Opinion

Letter To The Editor: Hold Press Accountable To Report Only Unbiased Truth

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By GREG WHITE
Los Alamos
 
What Freedom of the Press means and what people believe it means are two different things, and unfortunately for us the Founding Fathers were victims of a press run amok just as we are today.
 
Let’s start with what people believe it means and what it should mean which are the same. A press where news is real. Meaning the events actually happened. The event is NOT innuendo, speculation or rumor (even if so stated in the report). There are eyewitnesses, video, audio or written FACTS (by the accused) that have been verified by two people (a standard suggested both in
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Letter To The Editor: Variety Of Media Available At Local Libraries

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By TIM LANGWORTHY
Los Alamos
 
As an individual, I applaud Richard Nebel and Terry Goldman for sharing their views concerning the media. I have always felt immense gratitude for the First Amendment’s provisions prohibiting Congress from making any law “abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.”
 
Putting on my hat as a member of the County Library Board, I commend to our community the wide variety of media publications available online and in person at Mesa Public Library and the beautiful new White Rock Branch Library. 
 
Publications range from “The New York Times”
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Letter To The Editor: Quoting Tweets And So Much More…

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By “That” Concerned Citizen Again
Los Alamos

Mr. Visel, I am glad that we agree on the importance of the First Amendment for this country. However, I take exceptions to some statements in your letter (link).

It is telling that you complain about biased reporting of exactly the same “mainstream” media, as our president. You could as well just have posted Mr. Trump’s tweets. If this is your reliable source of news, than we already disagree here. His tweets for years have been proven (by facts) as rarely being truthful or respectful … but we have the First Amendment, so I guess this is ok.

Let us

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Letter To The Editor: Leave Nonprofits Alone … Bill 412 Is Double Taxation!

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Lou Santoro
President
The Family YMCA Board of Directors

House Bill 412 calls for closing many exemption loopholes to address the budget crisis that our state faces. No doubt, there are many aspects of the Tax Reform Bill that need just that—reform. However, HB 412 also calls for eliminating the sales tax exemption for nonprofits—all nonprofits large, small, 501c3, churches etc., thus subjecting nonprofits to sales and gross receipts tax.

Under HB 412, nonprofits would need to collect and pay GRT on all contracts (local, state, federal), grants from foundations and United Way, fees from programs, Read More

Letter To The Editor: Re: Proposal For Workable Firearms Transfer Background Check Law

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By BENJAMIN BACA
Los Alamos
 
In Mr. Spencer’s letter to the editor, “Proposal for Workable Firearms Transfer Background Check Law,” he suggests the following.  
“3. Therefore, the State of New Mexico should create the mechanism whereby any private party selling or transferring a gun can voluntarily obtain a free, instant background check through the State (perhaps the Dept. of Public Safety, DPS) or a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL). Details to be worked out and could entail:…  4. If money is an issue, some sort of cost share out of
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Letter To The Editor: Gun Violence

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By BARBARA MOHON
Santa Fe
 
We have a gun violence problem in New Mexico, and sensible gun policy could be a solution.
 
America’s gun homicide rate is more than 25 times the average of other developed countries. An average of seven children and teens are killed with guns in the U.S. every day! The statistics are verifiable and numerous. In an effort to reduce gun violence in our community, I am a member of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
 
The New Mexico legislature is currently considering legislation to require expanded background checks for gun
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Letter To The Editor: Support Legislation To Require Background Checks For All Gun Sales

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By NINA SAMMONS
Santa Fe
 
As a voter in Sen. Liz Stefanics’ district, I encourage my fellow residents to call our legislators to support legislation to require background checks for all gun sales.
 
The law requires sales from gun shows or the internet to include a background check on the buyer ensuring that guns don’t end up in the hands of criminals or those with a dangerous mental illness. Polling has shown that this policy is supported by 87 percent of New Mexicans and 84% of New Mexican gun owners.
 
Please contact your legislators and let them know you support background checks
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Freedom Of The Press … Sunshine Week Editorial

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By CHRIS WOOD, President
New Mexico Press Association

Recognizing that a representative government is dependent upon an informed electorate, the intent of the legislature in enacting the Inspection of Public Records Act is to ensure, and it is declared to be the public policy of this state, that all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of public officers and employees. It is the further intent of the legislature, and it is declared to be the public policy of this state, that to provide persons with such information Read More

Letter To The Editor: How Ironic …

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By ANDREW DELOREY
Los Alamos
 
How ironic that the Los Alamos GOP chairman should write, “No matter what political party a citizen chooses to associate with, it should be their first and most precious duty to protect the republic.” (link)

We have a GOP president that likely has many undisclosed conflicts of interest regarding his domestic and international business relationships. He has assaulted the first amendment by threatening and excluding the media. The media is diverse and every president has adversaries; that is by design. He has assaulted the first amendment by discriminating

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Letter To The Editor: Horse Stable Flap … Far Too Often Newcomers Feel Need To Change Us

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By MICHAEL RAGSDALE
A 60-year Los Alamos resident

Once again, the battle of the stables emerges to the forefront of the news. Why does this remind me of the individual who finds a good deal on a piece of property that happens to be located next to an airport. Only after moving onto the property do they discover that there is a plethora of airplanes flying over the house, whereupon they attempt to have the airport closed because of the noise.

A lack of planning on one person’s part does not constitute an emergency for everyone else! It would seem that Ms. Read More