That was a great column in the Dec. 11 Valley News by Jim Kenyon about raising the age to 70 before Vermont hunters can become permanent license holders (“Hunting Small Bucks”). This will not affect me as I have had a permanent license for years, but it strikes me that this change treats our seniors as second-class citizens. These are people who have paid for a license for perhaps 50 years and have looked forward to getting a break. Consider that after 65, we slow down due to aging or other problems and possibly won’t have a lot of time left to hunt.
This change is supposed to generate $250,000 in revenue, but it will come from seniors who are on Social Security and have not had an increase in two years. This amount would not even pay one warden’s six months salary. The change was proposed by the Fish and Wildlife Department and was slipped through the Legislature in a 56 page fee bill, which was probably not read through by them. I would guess that half the Legislature is not well aware of what is involved in hunting and would have a problem telling the difference between a Daisy air rifle and a muzzle loader.
The Fish and Wildlife Department wants to align our fees with other states. I hunt in New York state, so let’s take a look. Licenses for hunting deer, bear and small game in New York for those between 16 to 69 years are $22; $5 for those 70 plus years. Deer-only licenses in Vermont cost $26. Muzzle loader licenses in New York: $15; Vermont; $23. Turkey licenses in New York; $10; Vermont, $23. Bow hunting in New York: $15; Vermont, $23.
I would suggest the Fish and Wildlife check their math. I could give them some suggestions about how to raise revenue, but have tried three times to call them without success. I would urge all seniors and others to contact Fish and Wildlife and their legislators in protest and hold their feet to the fire. I hope this change will be reversed, but have little confidence in the system. Prove me wrong.
Howard RyanNorth Springfield, Vt.
I write this as I recall the faces of my friends who were directly affected by President Roosevelt’s 1942 Executive Order 9088. They were rounded up with 130,000 other Japanese-American citizens into prison camps, and summarily deprived of their rights and property. It took 66 years for the U.S. to admit that the order was based on “race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership” and to pay reparations to these victims.
We are at a similar moment now.
I am very concerned by suggestions by President-elect Donald Trump and some members of Congress to create a registry of Muslims in the U.S. Such a policy would run contrary to our fundamental values of religious freedom, a core principle on which our nation was founded. It could also pave the way for more egregious forms of discrimination further down the line. Further, there is no evidence that such a policy would make us safer. In fact, it will likely serve as a propaganda tool for extremists, which would make us less secure.
The creation of a religious registration system for Muslims is not only discriminatory but runs counter to core values in our country. Such a registry would also create tensions among religious communities and turn our nation from a welcoming place into a closed-off and alienating one for many residents and new arrivals. Our country has a long tradition of providing safe haven for people of varied religious backgrounds.
I hope that my members of Congress, Rep. Peter Welch and Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders will speak out and act strongly to oppose any effort to create a registry of Muslims.
Kathleen ShepherdNorwich
On Tuesday, my heart grew three sizes when an unknown community member who knows the true meaning of this holiday season made a $1,000 donation to the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Committee. The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Committee is the Sunapee Region Board of Realtors and Affiliates’ charitable giving organization, committed to ensuring children and families in the Sunapee Lakes Region area have the resources they need to thrive.
Recently Neighbors Helping Neighbors donated $6,000 to local charities. This winter, the Sunapee Region Board of Realtors plans to make additional financial contributions to these wonderful local charities.
We are blown away at how closely the local charities work together to support the needs of our community. On behalf of the Sunapee Region Board of Realtors and Affiliates, I want to share our heartfelt appreciation for this anonymous donor’s kindness. Your generosity exemplifies this holiday’s spirit of giving, and we are honored that you are part of our community. Your gift will bring smiles to many of our neighbors in the Lake Sunapee region.
Dan O’HalloranNew London