Advertisement

Error in NICS article

In Christina Eichelkraut's story in last Wednesday's paper, that CCW's would no longer be accepted as a bypass of the Brady NICS checks, there is an error in the last sentence.

It is not on the bright side since now, buyers will have to pay $25 for the seller to call in the check information.

Dealer calls state, which charges $25; state then calls FBI, which costs nothing.

Most states allow dealer to call FBI direct, for free. Our greedy state wants to extort money from us. This will impact sales.

The added $25 charge will mean fewer sales.

ART COMPTON

Destroyed chickens

I have never written a letter to the paper before but I feel people with animals should know what can happen.

My grandson had raised chickens from the time they were hatched to laying hens and had several 4-H awards from the fairs.

He had one little black hen that he carried everywhere. It was small and did not have much meat on it.

But someone came into the yard and killed over 50 of his chickens.

The reason we believe they were killed was six were left dead in the yard, which would mean something scared them off.

We try to bring our children up to respect other people's property but it is a real blow when you return and find most of your chickens gone.

It sure did make a bunch of children unhappy.

ANNE BOUSQUET

More whining

With all the whining about the education crisis, which has been in the forefront for many years, the possibility of taxpayers becoming confused is quite realistic.

In the mid 90s, a letter to the editor of the Pahrump Valley Times appeared, which was written by a substitute teacher and titled "The inmates are running the asylum."

He described how he had simply escorted an unruly mid-school student by the elbow out to the hallway for proper counseling.

This poor guy not only lost his job, but school administrators pondered the idea of filing assault charges against him.

Soon after, another letter appeared, this time by the Nye County Superintendent of Schools, in which she took up lots of space with excuses and alibis to finally inform the reader that "because of mandates from Washington, we cannot render any punishment to mischievous students."

Incredulous, I had to re-read that outrageous attention grabber, but instead of feeling betrayed and depressed, it inspired me to go on a truth-searching rampage. What dropped into my lap unexpectedly was probably the best-kept secret in a world class scandal.

Here are the sad facts: In the 1976 campaign for president, the bosses in charge of the worlds largest labor union, the National Education Association (NEA) approached candidate Jimmy Carter with a $7 million bribe for his war chest -- with the provision that once in office, smiling Jimmy would give birth to the NEA's long-held dream, the Federal Department of Education. Viola -- it was fate accompli.

But according to the precious 10th Amendment to our Bill of Rights, this monstrous bureaucracy, which costs taxpayers $70 billion per annum, is totally unconstitutional: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

Moreover, the legislative process was conveniently bypassed by the slick know-it-alls. Where o where were the constitutional "experts" of the American Civil Liberties Union and their colleagues of the National Lawyers Guild when we victims so desperately needed their famous protests?

Bet a wooden nickel they were too busy acting as the criminal lobbyists in their priority agenda: to free the 650 killers on California's Death Row.

Picture a dedicated teacher sharing with her students basic civics and the virtues of freedom and the greatest document ever designed by man -- the United States Constitution -- yet not having the freedom to join or not to join the NEA.

It is absolutely mandatory for all public school instructors to join and contribute monetary dues to this dictatorial enclave in order to hang on to their sinecure jobs.

Nor do they have any say whatsoever of how their money is spent by their slave masters. It is pay up and shut up.

This being the silly, protracted election season, might it not be prudent by burned out voters to ask wannabes "Are you willing to demand the immediate death -- rescinding the wasteful, fraudulent and corrupt Department of Education? As a favor to us taxpayers?"

Fellow tax slaves -- welcome to the insane asylum.

VINCE BOGDAN

A bigger Wal-Mart?

So, did you hear? We're getting a bigger Wal-Mart? Aren't you excited? No? Neither am I.

A bigger Wal-Mart? We already have one. Why do we need a bigger one?

It would be better to put in a different store so people have a variety and don't have to shop there.

Or maybe we could put in something to do in this town other than hang out at the local Wal-Mart store.

I believe the only reason Wal-Mart stays so busy in the first place is because there is seriously nothing else to do in this town. You can go bowling, go skate or go to Wal-Mart.

Instead of trying to figure out where the bigger Wal-Mart should go, we should be figuring out what new thing can we put in that will make people want to stay here.

Right now, there really is nothing to look forward too.

When people come to Pahrump looking to live here, they will more than likely ask the realtor what there is in this town for their kids to do or for themselves to do.

Well, the realtor will more than likely answer by saying, "Well, you can go bowling at the Pahrump Nugget which is in the back of a casino. You can skate at Skate Zone or at the skate park (which, if you can remember, was almost not there either). Or there's always Wal-Mart"

Maybe we should start by putting in a major clothing store.

