Opinion
A4
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
OUR VIEW
Questions
linger over
border proposal
T
here is a lot to be said for pure determina-
tion, and the loosely affi liated group of cit-
izens behind the Greater Idaho movement
surely qualify as some of the most dedicated
people in the state.
The nonprofi t organization seeks to slice off
a number of Oregon counties and join the state
of Idaho, and ballot measures on the issue have
passed in some Eastern Oregon counties in sup-
port of the move during the past year.
In 2020, Union County voters passed Measure
31-101, an edict that requires county commis-
sioners to meet three times a year to discuss the
county’s interests if such an eff ort to become part
of Idaho gains real momentum.
The impetus of the desire to become part of
Idaho can clearly trace its roots to a perception
that the western part of the state — specifi cally
the Salem, Portland metro areas — are cut off
from other portions of Oregon politically and cul-
turally. Decisions, many bemoan, that aff ect all
are made by a select group in Salem with little or
no input from the eastern side of the state. Any
progress or prosperity that occurs in the Portland
metro area never reaches the eastern side of the
state, many critics contend, and rural areas are
dismissed.
The fact there is more than a kernel of truth in
some of these accusations is a troubling reminder
that we as a state exist in a new, strange era of
both cultural and political diff erences.
Yet, while the Greater Idaho movement
deserves praise for its work in galvanizing polit-
ical action, in the end there remain far too many
questions — and no reliable answers — to the
broader concept of Eastern Oregon counties
becoming part of the Gem state.
The fi rst hurdles are bureaucratic, and they are
daunting. Not only would the Oregon Legislature
have to approve such a move but so would the
Idaho House and Senate. Then the Congress must
give fi nal approval.
Then there are the practical considerations.
One good example is PERS, the Oregon Public
Employee Retirement System. What happens to
those who are part of that system and live in an
Eastern Oregon county when Idaho takes over?
There are other questions — such as tax base
and diff erences in laws regarding marijuana —
that do not seem to have answers.
An array of issues needs to be ironed out spe-
cifi cally before the concept can be seen as more
than just another example of rural Oregon dissat-
isfaction with Salem.
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OTHER VIEWS
My safety depends on your
gun-safety trustworthiness
The other day while waiting in
line at the grocery store, I noticed the
person ahead of me was wearing a
shoulder holster. Instead of holding
the gun with the barrel pointing down
as I’m used to, this holster carried
the weapon with the barrel in a hori-
zontal position. This meant the barrel
was pointing directly at me. Here’s my
message to the person with that type
of holster.
To the public gun carrier: As a
member of the public in our commu-
nity that you are also a member of,
I want to let you know how a choice
you have made aff ected me. I am
from a family that owned guns while
I grew up so I am comfortable with
them. As we all know, the fi rst rule
of gun safety is to never point it at
another person (unless you’re plan-
ning to shoot them). The holster you
chose points the barrel at everyone
around you. I was very uncomfortable
while standing behind you. My safety
depended on your gun-safety trust-
worthiness: Was the gun loaded (why
would it not be if you’re carrying it
around?) Was the safety on?
Knowing that you have not fol-
lowed the fi rst rule of gun safety, how
can I know that you reliably follow the
others?
I did not know what to say to you
at the time. Now I have had time to
consider. Hence, this letter to you. My
request to you and to all other persons:
Please use holsters that do not carry
the weapon in an unsafe-to-those-
around-you position. You can’t want
to be in the position at some point to
say, “I thought the safety was on.”
Kathy Benson
Union
The Second Amendment
made sense — in 1787
I don’t think the Second Amend-
ment to the Constitution provides me
any safety. The way a lot of people
interpret the Second Amendment
creates fear. Living in fear is not
freedom. It does not give freedom to
the thousands of men, women and
children who were killed in 233 mass
murder incidents (four or more people
killed) in this country during the past
year (as of the writing of this letter).
I can understand that in 1787,
when the Constitution, was written,
it made sense. There was no Army,
Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard
or organized policing of any kind. The
conscripted soldiers during the Rev-
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
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olutionary War used muskets with
homemade ammunition against the
British. No one during that time could
have imagined that 250 years later
so many citizens of the United States
would have the sophisticated weapons
of war that are available now.
In 2022 the United States has more
guns than people, and the guns that
are most in demand seem to be those
designed specifi cally to kill people
— people in large numbers. Do these
armaments make us safe? Do they
make us less fearful? Do they make
us free?
The children killed in Uvalde, Col-
umbine, Sandy Hook and so many
other schools were not made safe or
free. The people killed in churches,
grocery stores and shopping malls lost
their freedom. In fact, because of our
worship of the Second Amendment,
no American is as free as the citizens
of other developed countries that limit
access to fi rearms.
I am someone who reveres the U.S.
Constitution, and I accept the Second
Amendment as a part of our history.
I do not accept the need for so many
to be armed to the teeth with mili-
tary weapons intended to kill fellow
humans.
Evelyn Swart
Joseph
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