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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2016)
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS Opinion — Editorial — Maybe ... if we were Pravda The lack of transparency on the part of the Federal Bureau of Inves- tigation (FBI) and the government in general has been disturbing at best these days. Case in point: The Harney County slash National Wildlife Refuge situ- ation. Just released was a second record- ing of the LaVoy Finicum shooting, autopsy reports, etc, which do not corroborate many of the “official” statements previously released by the FBI. The disparities highlight the con- tinued need for unbiased, unrestrict- ed media in this country. While the situation was unfolding in Burns, it was nearly impossible to get statements that had not been filtered first through the FBI. Just as troubling was that agen- cy’s attempt after the refuge was vacated, to continue to monitor and control the efforts of the media. We were “invited” along with other Oregon-based media to tour the site late last month. However, we were told where we would walk, how many of us would be allowed near the scene, what we could view and even what kinds of questions could be asked—the rest would be off limits. The entire tour was pre-planned and staged—a useless waste of gas in our estimation, so we ultimately passed. The invitation came only hours before the FBI tour was to take place, which meant only the larger news outlets that were already on site, such as OPB or The Orego- nian, and maybe a local paper or two, would realistically have access even to the controlled situation that was offered up. We were amazed when not a word of outrage was spoken in the media outlets that did attend, about the blatant attempt to censor them. Those on the ground in Burns also reported hearing FBI agents declare which credentialed media outlets were to be considered actual media, and which were not to be recog- nized. Who gave them the power to make that call? All of this would be acceptable if we lived in Russia and were Pravda. But we don’t. And we aren’t. And it isn’t—acceptable, that is. —The Baker County Press Editorial Board — Letters to the Editor — Rights vs. Privileges Coordinating and Cooperating To the Editor: Writing or speaking on political issues is a privilege, not a right. Owning a gun is a privilege, not a right. Your choice of education for your chil- dren is a privilege, not a right! If I can make you believe your rights are merely privileges, then I can easily strip you of those privileges. Many Jews be- lieved that if they just showed their travel papers, if they just wore the patch on their clothing, if they just submitted to the government they would be fine. Approxi- mately six million Jews were killed. Hitler didn’t just target the Jews he also used his power to kill an estimated five million others including mentally or physically disabled, Gypsy, Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals, Communists, and trade unionists. The only thing many of these groups had in common is that their government didn’t like them. Once we give the government power they will not stop at dealing with the issues we wanted them to handle. The leaders will change, the issues will change but their power over you will not. I have always preferred to stay out of politics but as I hear more and more politicians tell me that my right to choose my daughter’s education and my right to protect my daughter are a privilege, to this, I cannot and will not comply. My daughter deserves the rights that I have been blessed with and I will learn how to stand for her freedom. I may not be as educated or as well- spoken as some but that does not make my rights as an American any less. It also doesn’t make my responsibility to stand against injustice any less. I will no longer be content to merely vent to those who are in agreement with me. We must educate ourselves and vote for local representa- tives who will protect our rights. By elect- ing and supporting county leaders that will protect my daughter’s liberty instead of blindly submitting to unlawful federal rules, I can make a difference. For this very reason, I’m voting for Kody Justus as County Commissioner and John Hoopes for sheriff. Rachel Hearne Brown Halfway To the Editor: Coordinating or cooperating? Those are two terms that are used a lot in land use planning but there is a big difference in how they are applied when you deal with a public land agency like the Forest Ser- vice or the Bureau of Land Management and you are a local government unit. One of the biggest differences is that the public is engaged and informed with coordina- tion. As Commissioners we get to voice our citizens’ point of view as an equal seat at the table. The County Commission has certain rights and authorities in the rela- tionship as it is written in the federal law but a lot of counties don’t exercise it to its maximum usefulness. As a Baker County Commissioner, I represent a county that is going through the process of making sure that we are engaged with the federal government and land agencies as a coordinating agency. In contrast, when you become a cooperating agency you have to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in order to participate and the meetings become private and confidential. The public is no longer engaged. Counties have a much more power- ful and effective tool if we exercise our Coordination rights so we can represent and protect our local people and their desires with regards to local management and planning. The reason this is impor- tant is clear: Local governments have the responsibility of funding public services with revenue from property taxes and pro- vide necessary services to the citizens and local governing boards. Baker County Commissioners have the duty to provide for the public safety, health and welfare, so must be involved in development and early stages of plans and policies that affect the human and natural environment and resources with Baker County. Through coordination, local