Gun rights response
I read with great interest Ned Pierce’s letter explaining his belief that he is a member of the U.S. militia. What prompted my interest is that the unregulated militia does not have any physical existence until it is called up by the president of the United States. Also, contrary to his “understanding’ there is nothing that substantiates his assumption that it be either fully or partially self-armed to the level of regular military troops. To that end, he should have researched Article 1 Section 8 Clause 16 of the Constitution. It outlines the governments responsibility, “to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress.” I am sorry Mr. Pierce you cannot specify what you will arm yourself with or even when you will be part of the militia. With all due respect, your letter seems to be just another commercial from the weapon manufacturers and the NRA to sell more and bigger guns.
Ned Sheats , Mission
Bishop’s abortion letter
Regarding the recent letter from Bishop Pfeifer, remember what Pope Leo XIII (circa 18781903) said: “He upheld
the teachings of his predecessors in no uncertain terms; was the author of momentous Encyclicals on political government, social questions, and he condemned the nascent ‘Christian Democracy’ as utterly opposed to Catholic Truth.”
The Catholic Church has a history of condemning the U.S. government.
I believe the official position of the Catholic Church is anti-American freedoms. “One of the most spectacular stages in the battle with democracy is marked by the 1864 encyclical Quanta cura by Pius IX censuring rationalism, freedom of the press, equality of religions before the law, freedom of conscience, as well as a system of government which steered clear of punishing attacks on Roman Catholicism.”
Pope Leo XIII said: “The death sentence is a necessary and efficacious means for the Church to attain its end when rebels act against it and disturbers of the ecclesiastical unity, especially obstinate heretics and heresiarchs, cannot be restrained by any other penalty from continuing to derange the ecclesiastical order and impelling others to all sorts of crime …
When the perversity of one or several is calculated to bring about the ruin of many of its children it is bound effectively
to remove it, in such wise that if there be no other remedy for saving its people it can and must put these wicked men to death.”
For over 1,700 years, the Catholic Church has opposed equal rights for women. The proof of this is the number of women priests. President John Adams said: “But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed?”
Hank Shiver , Mission
McAllen property appraisals questioned
I have spoken to numerous neighbors in my area and all homeowners have said they’ve seen an increase on the value of the land of their home in recently received appraisals for 2018.
This letter is an appeal to readers with legal expertise. Is it legal for the City of McAllen to raise the value of the land our homes are sitting on by 100 percent? By doing so they seem to be doing an end-around voters. Voters should be presented with a proposal to increase the tax rate on existing home values. This would put the power in the hands of the voters. By arbitrarily raising land values, the city essentially raised taxes across the board, significantly without one vote cast. How can this be legal?
Michael Pozuc , McAllen
