Remember Plato

With serious crime in the Las Vegas Valley rising at lightning speed, especially the latest fad of vicious attacks on law-abiding and defenseless seniors and senseless home invasions (Baghdad safer), mightn't it be time for our elected leaders to prioritize this serious matter?

This past week, due to the politically correct "don't embarrass my sinecure position," administrators of Eastern Michigan University proved without doubt the moral irresponsibility and decadence of supposedly respected "education leaders."

A female student had been missing (from her dorm) for three days until a fellow student smelled a noxious odor emanating from a wardrobe. She had been murdered by another student.

The liberal school officials knew about this horrendous event from the beginning, yet they swept the story under the rug -- for fear of bad publicity. Oh yes, these public relations "experts" have big-time egg on their faces, deservedly so.

And the equally disquieting, reprehensible actions of the "civil" minded administrators of Virginia Tech -- forbidding guns on campus, forgetting the fact that if only one person had a weapon -- the tragic deaths of so many could have been prevented. Why did two hours go by before the maniac shot himself? Where were the campus police -- at a doughnut shop?

All these entrenched "civil servants" are still feeding at the taxpayer trough, but they never seem to make a mistake in our favor.

Does the fact that over 600 convicted murderers currently occupy California's Death Row seem to bother our legislators, many of whom have pushed for more liberal laws to not only legalize crime, but to administer "humane" injections to carry out the prescribed law.

What part of "cruel and unusual punishment" doesn't the ACLU get re: the innocent victims?

Even our neighbor, Mexico, has a more common sense law called la funga. When a convicted felon escapes from prison, it is no big deal (no costly chases and legal hurdles) -- if the outlaw does not voluntarily surrender to authorities within a week, he becomes fair-game -- anyone can shoot him dead, on site, no questions asked.

As backward as Iraq is, the fact that hanging is still being administered for capital offenses, i.e., Sadaam Hussein's execution, proves again that functional law still exists in this war-torn entity. But our liberal politicians have enslaved us law-abiders with draconian, feel-good, and expensive crime-favoring laws. Are we taxpayers being mugged on high?

Our elected leaders can help solve our mystical crime problem by seeking the best-kept secret -- the successful law instituted over 25 years ago in Kennesaw, Ga. (a suburb of Atlanta, with about 35,000 people), which mandated that every household possess a gun. It is virtually a crime-free community, the bad guys fear being shot.

Americans have to get back to the basics of our constitutional republic and to be constantly reminded of Greek philosopher Plato's (429-347 B.C.) common sense admonishment: "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."

VINCE BOGDAN

(Not a pimp for the NRA)

Great show

I wish to thank all those involved in the great fireworks displays that I saw July 1 and also July 4.

The display at Petrack Park was wonderful to see, and to hear the accompanying music was very special.

The Nugget's display was a great tribute to the new owners as well.

Please know how much my family and I appreciated the tribute to our country at this trying time.

BEVERLY MEEKER

Be a responsible pet owner

Recently at the animal shelter a dog was quarantined for a bite. The animal had to be quarantined at the shelter.

Unfortunately the dog contracted parvo and consequently died.

The incubation period for parvo is seven to 21 days. The dog may or may not have caught the disease here, (it was here 10 days).

This is an animal control facility with strays coming and going constantly. Keep your animal confined on your property so that it doesn't get impounded.

Please make sure your pets are vaccinated against all canine and feline diseases, including rabies. Distemper and parvo are extremely contagious.

If your animals are not protected, there could be a deadly outcome. Take your dog to a vet to get it vaccinated. Don't use over-the-counter vaccines. If money is an issue, several vets have low-cost shot clinics.

There is no excuse not to protect your pets.

You should also make sure you microchip and put tags on your pets.

Please spay or neuter your pet. It helps keep them at home and can prevent cancer.

DEBRA WORMALD

Nye County Animal Shelter

It takes a village

I just wanted to post a quick note to thank our Pahrump Firefighters for giving my daughter a thrill of a lifetime.

On the evening of June 6th, several fire trucks came through my neighborhood in Autumnwood Estates. Ever the curious couple, my wife and I decided to take our daughter on an evening stroll to investigate. Upon arriving on the scene it was clear that there was no big fire. Once we got closer to the trucks my daughter, who has always been terrified by loud noises started to walk closer and closer in amazement at the truck.

As my daughter continued to stare, a young female firefighter came over and said hello to us. She then asked if my little one could see the truck up close. The firefighters all stopped to say hello and one gentleman even gave up his seat so my daughter could sit in the truck for a few minutes.

Despite the heat and the fact that they were ready to leave the scene, I was even more impressed by the way they all took time for my daughter. I am not sure if she'll remember it forever, but one little five year old has not stopped telling the story yet.

Again thank you for the time and remembering that a strong sense of community and responsibility is the reason children flourish when a whole "village" helps to raise a child.

TIMOTHY REILLY

PVT report on BATB meeting

BLM should know, if you attend a meeting of the Beatty Town Advisory Board (BTAB), that they do not necessarily represent the town. This board consists of people appointed by the Nye County Commission. Many well respected long-term residents and good people refuse to even attend such a farce of a town board meeting.

Years ago, I had a neighbor who deliberately operated a malfunctioning wood stove, filling my house with obnoxious odors and creating a health and safety hazard. The individual stated that he knew the wood stove was not working properly but that he did not know where to go to get parts to fix it. I told him that he had a moral and legal responsibility to fix it or stop using it. He did neither.

I asked the fire department for help; got none. I asked the sheriff department for help; got none. I went to the town board to ask for relief from this hazard. Mr Bertram informed me that I should be careful what I say in a town board meeting because these meetings are recorded and I could be sued for slander.

This is the reaction the public has gotten from this joke of an appointed town board.

The punch line to this story is that the individual causing the health and safety hazard was a captain on the local volunteer fire department.

I, and most people I know here in Beatty are concerned about a select few who express their opinions at a town board where the common citizens are not represented ... because of the way the town board has alienated itself from the town, in sucking up to the folks who appointed them.

I am writing to Mr. Drake of BLM today to make sure he understands that what he hears at BTAB meetings is not necessarily anything to believe.

I would like to see speed limit signs more obviously displayed, especially at the entrances to town. It would be good if stop and speed limit signs were visible at night.

Burro feed and water stations could be established during periods of drought. Instead of anything worthwhile being done, this town board deliberates over plans to install streetlights, (which doesn't happen), install commemorative plaques on historical buildings, (which hasn't happened) and goes on endlessly about the mighty Amargosa toad, a creature I have never seen and whose end is either: 1. ordained or 2. falsely predicted.

Beatty and Nye County have such potential but California and/or New Jersey mentalities are prevailing and the major fishing available here is for red herrings.

JERRY HARVEY

Beatty, Nevada