Letters to the editor Aug. 27

Montana Wounded Warriors would like to thank the board members of the Flathead Valley Clay Target Club for this years 10th annual benefit shoot. The club has been long time supporters of Montana’s wounded vets and this year even in the middle of the Covid mess was no exception. The trap club literally stuck to their guns and held the shoot not knowing if anyone would attend. Thankfully there was a record turnout and it was the biggest year yet in the total raised at over $5,000.

These funds will be used to take wounded veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan on all expense paid hunting and fishing trips around Montana. We would like to thank all of the shooters who participated as well as the individuals and businesses that donated auction items to the benefit for their continued support.

—Neil Baumann, Vice President Montana Wounded Warriors

On Aug. 20 an op-ed by Steven Roberts said “vote early.” I agree. Montana does not have early in-person voting but voters can cast an in-person absentee ballot at your local election office as soon as ballots are available. In-person absentee voting dates: Oct. 12-Nov. 2. You can go to “cast my vote”, or Axios how-to-vote by state for more information. Most states allow absentee in-person voting.

Democrats praised Dr. Faucci as a preeminent expert. Faucci is a director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said safe in-person voting is possible, as long as proper precautions are taken. Arguments of voter suppression taken the above are simply ridiculous. In-person voting on Nov. 3. or absentee in-person would produce the best results. This year, primaries across the nation exposed faults with mail-in balloting and absentee voting.

In primaries his year National Public Radio stated: ”even with limited data, the implications are considerable. NPR found that tens of thousands of ballots (more than 500,000 plus in all primaries), have been rejected in key battleground states, where the outcome in November — for the presidency, Congress and other elected positions — could be determined by a relatively small number of votes. For example, President Trump won Wisconsin in 2016 by almost 23,000 votes. More than 23,000 absentee ballots were rejected in the state’s presidential primary in April. More than 37,000 primary ballots were also rejected in June in Pennsylvania, a state Trump won by just over 44,000 votes”.

Former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt said: “Inactive voters, 200,000 of them, were mailed ballots all across the greater Las Vegas area, and we have no way to know if these are going to lead to massive voter fraud, as Democrat commissioners sue to rid signature verifications and to enact the California-style ballot harvesting right here in Nevada.”

I rest my case.

—Walter Ruinski, Kalispell

Just got around to reading Aug. 20 paper. Thought is was interesting that the front page fair photo was a prime example of the public’s current regard for mandatory masks and social distancing.

Is it any wonder that COVID-19 cases continue in our wonderful county?

—Daryl Smail, Marion

Senator Jon Tester has been a great advocate for Montana businesses and now is a critical time for him and other elected officials to continue showing their support.

Congress has several issues they need to address in the next coronavirus relief package. Multiple provisions from previous coronavirus packages will expire soon and elected officials have to decide on additional direct stimulus payments and how they can provide support to businesses struggling during this unprecedented economic challenge.

Congress can help small businesses is by passing liability protections for businesses to shield them from unfounded lawsuits related to the coronavirus.

As our economy continues to suffer, small businesses are bending under the weight of seemingly never-ending obstacles. Some were forced to shut down and not collect any revenue for months. Others were strongly encouraged to stay open and shoulder the additional costs of instituting necessary safety procedures while seeing a decrease in revenue. And those that stayed open are also trying to abide by a myriad of local, state and federal regulations that often changed rapidly, with no notice.

A small business having to fight an expensive legal battle due to an unwarranted coronavirus-related lawsuit in addition to these other challenges could be the breaking point for many.

Senator Tester needs to protect small businesses by supporting commonsense liability protections. Businesses that have worked hard to abide by the changing regulations, and done their best to protect the health of all those who enter their establishment deserve the support of Congress.

—Shauna Stickney, Marion

I read with interest the opinion voiced by the medical professional, nurse Julie Martin, in the Aug. 16 Montana Perspectives section of the paper, but I was dismayed that the Inter Lake gave her letter a big headline: “Healthy people are being demonized and campaigned against,” thus promoting the wrong thinking found therein. I’m irritated that the Inter Lake would so inappropriately advance such a position by posting her opinion so prominently.

While nurse Martin spoke about how in her experience people with infectious diseases were isolated and the healthy kept working, she omitted one salient fact about our current situation — with the coronavirus people who are asymptomatic may be carriers of the virus. This is not true of the flu, or TB. That fact changes everything, does it not?

No one is demonizing healthy people or campaigning against them, but common sense mandates that measures be taken to protect ourselves and each other — social distancing and masks are simple to do. Until a seemingly healthy person can be tested and proved to be “healthy,” we can all be carriers (unless we’ve already been exposed). Testing measures in our country are abysmal thanks to the failure of our country to adequately prepare despite time to do so.

The poor national leadership has not helped our situation. I appreciate Governor Bullock’s taking the steps he has to try to keep our population healthy, despite being aware of the terrible toll it would take on businesses and people in general. Probably no one really likes wearing a mask and social distancing, but unusual times call for unusual measures.

Stay safe and keep each other as safe as possible. Mask up!

—Denise A. Sarnoff, Kalispell

Thank you for publishing Julie Martin’s letter “Healthy People are being Demonized and Campaigned Against.” It was refreshing to hear the perspective of an experienced nurse.

If people feel safer wearing a mask then they should do so as it’s not up to me to judge. However, healthy people are being demonized by an unlawful mask mandate that is not enforceable yet we have businesses kowtowing to a tyrannical government. No governor has the authority to mandate masks or declare a proclamation. We don’t suspend the Constitution during an emergency.

There is a long list of doctors who warn of the risks of wearing masks. If healthy people want to weaken their immune system, acquire associated diseases by reducing their oxygen intake while wearing masks than so be it. I respect individual choice.

—Scotia Brosnan, Lakeside

At first when reading the article on marijuana legalization measure, the campaign finance reports were shocking. The amount poured into signature collecting! But then I thought not really, the money to be made on sales will be far more for them.

Marijuana destroys the mind and the body. It destroys families and communities. To use the excuse that it will generate jobs and revenue for the state is old. What it destroys is beyond what they claim can bring in as revenue.

I sat in the Flathead High school auditorium many years ago when they used those same words for legalization of gambling. It has not helped our schools or communities. We continue to vote on school levies and school districts struggle with their budgets. To say the remainder will go to substance abuse treatment, ect., to me that is like telling your child to run into the street because it’s OK I have a box of bandages.

Prevention is better than repair. We need to build our families and communities up not continue to provide things that destroy. I would rather have our officers visit our schools and continue to teach our children to be drug free. All drugs. Marijuana is a drug.

Think about this when you go to the polls. We need to keep Montana the Best Place to live.

—Elizabeth Walter, Kalispell