Letters to the Editor for April 14, 2015

Seeking information about Washington State Hi my name is Maddy. I am a fifth-grader at Napa Valley Language Academy in Napa, Calif. The reason I am writing to you is that my class is doing state reports and I have chosen your beautiful state Washington. I would really like it if you posted my letter in your newspaper so that I can get all the help I need for my report. What I need from you or your readers are pamphlets, postcards, souvenirs or anything else useful. I will be writing about your state's agriculture, history, economy, famous people, events, historical figures and national parks. I will also be doing an oral report and making a state float. Thank you for your support and help in making me a great researcher of your astounding state. If you have any questions, please feel free to email my teacher at ihernandez@nvusd.org. Send information to: Napa Valley Language Academy, Mrs. Hernandez, 2700 Kilburn Ave., Napa, CA 94558. Fight for the common good Rep. Liz Pike, 18th Legislative District, (R-Camas) appears to like the going it alone method. She seems to want to work with her Republican peers, and not in a bipartisan manner with other legislators. Her main focus this term was a "Fly Over Bridge" concept that would shut down all river traffic for good this time and some crazy bumper sticker program to protect us from teenage divers. Its seems to me since oil trains go though her district, she would be more concerned about the safety of the people that live and work in her district. Republicans seem more interested in stuffing their coffers with Tesoro Oil Corp. cash than protecting the Columbia River and those near the railroad tracks. If an oil tanker catches fire like in other cities, it would kill and decimate everything in a half-mile radius and burn for days. And as Sen. Maria Cantwell put it, "Now is the time to act to reduce the risk of crude oil moving through our region by rail." Rep. Pike seems to be just sitting idly by while this danger is getting very real. Let's put politics aside this time and work for the common good of all citizens, and not just the special interests. Gale Beagle, Vancouver Protect children from guns I am writing regarding the lack of Child Access Prevention laws in Washington State. Twenty-seven states across the country already have CAP laws in place which has resulted in a 23 percent drop in unintentional firearm deaths in children younger than 15 years old. I often hear that guns don't kill people rather people kill people. Tell that to the parents of over 100 children that were unintentionally killed in 2014 by a 3-, 4- or 5-year-old friend. As a mother of two young children, I am afraid of letting my children go to a friend's house for a play date because I don't know if their parents have left a gun laying out. I tell my children all the time to not touch guns, but I don't know if my next door neighbor does the same. This is America, we protect people all around the world but somehow we cannot protect our own children. In the end, we all want to protect the rights of responsible gun owners, however in the public's mind they are getting lumped in with the irresponsible and somewhat crazy gun extremist and it in the long run it will hurt them. I have several friends who are members of the NRA and they all promote gun safety and sensible gun laws, so when are our politicians going to listen? Either they aren't doing their job or they are too busy pleasing the gun lobby. Call your representative today and ask for action, it could save your child's life. Anna Smith, Vancouver

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