And I don't mean say we're going to so we look good. I mean actually doing it.

Or putting in a movie theater, and the same goes. Not putting up a sign that will be there for six or seven years.

I mean actually doing something that tells people not living in Pahrump that we are not just the town that gets excited when we get a second Wal-Mart or puts up a new street light.

I hope I have convinced some of you because right now, this just isn't working for me.

MEAGAN RACZNIAK

Knowledge may go a long way

In response to the letter in the June 6 edition regarding "Knowledge about Incorporation," the author demonstrated a tremendous lack of knowledge of the laws of Nevada, recent changes to them and what would be required of the new city. Let me provide just a couple of examples.

"If ...decide to raise the tax rate, then everyone in the county pays them."

Sorry, the tax rates for the county are separate from the town and would be for the city as well. In Fernley for instance, the tax rate was $0.1525 when incorporated and it is now $0.3505. This rate is separate and in addition to the county rate.

"As far as a new book of rules, I don't see much difference there."

I can only refer you to NRS 266, which describes in detail all of the functions a city would be required to handle that are not currently performed by the town. You will find they are numerous and expensive.

"The police and fire protection would be contracted with the county."

Currently, the Pahrump Town Board controls the fire department. Are you suggesting the city will give it to the county, and if so, for what reason?

Also, any contract with Nye County for any or all of the sheriff's office function would only occur after incorporation.

If what happened with Fernley and Lyon County is any indication, you may want to rethink this idea.

More than anything, I ask you to take a very hard look at the experience of Fernley, the only city to incorporate since the legislature removed the proportionate share rule from the NRS. Not only have they had to raise the tax rate, the city council has also imposed franchise fees on power, gas (including propane), telephone, cable and garbage services.

These 2 to 5 percent surcharges on bills will affect all those on fixed incomes.

Fernley floated a $50 million bond for water and sewer improvements and are looking for another bond of equal value for further expansion and improvements.

The water and sewer fees account for a great deal of the city's revenue.

And according to their Web site, they are exploring every avenue they can think of (new taxes) to generate additional "needed" revenue. Hooray for big government.

Additional knowledge of Fernley would reveal that the area of Fernley is 160 square miles, while Pahrump is nearly 400; Fernley connects to I-80, state highways 40, 50A and 95A and has a rail line and depot, while Pahrump has Highways 160 and 372; Fernley has a median household income (2000 census) of $44,695, with Pahrump at $34,860; and finally, Fernley has two industrial parks with highway and rail access, while Pahrump will have a new federal prison and maybe an airport someday.

"Maybe incorporation would solve some of these problems."

Or maybe it will cause so many expense and debt problems that our new city will one day have to file bankruptcy like Vallejo, Calif., or disincorporate like the only other city recently in Nye County, Gabbs.

What is needed more than anything in this mess is the realization that incorporation will not work unless we can get the legislature to reenact the proportionate share law so we will be guaranteed to our share of the county's revenue.

When the law was in place, I was fully in favor of incorporation. Without it, there is simply no way to pay for a single city as large as the entire Las Vegas Valley, where three cities and several town advisory boards work very well within Clark County.

Knowledge and information go a long way, especially for those new to the valley who assume the rules where they came from are the same in Nevada.

ROBERT A. LITTLE

Let teens have some fun

I think this town needs a place where families and teens could have fun.

Some ideas are an indoor miniature golf course, a movie theater or a gym where things like a basketball camp or teen socials could be held.

I think this is a good idea for the town, especially with 100 degree-plus heat in the summer. I mean, everyone can play miniature golf.

A gym that had a daycare facility inside with equipment designed for younger children would be a great way to keep people active.

I personally would not mind a place where teens could hang out, get to know each other, enjoy our music but be somewhere safe. Unfortunately, Pahrump doesn't have anything like this to do, and Las Vegas is quite far to travel, considering the high gas prices.

I would like to see a change so people could have more fun instead of being at home all day.

THEO EISENLOFFEL

Airport location

I agree with Mr. Jack Harp about locating the airport 20 miles outside of town.

The location they have chosen already has residential areas nearby.

I happen to live near Gamebird and Blagg and am prepared to put the airport's telephone number on my speed-dial to complain about any noise or bright lights that disturb my peace and quiet.

It seems that this is being done for only a few VIPs, not for the regular citizen.

Putting it in an area where people live is not only stupid thinking on their part, it is also dangerous. You do not put airports where there are homes.

The local citizens are better educated about what they want or do not want than the people who are shoving this airport down our throats.

I think we should vote out every single on of the commissioners and the town board and start all over again.

ROBERTA GAUL