Concerns for taxpayer money going out of state; Congressional support needed against animal fights: Your letters

Your letters to the editor for July 9, 2023:

Our Congressional reps should cosponsor the FIGHT Act

I worked at the USDA for 15 years at the National Meat Animal Research Center. Today, I live on my 140-year-old South Dakota farm and am appalled at what I read these days about animal fighting.

Dogfighting and cockfighting are barbaric practices, banned in South Dakota and in every other state and also under federal law. Unfortunately, despite these comprehensive prohibitions, both practices remain widespread. I ask Sens. John Thune who is on the Senate Agriculture committee and Mike Rounds, and our U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson, who is on this critical committee, to cosponsor the FIGHT Act to help reduce the presence of cockfighters in our state.

When we enforce our laws against animal fighting, we make our communities safer. Animal fighting is a violent crime bound up with other criminal conduct, including illegal gambling, illegal immigration, narcotics trafficking, and money laundering.

Cockfighting threatens to extend the duration and geographic range of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak. When it comes to virulent Newcastle Disease (vND), 10 of the 15 outbreaks of this disease have been triggered by illegal movement of cockfighting birds. Failure to contain the spread of infectious zoonotic diseases could put Arkansas’ multi-billion-dollar poultry industry at risk.

The FIGHT Act would ban broadcasting dogfights and cockfights for the purposes of gambling in the U.S., ban the shipment of adult fighting birds through the U.S mails, and create a citizen suit provision to allow civil actions against known animal fighters.

This is a bipartisan bill backed by law enforcement, animal control agencies, agriculture groups, and the gaming industry. Animal fighting is a disgrace and danger, and it’s time to strengthen our laws to pull it up by the root.

− Jim Keen, Director of Veterinary Science, Center for a Humane Economy, Mitchell

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My SD should not be sold to the lowest bidder

What is happening to my South Dakota?Last month, I purchased a park sticker at West Bend State Park. A few days later I was going through my credit card statement and I saw a charge from MySD in Tallahassee, Florida. I have never been to Tallahassee. I thought it had to be a fraud charge. I mean, after all, why would MySD be a Florida company. Well it turned out to be legit. But not in my mind!I have been a lifelong South Dakotan. I raised my family here. My parents were born and raised in South Dakota. And over 100 years ago, their parents immigrated to South Dakota. So I think of my South Dakota with pride and honor.So why is MySD in Florida? Maybe no one in South Dakota can do the job. I doubt it. Maybe the bids to do the job were more expensive, possible. Regardless, MySD should not be in Florida or any other state. If we really want to grow business in South Dakota, pay a living wage, and be accountable to ourselves. Should we be giving that opportunity to someone else?Now the State parks are run by GFP. That is a State agency.Should our tax dollars go to Florida. No! My SD should not be sold to the low bidder, especially if they are from some other state.

− Jeff Eidenshink, Sioux Falls

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Johnson shoudl help repeal Iraq war authorization

In 2002 Congress passed an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) granting the President power to take military action against Iraq without further consent of Congress. Today, that authorization still exists. That the current or future President can rely on this decades old authorization to take military action without the approval of Congress is concerning and constitutionally wrong.Military families like mine need to know that our elected officials have considered the true cost of war for the people and communities they represent.I urge Congressman Dusty Johnson, to co-sponsor H.R.932, a bill to repeal the Iraq war authorization. His leadership would speak volumes to the defense community, especially at Ellsworth AFB, and demonstrates to his caucus that we must formally end the war in Iraq.In a twist to end the Iraq war story, Iraq is now a strong ally and this relationship is crucial for maintaining regional security. Upholding this policy threatens and tears at the base of this important relationship. The reasons to justify the invasion and military force against Iraq are no longer relevant, and haven’t been relevant for years – it is beyond time to repeal the irrelevant and outdated war authorization.

− Megan Paone, Sioux Falls

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How to submit a letter to the editor:

Letters need to be roughly 300 to 500 words, and will need to include first and last name, address, city and title. Addresses won’t be publicized, of course, but it’s a way for us to make sure those who submit a letter are who they say they are.

Letters will run on Sundays in print and online as we receive them. There may be moments, however, when we don't have any as we work to solicit interest and actively rebuild this part of our coverage for readers.

You can submit those to News Director Shelly Conlon by emailing sconlon@argusleader.com or submit them through our online form here, which also is sent directly to the news director.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Concerns for taxpayer money going out of state; Congressional support needed against animal fights: Your letters