Letters to the editor: Protecting rights, getting sick, dams, transgender bills

Protecting rights

I want to offer my support for those who insist they have the right to meet in public and to reopen nonessential facilities. I understand why you place such importance on protecting our civil rights and, as many point out, those of us who disagree can just stay away from you.

In order to protect the civil rights of others, are you willing to avoid those essential places that we must continue to frequent? Will you pledge NOT to visit grocery stores, drug stores, hospitals? Will you wear a sign saying, “I could be positive for COVID-19” so I’ll know to stay away from you?

If you won’t do that, then you’re violating MY civil rights.

Rick Simon, Boise

Getting sick

Ok so I get it, As a veteran and gun owner, I fought for these freedoms to make my own decisions, and through life I have stood by my decisions right or wrong. That said we as a community have always worked for the common good of America and Idaho. I believe Gov. Little’s plan is designed to protect all citizens of Idaho. So here’s the deal: If you want to meet in large groups to protest what you believe is a China-caused pandemic, a liberal global conspiracy and government overreach. Then please go for it. That said, when your wife, grandchild, friend, or sadly yourself, gets sick, please remember this was your decision. Stand by your decision and the consequences.

Louis DeWitt, Eagle

Breaching

As a native Idahoan, avid outdoorsman, and fly fishing guide for an Idaho-owned company, I’ve been captivated by Idaho’s impressive salmon and steelhead runs my entire life.

For decades, salmon and steelhead numbers have been dwindling. The status quo is not working. Record low returns, reduced bag limits, and several complete closures on the Salmon, Snake, and Clearwater are clear warnings that real solutions need to be put on the table now, including breach of the four lower Snake river dams.

If we breach, we must make sure all the stakeholders in this complex issue will benefit. That includes farmers, transportation workers, anglers, energy users, guides and outfitters. As a guide, I know first-hand that outfitters and other small business owners depend upon the dollars that salmon and steelhead bring to rural communities.

I hope and trust that Gov. Little will lead in the effort to recover salmon and steelhead, for Idaho.

Mike Raymondi, Boise

Bypass dams

As a wildlife biologist turned outfitter, steelhead and salmon fishing has been half of my business for over 45 years. Sadly, the anadromous fisheries are on the verge of winking out, due to man-caused catastrophes. Consequently, my fishing trips have been cut by 60%.

Anthropomorphic ocean changes won’t change soon enough. Predators are a problem with low fish populations and hatcheries are short term band-aids, if not a tightening hangman’s noose. All these factors make it even more crucial, not less, to bypass four Snake River dams. Tons of science consistently point to this as the single best factor to restore runs.

Thank you, Rep. Mike Simpson, for your “Fish Wall” and its representation of viable solutions to revitalize the anadromous highway for all economic stakeholders.

In a previous meeting with Sen. Jim Risch, he claimed to be a scientist, likes science, just not the scientists who support dam bypassing. He compared them to historic flat-earth scientists and doesn’t believe it is possible to restore our wild fishery. With thinking like that, he is right. Thus, he favors the status quo, which continues to fail people and fish. Perhaps he should again review Simpson’s “Fish Wall.” It includes bypass.

Gary Lane, Riggins

Transgender bill

HB 500, which is described as being necessary for the protection of women athletes, forbids transgender women and girls from participating in organized sports. An op ed by Callie Burt in this paper stated that the top speed of women runners is routinely achieved by high school boys. To be eligible for the Olympics, women runners must complete a marathon in 2 hours 45 minutes, or 6 minutes, 17 seconds, per mile. Callie Burt did not list names or times of women runners or average times of male high school runners.

Idaho Rep. Barbara Ehardt, sponsor of HB 500, stated that a 13-year-old boy has the same strength and athleticism as a trained woman Olympic athlete. Her Republican colleagues believed her because they voted for the bill, and Gov. Brad Little signed it into law, knowing that it would be challenged in court .

In 1973, tennis star Bobby Riggs challenged Billie Jean King to a match stating that women’s tennis was inferior and uninteresting. ABC paid $75,000 for the U.S. to watch Billie Jean King win that match, all three games.

Janelle Wintersteen, Boise

This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 3:37 PM.