Council should have

discussed 'red flag' bill

 Our City Council members are a bunch of cowards. There was a resolution by Mark Aliff to make Pueblo a sanctuary city for the "red flag" bill. When there was no second, it died. There was no public comment or discussion by the City Council.

 The majority of the Colorado sheriffs association members oppose the bill. More than half of the counties have voted to be sanctuary counties. But our councilmen are to afraid to go on the record as a "yea" or "nay." They might have to explain their vote to someone. Nice to know we have such fearless people running our city. I include the mayor as well in this august body of no commitment good ole boys.

 Dennis Bright, Pueblo


'Red flag' bill wouldn't

survive a legal challenge

 So much for The Pueblo Chieftain's analysis. David Kopel, an attorney much experienced with Second Amendment issues at the Supreme Court, has carefully reviewed and written an opinion on this idiotic "red flag" bill and, although he does believe there should be a way to disarm dangerously violent people, he thinks this bill, as written, will not survive a constitutional challenge and violates more than one part of the Bill of Rights.

 Hence, sheriffs are within their rights under their vows to uphold the United States Constitution, to refuse to enforce unconstitutional laws, as the constitution is the overriding law of the country. Our own sheriff has advised he doesn't need this bill, as he had all the authority he needed to disarm and take into custody people who are truly dangerous.

 I applaud the sheriffs who have said they will not enforce this. Even our governor, who certainly can't be considered conservative, has hedged his bets by saying that sheriffs have the authority to decide priority on enforcement. The safety demanded by the nuts that have shoved this law through is achievable without short-cutting peoples' rights.

 Bill Dietrick, Pueblo West


Provide temporary assistance

to the newly employed

 I am writing regarding House Bill 19-1107, creating a pilot program for emergency employment support services. This bill would create a three-year pilot program in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment for an emergency supportive services fund that community based organizations, such as Catholic Charities, could draw from to serve participants experiencing barriers to employment.

 HB19-1107 fits with Pueblo’s Catholic Charities’ transitional jobs program, ReHire Colorado. Our goal is to put people to work. Jobs solve so many problems and provide people with a level of dignity as well as income. This program also benefits our employers and local economy.

 This bill would allow our participants emergency funds, up to $400 per year, prior to, and up to six months after gaining employment. It would assist low-income people trying to find or keep a job.

 For example, people get new jobs, always cause for celebration, but need bus passes for three months until they can afford to fix their car or they had to shut off their cellphones because they had no money. Since transportation is vital to keeping the job and phone coverage is important to be alerted of last minute shift changes, Catholic Charities would be able to assist with both, thereby keeping these people in the workforce and their new employers happy, too.

 Joe Mahoney, Pueblo


Another strange case

of birthplace confusion

 In the category of strange news, President Donald Trump again has claimed that his dad was born in Germany. Trump has stated this several times now, even though his dad was born in the Bronx.

 I only mention it because the whole time Trump claimed President Barack Obama was born in Kenya, it was probably just an honest mistake, right?

 Ray Davis, Colorado City