Published: June 15, 2009 11:42 am      

Letter to Editor, 6-14-09

Dear Editor,

I am writing today because I am one of the concerned. What may I be concerned about the most you ask yourself? Good question. I am concerned that either due to lack of funding or a simple oversight by those who make these decisions, Hughes County citizens do not get equal protection under the law.

Yes I said it, equal protection means that no matter who you are you will receive the same protection that everyone else receives.

If that protection is equal now then why is it that old women are assaulted and until it’s brought out in the papers nothing is done about it? Why is it when you call the sheriff’s office they tell you that only two deputies are on duty? And what are their areas of patrol?

Are two deputies enough to cover such a large area?

Today we are faced with such an epidemic of those people who not only sell but also manufacture illegal drugs that two deputies cannot even begin to make a difference in this war. Yes it’s a war. If you don’t believe that it has become such just turn on your evening news, pick up a paper or see what takes up most of the legal system’s time. If I were a criminal I would want to live in a place that I knew had the least amount of police officers to catch me at my wrongdoings.

I believe in the work of what police officers do each and every day. Without them there would be utter chaos in the world. It’s time to employ, equip and train new police officers to respond to each and every call that is received by the local sheriff’s office.

When cases are turned over to the DA’s office they should investigate each case and bring justice to those that have committed these crimes. When a man assaults a woman, especially an elderly woman, he needs to be brought to justice to face this crime. I know that there are bigger fish to fry, so to speak, but regardless of what crime someone commits they should have to answer to someone for what they have done.

I am not an advocate for taking justice into your own hands but when the legal system fails you then desperate times call for desperate measures.

Let someone in your family get assaulted and be told that the “Make My Day” law applies and see how you feel. I promise you this much, you won’t be able to swallow the pill that they are giving you.

I hope that when it comes time to elect those persons who make these types of decisions that you will take a moment and ask questions to the candidates regarding equal protection, the amount of officers it will employ and how they will fund these offices.

We need officials that will take these duties to heart and make changes to provide each of us with an environment that we can feel safe again.

Sheila (Rowsey) Hunt