Letters to the Editor: Happy Independence Day, if you're part of the blessed elite

How can striking down Roe, gun control both be 'pro-life'?

I am writing to share some opinions on two recent and very important Supreme Court decisions. One of them overturned Roe and gives states the freedom to restrict abortion in almost all cases. The other one cancels the 109-year-old New York law that limited who could carry a gun. I disagree with both.

I believe there are some very good reasons to keep open the possibility for women to have an abortion for the life and health of the mother and family, although not as a means of birth control. I believe birth control should be widely available. Some religious groups oppose the use of contraceptives, seeming to forget birth control is one of the best ways of reducing abortions. I respect the position of those wanting to end abortion. They believe that is a very pro-life position. I hope they also want to help children after they are born with life, health, education and more.

I believe the decision to support the right of more citizens to carry guns in public is not healthy. Many supporters of “gun right” do not seem to know the first part of the Second Amendment which refers to “A well-regulated Militia.” Many, not all, gun owners seem to believe the more guns the better.” I accept that citizens have the right to own guns for their own protection, but in our country, we have many more guns than are needed. We also have police and National Guard people who are well-regulated.

Although overturning Roe can be seen as pro-life, there is no way this decision to stop regulating guns can be seen as pro-life. Polls show a majority of U.S. citizens do not agree with these Supreme Court decisions.

John Buttrey

Park Township

When will we see 'tip lines' to hunt down women

Yep, Amy Coney Barrett, you six are indeed nothing more than political hacks. Dobbs confirmed that.

Yep, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, you discarded what turned out to be perjurious statements at your respective confirmations.

Yep, Clarence Thomas, your venom toward all things liberal will haunt you when Loving v. Virginia falls victim to your desire to “correct the error established in precedents.”

The Republican SCOTUS has forever and always poisoned the public’s regard. This court now puts everything into play. There can be nothing considered sacrosanct in the court’s long history of jurisprudence.

Pack it now, Joe Biden, and let the right-wing pack it again when they’re back in power. Only a single appellate circuit court has less than 11 judges sitting on their bench. There is nothing inviolable about nine SCOTUS justices.

Forced birth advocates have hyperbolically framed safe, legal and rare pregnancy terminations as "murder." Politicians closer to home try to soften that hysteria by saying, as did our Congressman Bill Huizenga, “This ruling confirms there is no constitutional right to end the life of an innocent, unborn child.”

Smarmy quibbling notwithstanding, Republicans should consider their next steps. We should ask Bill to expand on how exactly he will “continue to stand up for the unborn in the days ahead."

There is no statute of limitations on murder. When do the "cold case" investigations and prosecutions get underway? When will official scrutiny be focused on miscarriages?

When do authorities begin seizing Planned Parenthood’s and other woman’s health care providers’ records to track down every single woman who has ever "murdered" an unborn child? When will the toll-free "tip lines" be set up and staffed?

If life begins at conception, when will Bill "stand up" for zygotes?

He surely won’t stand up for women.

Richard Wolfe

Park Township

Help Ottawa County decide how to spend ARPA funds

Recently, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners approved contracts with three area nonprofits to help the board manage the application process for the American Rescue Plan Act funds we were allocated as part of the March 2021 law passed by Congress.

The three entities will serve as fund or “bucket” managers for the areas of Housing, Social & Human Services, and Business Stabilization. Each of these three managers is being given the responsibility of providing the board with the projects that best encapsulate the board wishes for transformative projects within those three areas.

As part of the process for this once-in-a-generation opportunity, Ottawa County is reaching out to residents, business owners and other community stakeholders and asking them for their feedback.

You can help provide that feedback by filling out a quick survey, as well as find further information, at commissionerzylstra.com/news/arpa-survey.

Thank you for your participation in this important work.

Doug Zylstra

Ottawa County Commissioner, City of Holland

Happy Independence Day, if you're part of the blessed elite

Happy Independence Day to everyone. Let's enjoy the blessings of liberty in this nation.

Unless you're an unarmed black man interacting with the police, or a woman who needs an abortion, or a gay/trans teenager, or a thinking human who believes we have too many guns in this country, or an exploited worker who wants union representation, or a person who knows that human-caused climate change is real, or someone who accepts the reality that Biden received way more votes than Trump in 2020.

If you fall into any of those categories, you're pretty much screwed. "Murica! Yee-haw!

Gil Lalo

Holland

Enough with rockets red glare, bombs bursting in air

What timing to receive my property tax bill during another hideous week of allowed fireworks.

Since I am unable to enjoy being in my yard on these days, and I must close the windows and shades, sitting in a dark house next to my shaking dog while the cat hides beneath a bed, I’d like to be reimbursed $200 for every day fireworks are legal in Michigan.

Like the fortunate Michiganders who leave our state to escape this hellish week, I, too, could use my refund to leave this warzone. Even though it’s 9:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning, I’m listening to people fire off explosives.

Unfortunately, I’ve had to endure the non-stop blasting until 2 a.m. most of the week. I had no idea the city ended the Tulip Time festival with fireworks, which then marks the beginning of firework season for those who love blasting these obscene, toxic explosives night and day all summer long.

Hopefully, the city will switch to laser light shows and quit polluting our lake with these harsh chemicals. Please send my refund ASAP so I can plan my escape next summer.

Diane Payne

Holland

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Letters to the Editor: Happy Independence Day, if you're part of the blessed elite