CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

GIVING UP OUR RIGHTS WON'T SOLVE THE WRONGS

In his April 11 letter, Daniel Palmer stated that our Constitution is
worthless if it does not guarantee protection of our children's lives from
the insane actions of some ("Constitutional rights: Are they worth the
sacrifices we make?") Although he believes in the Constitution, he said he
is willing to give up all his rights under it in order to protect school
children.

Giving up our Constitutional rights will not assure safety in the schools.
He mentioned gay rights, abortion rights and gun rights. Only the last has
anything to do with the school shootings. The shooters were not using
Constitutional rights.

The Constitution cannot enforce our laws. If we all give up the right to
possess guns, criminals will get them illegally. We tried to fight alcohol
abuse by outlawing alcoholic drinks. It did not work. It may have stopped
moderate alcoholic use by law-abiding people, but it gave criminals an
incentive to make big money bootlegging. Similarly, the present drug war is
not working.

Let's give more attention to our children. Parents and teachers can stress
positive emotions, the satisfaction of helping others and the Golden Rule.
Children who show early signs of aggressiveness, like cruelty to animals,
should be treated. We can boycott toys that encourage violence. I have
never bought a toy gun or game involving make-believe violence for any
child. We do not have to give up freedom of speech. Just do not allow
children to have violent forms of speech.

FRANCES GRAVES, Snohomish