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Letters to the Editor

Letter response

EDITOR: I’d like to respond to Joanne Clark’s recent letter to the editor in which she took representative Preston to task. Can somebody please tell me what gun violence is? As I understand it it takes somebody who is unstable to pick up a gun, which is a tool. What’s wrong with having an AR-15 as the official state rifle? Is the AR-15 more violent than a 30-30, or 308? We have a broken mental health system, let’s focus all of our collective efforts and getting that fixed as opposed to taking cheap shots or lawmakers. David Moyle Escanaba

Gunslinger act

EDITOR: Shame on you Representative Prestin. You cosponsored a bill to adopt an assault weapon as the “official rifle” of the state. Anyone who has children and grandchildren fears gun violence. Do you know that kids as young as those in kindergarten do drills to hide from a potential killer? The drills themselves are traumatizing. How does your promotion of assault weapons keep them safer? Mr. Prestin, we are your constituency. Your duty is to protect our health and safety. Stop the macho gunslinger act. Jo-Ann Clark Escanaba

Protection for birds

EDITOR: Birds are a treasured part of the Upper Peninsula’s natural diversity and beauty. Addressing climate change and protecting our beautiful natural resources will help ensure that they can thrive across Michigan for generations to come. One important opportunity is community solar, which creates opportunities for Michiganders and businesses to choose where their electricity is guaranteed, helping to reduce energy costs and drive savings. Senate Bill 152, would create Michigan’s first community solar project — a win both for our communities and our wildlife. Every year, ...

The IRS ‘screwed up’

EDITOR: On June 3, 2024 my family received a letter from the IRS indicating that we owed $4,900.31 for our 2023 taxes as we had under paid. Our taxes have been prepared for the last 40 years by a very reputable local CPA firm. We have never received any letter of this sort from the IRS. We immediately contacted the tax firm and they looked into it. Long story short, we did not owe the money. We were told the IRS “screwed up”. We were also told that many people locally had received the same letter. Note, this letter did in fact come from the IRS and they were demanding the amount be ...

Please vote responsibly

EDITOR: The purpose of a primary election is for all voters to have the opportunity to decide the party’s candidates for the general election, and to build party unity around those candidates. I’ve heard discussion from both major political parties about “crossing parties” to help determine the candidate of the other party for a variety of reasons. In Michigan, you have to be a registered voter, but do not have to be registered in a party to vote as a Democrat or a Republican. You cannot split your ballot. If you select candidates in your party of choice, and cross over to ...

Is this what we can expect?

EDITOR: It seems the adage bad behavior by one does not excuse the same behavior by another. Or, if they did it, its OK for me to do it too. Both are fallacies of logic and truly unethical. Commonly, this tactic is used to excuse an action as payback for previous slights or perceived wrongs. The removal of Rory Mattson and Allen Ettenhoffer appear to be in retaliation for the previous removal of Emily Desalvo, a county employee for documented reasons in her employment over time. Rory and Allen were not even given an opportunity to perform their new duties and be judged on their ...