Letters to the Editor
Pahrump Valley Gazette, Thursday, September 18, 1997 II
No need for a militia
While visiting our youngest daughter in Portland,
Ore. recently, I ran across an article about the need for
gun control. The gentleman felt that the militia was
necessary early on, because we had a small military,
but now that we have a standing army, there is no need
for a militia. The following is a letter I wrote to the
editor of that paper.
Black's Law dictionary describes the United States
as being foreign to the several states, as the sister states
are alien to each other.
With that in mind, I would like to address the article
of Mr. Paul Vanture in the "Oregonian" Moday,. Au-
{just 25. His perspective of history is also flawed,
lthough he is correct to say that the Constitution
forbids a ban on gun ownership, but it further states
that this ownership shall not be infringed. His concep-
tion of the law is to now ignore the part that seems no
longer necessary and infringe without changing the
law.
We had a small military for the first one hundred
years, because the Contract with the United States
forbids funding, for longer than two years. That part of
the Constitution (law) has not been changed. It's,being
ignored.
A militia was provided for instead, as our armed
force, in order to be able to defend our nation as well
as our state. Amendment 2, "A well regulated Militia,
being necessary to the security of a free state, the right
of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be
infringed.
Article 6, clause 2 states that any law or treaty made
by the authority of the United States must follow the
Constitution to become the Law of the Land.
Mr. Vanture's information that other democratic
nations having specific gun control laws is correct, but
I must remind Mr. Vanture and his readers, that our
Nation as States are Independent Constitutional Re-
pubnt.o, -t democracies.
If most deaths m,...,,unding by small arms are not
done by criminals, but by menro. of households,
why do the gun control groups always use trte ,* -inal
gimmick? Thanks for admiting that it's the people you
want disarmed, not the criminal.
The second amendment to the Constitution is not
about hunting, as the NRA seems to be comfortable
with, it's about defending each state from a standing
army, specifically the United States. The incidents of
Mr. Scott and Mr. Campbell of California, Ruby Ridge
of Idaho, the Freemen of Montana and the Davidian
Church in Waco, Texas are just a few of the examples
of what the United States will and can do, as well as
confiscating private property without due process. The
I
war on drugs, you know.
Wouldn't it be reasonable, now that the perceived
threat of war is no more, to turn over the machines of
war to the states, to be used by the militia in time of
need, being well regulated by the individual states?
You can bet your life and fortunes, that that will never
happen. Read the U.S. Constitution, (it's not taught in
government schools), and think.
James W. Lee
Pahrump
Festival a great success
Once again the Harvest Festival Fair was a great
success. We had 1,020 exhibits which was approxi-
mately 475 more than last year. 4,375 people entered
the community center to view the exhibits. That was a
thousand more than last year.
Our fair could not have been a success without
volunteers: Ferdie and Joanne Loisel, Rosemary
Duetsch, Pauline Moore, Julia Wall, Jean Holveck,
Lela Monahan, Lynn McDonald, Pat Irvine, Ron
Shereda, Jackie/mderson, Amber Malloy, Emil and
Rose Bonfini, Doris and Ren Glover, Marge Hickerson
and Bey Mabry.
I also want to thank Mac Taylor and Linda Roberts
for their fabulous educational displays, Jordan Chelsa
for the decorative flowering plants, Davis Lumber for
supplies, and Gall Hardy and Maurice Purdy for their
support.
Many people asked how the judging was done. The
exhibits were awarded blue, red, or white ribbons on
their own merit. Then they were judged against the
other exhibits in their lot, These were given a dark blue
rosette ribbon for the lot champion and a light blue
rosette ribbon for the lot reserve champion. Then, each
section had a grand champion ribbon and a reserve
grand champion ribbon. The judges then awarded a
judge's choice ribbon for the entire section. I hope this
answers your questions.
I want to thank everyone for his/her participation
and hope to see you and many more participants next
veal'.
Mertlc-,_t i
Fair Chairman
Pahrump
Grateful to sponsors
We at No to Abuse would like to say a special thank
you to the wonderful businesses who sponsored tee
shirts for the Harvest Festival.
Among those to be recognized for their generosity
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are; Big Sky Truss Inc., Common Grounds Care,
Valley Rock and Sand, and T&M Group Reality.
These special people sponsored tee shirts to be given
away to kids and volunteers of the No To Abuse Youth
Center, and Family Crisis Center. The shirts, made by
Mandy's silk screening, were white with the logo;
"Kids, you can't beat them", in red and yellow on the
front. The back of the shirt bore the name of the
business who sponsored, an their phone numbers in
bright blue. They really turned out great.
Thank you so much for caring and participating. We
will be having more shirts made up in the future, both
white and colored. Pricing per dozen starts at approxi-
mately $74, and goes up depending on colors and
sizes.
If you are interested in sponsoring shirts, and ad-
vertising your business at the same time, call 751-1118
and ask for Lynn. Or stop by at 1471 E. Highway 373.
No to Abuse and Mandy's Silk Screening have
joined in a collaborative effort to see that every child
in Nye and Esmeralda counties have a "kids you can't
beat them" tee shirt. It's a vital dream we are deter-
mined to see realized. With your support and generos-
ity it can happen. Think about it.
No to Abuse
Pahrump
Student prayer
Assembled in our school once more,
O Lord, thy blessing we implore;
We meet to read, and sing, and pray,
Be with us, then, through this thy day.
Our fervent prayer to thee ascends,
For parents, teachers, foes and friends,
And when we in thy house appear,
Help us to worship in thy fear.
When we on earth shall meet no more,
May we above to glory soar;
And praise thee in more lofty strains,
• Where one eternal sabbath reigns. ....
Bill Ballew
Pahrump
II II II I I
The Pahrump /alley
Gazette corrects mistakes. Errors should be
brought to the attention of the newspaper by calling
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All opinions expressea , - tters aee are those of
the artist or author indicated. ThtG,,2.,o reserves
the riot to edit all letters for length and fibel. .........
Furthermore, letters with names w'dfludd will only
be published if a legitimate fear of retribution exists.
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