Dear Editor,
It’s not right.
Those guys, many of whom thought they were being patriotic and thought they were doing the right thing, assaulted police officers, smashed windows, broke into the Capitol and vandalized it. When the riot was over 174 police officers were injured, and $2 million worth of damage was done.
In spite of the best intentions of some, they broke numerous basic laws. Are they not to be held accountable for their actions? Do we want to condone assaulting police officers?
And now Donald Trump is persecuting the FBI personnel who were just doing their jobs investigating these crimes.
Most of those FBI workers are just regular folks like us who want to pay the rent, feed their families and do the right thing.
Persecuting them is not right!
Bob Must
Hillsboro
Dear Editor;
As we enter a new year and the County Commission considers funding priorities, I would recommend that the top one should be a fully funded 24/7 EMS service county wide. Having a timely response to medical emergencies can make a difference between life and death. Our current system cannot meet this standard consistently as has been proven by past events.
This is in no way a critique of the brave and dedicated volunteers who provide this service, but you can only expect so much from volunteers who must balance their private lives and jobs with community service.
So, before any money is spent on feel good programs, please make this end goal a priority and do it without significant delay.
Respectfully,
Joseph Kaffl
Hillsboro
Dear Editor,
Here is the essential part of a letter I sent almost a month ago to both our County Commission and to our new sheriff. None of them has given me the courtesy of a reply, let alone a useful response. Perhaps some of my friends and neighbors will want answers, also.
“I have a question about the relatively new Courthouse security policy.
One day last Fall, I, having business to conduct in the Courthouse, encountered this policy in the form of the sole entrance being obstructed by a metal detector and two ladies staffing it. They told me that I was not allowed to enter with the knife that I wear every day, that I have carried in and out of our Courthouse (and other courthouses) hundreds of times over the last thirty years.
To make a long story short, they got Sheriff Jeff Barlow on the phone. He re-explained the policy. I said that we must abide by the law, not some policy. The law as I understand it prohibits “deadly weapons” in a building containing a courtroom, and included in the definition of “deadly weapons” are knives with blades six inches long or longer. My knife’s blade is five and three-quarters inches long, and I have been accustomed to carrying it in and out of the Courthouse, causing inconvenience to no one, for over thirty years. WV Code §61-7-2 also excludes my knife from similar restrictions. Sheriff Barlow stood on his policy, until I asked if he was denying me access to my courthouse to transact my lawful business. At that point, he offered to let me enter, if the security lady accompanied me. I said that I thought this was a waste of her time, but that she was welcome to follow me around. She did, I successfully paid my dog tax, and I left.
I have been a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen of Pocahontas County for over thirty years. I frequently have lawful necessary business to conduct in my courthouse, including paying taxes, consulting my public records, taking oaths of office, and participating in public meetings.
I believe the so-called security policy I encountered violates my rights as guaranteed by the first, second, fourth and ninth amendments to our federal Constitution, and also Article I, Section 3; and Article III, Sections 6, 10, and 22 of the Constitution of West Virginia.
I ask our County Commissioners and our new Sheriff to explain, by what lawful authority, if any, they believe the current policy is supported, and if they intend to continue to burden our access to our Courthouse and our participation in our government with it.
John Leyzorek
Marlinton
