Letters to the editor for Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014

Same-sex rights a smashmouth mechanism

Appeal columnist and same-sex marriage advocate Chuck Muth is appalled that ungrateful gays, not satisfied that they can now legally marry, are bringing civil rights lawsuits against vendors who refuse services for their ceremonies.

But same-sex marriage was never really about marriage equality; it was ginned up to pervert one of religion’s most sacred institutions. The progressive left doesn’t want to just beat their enemies; they want to beat them up.

Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence that we were “endowed by (our) Creator” with “inalienable Rights.” Same-sex marriage, on the other hand, is a political carve out in the law for a favored group. Unlike Jefferson’s Creator rights, this “right” carries its own smashmouth enforcement mechanism.

Wedding photographers and caterers who don’t care to work for same-sex couples probably assumed that their religious freedom was protected by the Constitution. Not anymore.

Lynn Muzzy

Minden

Chance to help homeless veterans today

“Far too many veterans are homeless in America — between 130,000 and 200,000 on any given night — representing between one-fourth and one-fifth of all homeless people,” according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. Sixty-seven percent served their country for three years or more.

There are many groups trying to help these veterans throughout the U.S. and one is located in Carson City — the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association. It has found homes for many veterans in Carson Valley and is asking the public to help by donating household items to equip the veterans’ new homes with common daily necessities used in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry.

The Auxiliary will be accepting donations at the Veterans Hall at Second and Curry streets in Carson City from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. If you have any questions, please call 775-883-6708.

You have a chance to help someone who didn’t hesitate to heed the call to help our country. Please do what you can.

John Trammell

Gardnerville