Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
Indiana tax forms will not be available in your Public Libraries except for a reference copy. You must fill out those forms on line or print those forms as well as the instructions. I have called Governor Eric Holcomb at 317232-4567, my State Senator John Crane at 317-232-9400 and my State Representative Jeff Thompson at 317-232-9600. I asked them to have these tax forms and instructions delivered to the Public Libraries. all taxpayers need to call their Governor, State Senator and Representative.
a reference copy of the 2020 Indiana tax forms and instructions were available at my Public Library on Saturday Jan. 16. The librarian had to copy the forms for me because of Covid 19. She spent 15-20 minutes to make 12 copies and an addition set of 12 copies of just the forms for individual taxpayers.
M brent Pittman brownsburg, Ind.
Dear Editor,
I was disappointed to see Indiana representatives pass a 50-cent cigarette tax increase even though hundreds of health and business leaders have urged them to support a $2 cigarette tax increase.
Small cigarette tax increases, like 50-centssimply don’t work. They won’t significantly drive down smoking rates or improve health, so I hope the state senate will fix this issue when they consider the budget in the coming weeks.
Senator Ryan Mishler, please be a leader on this issue. Please listen to public health and business leaders who say we need a $2 cigarette tax increase to improve health. Indiana has a full-blown health crisis, so let’s not waste any time with half-measures that will do nothing for Hoosier health.
annette Haining
Marshall County Tobacco Education Coordinator Saint Joseph Health System Dear Editor: This is in response to Mr. Tracy Fox of Culver (Thursday Feb. 25 edition of the Pilot-news) regarding his opposition to the proposed resolution that Marshall County declare itself a 2nd amendment Sanctuary County. Mr. Fox fails to understand the total of the issue. Democrats have for years done everything in their power to abolish the 2nd amendment. Failing that, they have attempted to make use of the 2nd amendment as difficult as possible. The 2nd amendment states, in part, “The right of the people to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT be INFRINGED”. What part of “SHALL NOT” doesn’t Mr. Tracy and liberal politicians understand. The wise gentlemen who wrote the Constitution were fresh from a lifetime of oppressive government and eight years of revolution. They knew exactly what they wanted, and what they did not want. In fact, when the Constitution was initially circulated to the then 13 colonies, each colony found something they didn’t like. More to the point, it was what was not included in the Constitution. In the original writing there was no listing of personal rights and freedoms. Included in the re-writing were a list of personal freedoms we know today as “The bill of Rights”, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. The biden administration has proposed an $800 tax per gun owned, ANNUALLY, and $200 per box of ammunition in addition to the purchase price. This, presumably, would include Mr. Fox’s shotgun as well as his 9mm pistol. Is that not an infringement on your “RIGHT” to keep and bear arms?? Mr. Fox also mentions the amount of damage that can be done with an M-16 rifle in the “FULL AUTO” mode. Full auto is another name for machine gun. Personal possession of machine guns by the general public has been outlawed since about 1934 and requires a special and expensive license. Those of us of the pro-gun persuasion view the 2nd amendment as the anchor for the other nine in the bill of rights. Once you’ve lost the anchor, you’ll soon lose the other nine, and be at the mercy of an ever oppressive federal government. The first amendment is already under assault, there are certain words that are considered improper. Illegal alien and undocumented immigrant come to mind. There are certain internet sources that have been banned, E-mail, facebook, twitter and others, banned simply for what they think, let alone what they say. The 2nd amendment was not written so that we could target shoot, hunt rabbits and deer. It was written to give citizens the right of self protection of self, family and property, and as a means to resist an ever more oppressive federal government. Those who oppose the 2nd amendment would do well to remember that the United States got it’s start due to excessive taxation and attempts to confiscate powder, shot and rifles. Those who forget history, are bound to repeat it!! Respectfully Submitted, Tim Hackett argos