Opinion - Letters to the Editor

POSTED: Thursday, Jun. 18, 2009

Don't help military apprehend soldiers

The angry voices arguing that the sanctuary city forum was a waste of money really missed the point. The big waste of city money is having our police subsidize the U.S. military by tracking down, apprehending, and detaining soldiers who have left their post. These individuals have violated no civil laws, and our police are not required to do this favor for the military.

So let's not. Our city budget is severely strapped while the military wastes billions of their many more billions. If they want to round up war survivors who have left their post, they should use their own resources.

I believe most of those opposed to sanctuary at the recent forum do not live in Bellingham and don't pay city taxes. They certainly don't represent the citizens of Bellingham, in my opinion. A majority of Americans, including Bellinghamsters, oppose the Iraq war. So why are we voluntarily offering our local resources to round up soldiers to be sent back there?

Whether or not City Council passes a sanctuary resolution, our mayor and police chief should stop using local law enforcement to apprehend folks who have broken no civil laws and pose no threat to our community.

No unfunded favors for the military, please.

Duane Jager

Bellingham