Where’s the justice in Vick case?
In 1989, Pete Rose was given a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball for gambling. In 1991, he was placed on the ineligible list to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame because of the gambling. While Rose admitted to betting on baseball games, he swore that he never betted against his own team. Rose earned many awards while playing baseball and definitely would have made it to the Hall of Fame had it not been for the gambling incident.
In 2007, Michael Vick was convicted of dog-fighting and spent 16 months in prison. On July 27, Vick was ruled eligible for reinstatement to again play in the National Football League. The fact that he was letting these animals fight and inflict injuries and death on each other should send images into every animal lover’s mind that will never be forgotten.
So how can someone who gambled and never caused harm to anyone or anything be given a harsher punishment than someone who did?
ó Barbara Pope
Salisbury
Back birthright act
The first section of the 14th Amendment to our Constitution states that:
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
The first sentence’s words “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof” make it clear that only those who are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States are citizens of this country. The nationality of infants born here is taken to be that of the mother. If a woman who is a subject (or gives allegiance) to another country gives birth here, that baby is a citizen of the mother’s home country.
Why have we not been following this simple and clear constitutional law? We are forced, indirectly, to pay for the birth and welfare care of the baby. We allow illegal alien mothers to remain here out of some trumped up guilt of not being able to deport her due to her baby being thought of as a citizen.
Why, in bad economic times, should U.S. citizens be paying support for children of illegal aliens? We have children who are citizens of our country who need support and assistance. Why are we not putting them first?
Rep. Nathan Deal has introduced a bill that would prevent illegal alien children born in the U.S. from automatically being made citizens of this country. It is the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2009 (H.R. 1868). If you agree, tell Congress.
ó June Clancy
Salisbury