Don’t let politicians trick you into gutting your Missouri initiative petition powers | Opinion
Deceiving voters
Missouri’s conservative GOP General Assembly is at it again. A bill that failed to pass in the recent legislative session is sure to return as soon as lawmakers reconvene. This law would restrict taxpayers’ ability to make their voices heard as they have since 1907. It is intended to and would certainly upend majority rule.
The language of the legislation reads:
“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: Allow only U.S. citizens to vote on ballot measures”; (Only citizens can vote now.)
“Restrict the legislature’s power to propose constitutional amendments and undo laws approved by voters”; (Huh?)
“Ensure disabled individuals have access to ballot measures”; (They already do.)
“Require that constitutional amendments pass by fifty-seven percent majority statewide?” Here is the real purpose, tucked at the very end: to raise the bar from a simple majority to a much more difficult-to-reach 57%.
The wording is intentionally confusing, and the order of its provisions is intended to make Missourians believe that defeating it would authorize noncitizens to vote.
Beware: Don’t fall for this deceitful provision to eliminate your ability to initiate changes that 50% of Missouri voters support. Save Missouri’s initiative petition rights.
- Kathy Whited, Raymore
Scouting’s great
I have been in Boy Scouts of America since first grade. I have worked hard, starting from the Tiger rank and moving up to become a Star Scout. I’m working on earning my Life Scout Rank with Troop 271.
I want to tell you about things we do in Scouts. Once a month, we do a campout with a planned activity such as fishing, hiking, skating, biking, climbing or even a day at the zoo. We also do community service projects in our neighborhoods.
I would like to get this out there to help younger generations and encourage them to join scouting. I’ve really enjoyed it and have made lots of friends. It has made me become a better person and learn responsibilities and skills that I can use throughout life.
- Isaac Chilcoat, Kansas City
Screen them
I am writing as a physician and dermatologist in training to address an important public health issue that affects our children. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the country, and childhood sun exposure is a significant risk factor. Students spend a lot of time in the sun, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends applying sunscreen each time a child goes outdoors.
Unfortunately, many states have laws forbidding medication-use, including sunscreen, in schools without physician permission. Some states (such as Missouri) have passed bills allowing students to apply sunscreen. However, many states, including Kansas, require students to have documented permission to use sunscreen at school.
This issue has been resolved in Missouri, and I am advocating for Kansas to address it as well. Allowing distribution of sunscreen in schools without physician permission would protect students from adverse effects of sun exposure and could reduce skin cancer rates.
- Sabah Osmani, Kansas City
Just read the text
Since Second Amendment tragedies now seem to be happening daily, perhaps a review of the amendment is in order: “A well-regulated militia being necessary for the security of a free state, the people’s right to bear arms shall not be infringed.” Early in our history, our Revolutionary War army consisted of volunteer militia armed with muskets, which had no rifling and shot a single round ball, which was not very accurate and took about a minute to reload. The fear was that the English enemy would demand that the citizens of the colonies disarm, which the Second Amendment precluded.
Notice also the word “regulated.” It should be obvious that an AR-15 is light years beyond the capability of a musket and that any sane reading of the Second Amendment should conclude that modern weapons of war in private hands should be heavily regulated for the safety of our citizens.
- Phil Anderson, Manhattan
