Letters to the editor for Friday, July 22, 2016

Preserve Bill of Rights, vote no on Question 1

One question on November’s ballot impacts the Constitution’s Bill of Rights. Question 1 (Background Check Initiative) does not allow us to exercise our rights without first paying an undetermined fee.

For using any of your Bill of Rights, imagine having to pay a business to approve a news article or your oral presentation, or pay to prevent our military from occupying our home or business, pay the police for your right against searches and seizures, or pay courts to ensure your right not to be prosecuted a second time after already determined innocent by a jury.

Question 1, if approved, sets a dangerous precedence to all 10 Bill of Rights amendments by requiring a payment to buy/sell a firearm. No matter how you feel about firearms, Question 1 spells disaster for all our Bill of Rights in the future. Question 1 requires serious thought before voting and should not be done simply due to a “feels good” reaction.

For any new law to be strong, money must be allocated for police departments for enforcement of the gross misdemeanor (felony second offense) violations and also for the random checks necessary to ensure compliance, not to mention the paperwork and court costs necessary that goes along with enforcement. Will the buy/seller be asked for to pay an additional fee to cover this while exercising the Bill of Rights, as Question 1 doesn’t provide for enforcement of the law? Again, your rights and potentially future rights will be infringed.

Vote “no” on Question 1 to preserve your Bill of Rights.

Roger Heath

Carson City