TNT letters: WA is soft on crime; anti-abortion candidates; letting go of Charles Schulz
Cannabis robberies
I am a cannabis retail owner in Washington. I wanted to comment on the recent rise in armed robberies against our businesses, and what no one is talking about.
Every article I read or statement that is being made about the robberies is always targeted at the federal banking laws that currently make accepting debit and credit cards virtually impossible. Although this is true, it is not the main reason for these crimes. Yes, passing the Safe Banking Act would absolutely help to reduce the threat, but cannabis retailers have been running our businesses under these rules and regulations since the very beginning.
The things that no one is talking about are the “defund the police” movement, the no-chase order and the state’s lackadaisical stance on crime — and the list goes on. Our police have their hands tied behind their back and have been called to stand down while pursuing suspects. These stances on crime have empowered the criminals.
Washington state has empowered the wrong people.
Chad Ritter, Tacoma
Abortion
In the United States, 7 in 10 Americans do not believe that Roe v. Wade should be overturned. Yet here we are awaiting a decision that ignores the people and imposes a ban on abortions in about half the states in the US.
Washington has codified Roe, but we still have candidates running for office here — and in our district — that year after year have put forward bills limiting or banning abortion.
Representative Jesse Young, who is running for the state Senate against incumbent Sen. Emily Randall, has repeatedly sponsored bills to limit or outright ban abortion. These bills include preventing health plans from covering abortion and contraceptive devices.
If 70% of Americans don’t want Roe overturned, why would we elect Jesse Young to represent us?
Kara Aley, Gig Harbor
Letting go of Charles Schulz
I read the points and counterpoints concerning one particular cartoon strip published by The News Tribune recently. I agree that the cartoon was grossly misinterpreted by the author who wrote the original “Letter to the Editor” submission. But I have another concern as far as the strips are concerned.
How much longer do we really have to memorialize Charles Schulz? He has been dead for 22 years. Can’t we just let him go?
Nostalgia is a thing that reminds us of a great thing we once experienced only when it hits back at us on that rare occasion, not when it just lingers like some sort of zombie that doesn’t die. We’re just beating Peanuts to death because we can’t let it go.
It is really time to let go now, and let that rare memory of Peanuts remind us — rather than beating it into the ground.
David Higgins, South Hill
Just say ‘no’
I will never feel shame for opposing drugs, no matter what compassionate plea is made to me. My mind will stay strong to the knowledge that drugs are dangerous.
No newspaper article or personal story will convince me it is OK to use drugs. No county health department will fool me with their advertisements. No government official who accepts drug-injection sites as a remedy to save lives will ever make sense.
If there has ever been a time in America where all people should be united, it is now. United to stay strong against drugs.
Deana Veldhuis, Edgewood