Uninsured have more worries than new logo
Perhaps state Sen. Bo Watson has gotten more calls from his constituents about the ugly new state logo than he has from those without health insurance because those with health insurance can afford to worry about such things.
Mark H. Holden, Apison, Tenn.
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NRA has too much influence in state
The Supreme Court’s misinterpretation of our Constitution’s Second Amendment gave license for the National Rifle Association to legally turn death into a commodity and sell it as guns. The Tennessee General Assembly in obedience to the NRA promotes the sale of guns, spreading fear of death and the reality of death over Tennessee. Open carry laws legalize carrying guns which intimidate and/or kill accidentally or intentionally everywhere except in the General Assembly, where to protect legislators, guns are not allowed. After a gun has taken a life, devastated parents and grandparents bury their dead and life goes on. Does anybody believe that justice exists for them in this life? Who is responsible? Who will pay its price? What can we do about it? It is easy to understand why the General Assembly majority votes as the NRA tells them to. Otherwise they would lose NRA muscle and money. But why voters re-elect legislators who pander to the NRA and vote against life, liberty and justice for the people of Tennessee is incomprehensible.
Faye Walters, Sewanee, Tenn.
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Pass wheel tax for school improvements
About school Superintendent Rick Smith’s request for $34 million more for schools: Being a retired art teacher I agree with everything he is asking for and what he wishes to do with the money, especially a 5 percent pay raise for teachers and art and foreign language in elementary schools. Elementary schools also need qualified, paid teacher’s aides. I disagree with one way to raise the money. A property tax is not equitable because many people in our county don’t own property, and a property tax essentially makes the teachers who own property pay for their own raises. The remedy? A wheel tax. This way more people would pay because a larger majority of residents own cars as compared to property. Thus, it would not put the burden on just property owners. The “powers that be” should have no problem with initiating a wheel tax; they handled the emission control without any problem.
Jody Norris, Soddy-Daisy
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Public info needed on pet safety laws
With summer heat approaching, more and more people are leaving pets in vehicles. I would like to see something published about the laws/statutes in the surrounding counties about emergency numbers that you can call if you see an animal in distress. I would love to have this information to put in my car rather than using 911.
Tamie Upchurch, Dayton, Tenn.