government can place emphasis on the “Human Envi- ronment” often ignored by those interest only in the “Natural Environment”. Coordination is a win-win situation for Baker County and Federal Agencies. Bill Harvey Baker County Commission Chair Haines Letter to the Editor Policy: The Baker County Press reserves the right not to pub- lish letters containing factual falsehoods or incoherent narrative. Letters promoting or detracting from specific for-profit business- es will not be published. Word limit is 375 words per letter. Letters are limited to one every other week per author. Letters should be submitted to Editor@TheBakerCounty- Press.com. Advertising and Opinion Page Dis- claimer: Opinions submitted as Guest Opinions or Letters to the Editor express the opinions of their authors, and have not been authored by and are not necessarily the opinions of The Baker County Press, any of our staff, management, independent contractors or affiliates. Advertisements placed by political groups, candidates, businesses, etc., are printed as a paid service, which does not constitute an endorsement of or fulfillment obligation by this newspaper for the products or services advertised. — Guest Opinion — The short session and your guns By Kevin Starrett Special to The Baker County Press The 2016 “short session” in the Oregon Legislature was, as you now know, a sprint to ram through complex, costly, and poorly vetted measures to pay back the left for a Democrat majority. Some of these bills have received extensive coverage from the main- stream media. Less well reported were the attempts to erode what is left of gun rights in Oregon. Fortunately none of the bills aimed at attacking gun owners were successful. But the ones that were proposed demonstrated, once again, the true intention of the anti-gun majority., Perhaps the most outrageous was Floyd Prozanski’s Senate Bill 1551. In an effort that would have made the Kremlin proud, Prozanski’s bill would have allowed certain people, some of whom may never have even met you, to make secret accusations about your “mental health” to the Oregon State Police who would then deny you the right purchase a firearm. You would not even know this “hold” had been placed on you unless you tried to buy a gun. Then you would be denied, and would only know why when a OSP Troop- er showed up at the gun store to let you know you were having a “men- tal health crisis.” The duration of the hold would be kept secret from you as would the identity of the person making the accusation. The way the bill was written, you could be denied the ability to buy a firearm for self defense, by the very person who was threatening your life! There was no requirement that any investigation be done to deter- mine if the accusation was true, the hold could be repeated forever, and there was nothing in the bill to offer assistance for a person who actually had mental health issues. The other really dangerous bill was HB 4147. This bill was spon- sored by Portland liberal Jennifer Williamson and eliminated the one small safeguard Oregonians have against the failures and abuses of Submitted Photo Kevin Starrett is the president and founder of Oregon Firearms Fed- eration, fighting to protect Second Amendment rights in the state. the Oregon State Police “back- ground check system.” Oregon law (and Federal law) allow a person who is attempting a firearm’s purchase to legally take possession of a gun if the police cannot complete a background check in three business days. That is still a very long time to wait if you are woman alone facing a stalker, and in fact, most dealers will not transfer without an ap- proval. But, it does give a dealer the option to complete the transfer if, in his estimation, it was a good idea. Williamson’s bill would have prohibited a transfer forever, if that is how long the OSP decided to take to complete the check. Even Wil- liamson admitted that 95% of OSP delays are unjustified. An amendment that would have created an exception for victims of domestic violence was voted down by the Democrats on the House Ju- diciary Committee, the very people who are always expressing their “support” for battered women. An amended version of the bill squeaked through the House with a one vote margin after being delayed to allow Brent Barton, the decid- ing vote, to return to work after an absence, and the bill was moved immediately to the Senate Rules Committee. All but three House Democrats voted for the bill, all House Republicans voted no. Thankfully, because of an outpour- ing of opposition by Oregon fire- arms owners, that bill, like SB 1551 died in the Senate. But make no mistake, the people behind these bills have promised to come back and demand even more. For Oregonians who cherish their Second Amendment Rights, it’s a good time to remember that elec- tions do indeed have consequences. — Contact Us — YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS The Baker County Press President Barack Obama PO Box 567 Baker City, Ore. 97814 202.456.2461 fax Open Monday-Thursday for calls 9 AM - 4 PM Open 24/7 for emails 202.456.1414 Whitehouse.gov/contact US Sen. Jeff Merkley 503.326.3386 503.326.2900 fax Merkley.Senate.gov Phone: 541.519.0572 TheBakerCountyPress.com US Sen. Ron Wyden 541.962.7691 Wyden.Senate.gov Kerry McQuisten, Publisher Editor@TheBakerCountyPress.com US Rep. Greg Walden Wendee Morrissey, Advertising and Sales Wendee@TheBakerCountyPress.com 541.624.2402 fax David Conn, Advertising and Sales David@TheBakerCountyPress.com Published weekly every Friday. Subscription rates per year are $29.95 all areas, e-mail delivery. $39.95 print issue, home delivery, Baker City city limits only. $49.95 print issue, mail delivery, outside Baker City city limits only. Payment in advance. A division of Black Lyon Publishing, LLC 541.624.2400 Walden.House.gov Oregon Gov. Kate Brown 503.378.3111 Governor.Oregon.gov State Rep. Cliff Bentz 503.986.1460 State Sen. Ted Ferrioli 541.490.6528 Baker County Commissioners Bill Harvey; Mark Bennett; Tim Kerns 541.523.8200 Copyright © 2014 -2016 541.523.8201
