Letters to the editor for Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Anti-gun money rigged Washington election

Regarding the letter by Alan C. Edwards on March 3, I have my doubts he is an NRA member. If he is, he probably does not read “First Freedom” magazine that members can receive. The 2014 election in the state of Washington was rigged by anti-gun money. We were there during the election process and the anti-gun issue was a hot one.

The state of Washington is much like our state. Seattle is the power area just as Las Vegas is the power area of Nevada, due to population. Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg, Bill Gates, George Soros, and a few other multi-millionaires hit the Seattle area hard with their big money, via newspaper ads, billboards, etc.

NRA worked hard in the communities east of the Cascades as well as the Seattle area, but Seattle carried the vote against guns.

Remember, Mr. Edwards, “never” is a forever word.

Bonnie J. Ryan

Carson City

Disdain for religion, Republicans

I sent a letter to the Appeal a month ago declaring my disdain for religion because I believe it can breed bigotry and intolerance. Didn’t take long for the states of Indiana and Arkansas to prove my point. And it appears our Republican leaders were going to embarrass our state as well.

What is it about the separation of church and state do you people not understand? You already have tax-exempt status (which should be revoked), so stay out of the governing process and leave people alone.

Religious Freedom Restoration Act? Really? The only freedoms you want restored is the freedom to discriminate. Stay inside the doors of your churches; preach your fear, hate and intolerance, but quit embarrassing yourselves on a national scale.

That being said, I throw out the question to all Nevada workers (especially hourly ones) who voted Republican last election. How do you like ‘em now? Did you not see this coming?

Going back to the 1930s, Republicans have consistently voted against anything helping the American worker. The eight-hour day, the 40-hour week, overtime (again), safety in the workplace, workers’ compensation rights, unemployment insurance, paid sick leave and vacations, family medical leave, collective bargaining rights, pensions, medicare, and on and on. The record is there for 80 years. They’re bought and paid for by businesses and corporations. Prevailing wages, PERS, overtime, collective bargaining. The first things on their agenda was to hurt the workers in this state. Wake up, and stop drinking the Kool-Aid.

Rick Van Alfen

Carson City