Letters for December 6, 2012

The new covenant

Re “Only if she be defiled” (Letters to the Editor, Nov. 29):

I’d just like to straighten something out regarding R.A. Drew’s letter about abortion.

Nuh-uh. The Bible doesn’t give any such potion to have an abortion. The potion in Numbers 5 in scripture doesn’t go after the woman’s child … were she to be found guilty, the child would die as “collateral damage,” if you will. There are no instances in scripture that condone the killing of the unborn anywhere.

Leaving that aside, I’d like to say this: Christians have never been held by the Old Testament since Christ came. Christ brought the “New Covenant” that God His Father sent Him to set up. In this New Covenant, Jesus Himself proscribes killing of all kinds. He has stern words for those who as much as lead one of these little ones astray, when he was speaking of children one time, as they will have a millstone hung around their necks and drowned in the sea; another time he tells us “allow the little ones to come unto Me and forbid them not.”

Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. God put in place many awful punishments for sin in those days for His own reasons. When Christ came He announced that “the old had passed away and behold, I give you a New Covenant.”

I really enjoy RN&R. You guys show me the opposition so very well … actually, that’s why you’re here, huh?—an alternative to the establishment. That said, however, it funs me to pick out where you’re off, whether you print me or not!

Reta Tallman
Reno

Good to know

Re “Repeal” (News, Nov. 29):

Nevada is full of idiotic, archaic laws. Some are laughable, but others result in huge expenditures of taxpayer money for no reason at all.

A few examples:

• NRS 179C.100 requires anyone with one class A felony, or two convictions for any felony, to register with the local law enforcement agency. By the way, it also applies to visitors who are in Nevada for more than 48 hours. So, a 65-year-old tourist with a few convictions for non-violent, non-serious felonies that are more than 40 years old has to go to the police department, register, get fingerprinted, and carry a felon card with him or risk arrest. Of course, most visitors don’t even know about the requirement, but they can still be arrested if they run into a hard-ass cop who runs a background check on them. This law has been on the books since at least 1959. They don’t do anything with the registrations, they just file them. So, the taxpayer has been on the hook for paying for police personnel to process and fingerprint tens of thousands of people for more than 50 years. By the way, Nevada is the only state that has this absurd law.

• Habitual criminal law NRS 207.010 is a dandy. Most people are familiar with three strikes laws where offenders receive sentence enhancements if they have a number of convictions (usually only for violent offenses). Well, since at least 1969, Nevada has had a law that allows for a life sentence for a felon who has three prior convictions for any felony, at any time in the past. That’s right, folks—be careful in Nevada if you broke in a car when you were 18 and then got caught twice with some dope. Those priors never go away in Nevada. So, you clean up your act, work and have a family. Then, 30 years later, you are in a bar fight and the DA decides to charge you with a felony and offers you 3-5 years and you say, “Hell no, I want a jury trial.” Well, in Nevada if you dare ask for a jury trial, and if the jury finds you guilty, you will not only get sentenced for that crime, but on top of that sentence, the DA will file a habitual criminal petition, and you will go away for a minimum of 10 years with a possible life sentence. By the way, that law became progressively harsh with amendments enacted throughout the ’90s thanks to the influence of ALEC on some of our legislators and pressure from the notorious Dick Gammick.

So, at a time we are ranked dead last in the high school graduation rate, we are spending countless millions on enforcing laws that are 40 or 50 years old just because they are there. I am appalled that the legislature can take the time to deal with the “communist” statute but not these. I guess in Nevada, you have to appear to be “tough on crime.” Too bad for the taxpayer and our kids. By the way, I don’t have a dog in this fight—I’ve never been arrested or convicted of anything, but I did work in law enforcement for more than two decades, and I know bad laws when I see them, and these are bad laws.

Lynne Black
Reno

We the People

Re “Various” (Letters to the Editor, Nov. 22):

Commenting on style rather than substance? A waste of bytes here as the author has tossed such a rich panoply of references, ideas, history and poignant result. The writing is on the wall, so to speak. … There must be some sort of transition from rote Darwinian-based, winner-take-all competition to one with a solid dose of “responsible to We The People and our common cooperation-based fiscal interchange.” If those kinds of changes do not happen, then the already established monopoly board is We The People’s forever gauntlet.

Christopher Lunn
Carson City

So leave, already

Re “Confederate state of Nevada?” (Upfront, Nov. 22):

In 1941, Curry, Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath counties in Oregon and Del Norte, Modoc, and Siskiyou counties in California made an effort to form a state called Jefferson.

In the 1990s, the bankrupt Lassen County of northeastern California was the location of another absurdist “secession” movement,” in which political fringe groups threatened to leave California and join Nevada. In each case, the “secession” counties were welfare counties without the tax base to provide for roads, water, sewers, police and fire protection, courts, utility services or election services, without outside aid! In the case of the Lassen County effort, an additional dimension was added in that the secessionists never asked Nevada if they would accept another welfare county! This all amounts to a fart in the wind by a clot of sore losers!

Fred Berfel
Reno

Digitally divided

Re “Too early for me” (Editor’s note, Nov. 29):

We’ve witnessed awesome technological advances in the last few years. The mobile device marketplace is clamoring for more timely, relevant content, delivered in the media that users prefer. Forward-thinking publishers are establishing multiple subscription avenues. Are we are at the threshold of a new golden age for journalism? Not unless the academic administration is committed to keeping up. On the UNR campus, I’m unaware of any course that covers either the software or strategy for e-publication. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to invest in expensive app development to reach iPad subscribers. Academic and scholarly titles can also gain new paid electronic exposure, without ad-agency expense. Editors can direct a single-content stream to Nook, iTunes, Kindle or browser-based readers as well as print. Imagine the savings to an alumni magazine that creates a digital edition and allows readers to opt out of the print version, at a remarkable decline in production cost. Chances are that they would be able to add bonus digital material and reach a more diverse audience. I see remarkable potential for collaboration between local companies and university administration. Perhaps those of us who’ve already played pivotal roles in launching effective e-titles can team with a progressive newspaper and contribute to curriculum development.

Jim Cooper
Sparks