” meaning many, and “tics,” meaning blood-suckers.
For instance, suppose the executive branch decides to start a multibillion-dollar war based on lies, without a declaration by Congress, by simply calling war by another name. Or suppose that our chief executive’s appointed henchmen try to condone an illegal search and seizure of our bodily fluids (obtaining DNA) without a warrant, which is prohibited by the Fourth Amendment. Or certain badge-happy, cloak-and-dagger guys try to disregard the First and Fourth amendments by smashing our freedom of the press through illegally tapping certain private phones and other communications without warrant. Why, our Constitution says they can’t even open a private letter without a warrant.
And what about the Eighth and 14th amendments’ restriction against cruel and unusual punishment? For instance, if our leaders tried to put someone in prison for years with no charges or no trial by purposely locating the prison in another country?
But rest assured, sooner or later, our ultimate protection against these intrusions is specifically found in the Second Amendment — unless we become complacent, and our all-knowing leaders begin eroding those rights, too.
No need to worry.
FRANK MUSARACA
HENDERSON
Titus plaudit
To the editor:
Rep. Dina Titus’ office has adopted a commendable practice. Submission of any email through her website results in a return email with immediate acknowledgement to the specified email address. Both addressing information and the submitted content are included. This creates a permanent record of exactly what was submitted. It would also be most useful in detecting any forged messages. I voted for Republican congressional candidates Joe Heck in 2010 and Chris Edwards in 2012. Even so, good government is good government.
STEVEN P. HAVER
LAS VEGAS
Police shootings
To the editor:
Although I don’t agree with many of the Review-Journal’s editorials, I must say congratulations and a hearty thank you for “Metro discipline” (June 5). Also, once again, many thanks for your excellent series of articles on Metropolitan Police Department shootings.
The Review-Journal also reported that Chris Collins, head of the police union, stated that Sheriff Doug Gillespie was trying to “make peace with special interest groups” by imposing discipline on officers (“Officers disciplined in shooting,” June 1). I wonder if, by “special interest groups,” Mr. Collins means the citizens of Clark County, or the U.S. Department of Justice?
JACK CORRICK
BOULDER CITY
Islamic political correctness
To the editor:
Political correctness related to Islam is running amok in the world. No one is willing to call jihad for what it is, a fanatical fringe of the Islamic religion that is dedicated to spreading through violent means its version of Islam throughout the world. Some studies indicate that 10 percent of the billion-plus Muslims in the world are jihadis or jihad sympathizers. The jihadis are dedicated to establishing a violent worldwide caliphate in which everyone — both Muslim and non-Muslim — is subject to Sharia law. The jihadis would like to bring us all back to the sixth century.
Of course this is never going to happen, but with radical Muslim nations such as Iran developing nuclear weapons, I foresee a future worldwide conflagration between the West and Islam that might very well destroy the world as we know it.
If 10 percent of Muslims are jihadis, 90 percent of Muslims are decent people. I don’t know if they’re just afraid or if they subconsciously like the idea of their people poking a finger in the eye of the West. Non-Muslims aren’t going to solve this problem. The majority of Muslims will have to develop the courage to deal with the crazies in this religion, or we all are going to suffer.
MICHAEL KELLY
LAS VEGAS
Second-rate cards
To the editor:
The new Nevada legislation allowing those who aren’t citizens to obtain a driver’s authorization card, in lieu of an actual driver’s license, presumes that our government is and always will be trustworthy. If one were cynical, one might consider that this new card and its supporting database could be used as a tool in the future for the government to efficiently identify the address and nationality of those who are in the country illegally, and then actually round them up for deportation.
Nazi Germany passed laws that had the Jews wear the Star of David to help identify them. Who can guarantee that these government-issued cards might not someday be used in a similar manner? It’s worth remembering that during World War II, our own country had internment camps for native-born Americans of Japanese ancestry.
When we look at history, we see that mankind and its governments are capable of many evil actions, and that laws can be crafted, in times of crisis, to ignore constitutional limits of due process and privacy. The most recent example is the Patriot Act in our war against terrorism. Just something to consider for those volunteering to apply for these driver’s cards.
Citizenship is the ultimate answer, not second-class driver cards.
DOUGLAS BELL
LAS VEGAS
