To the editor:
I read Mr. Kipp’s letter in The County [July 16]. Another disappointment. Instead of offering solid information about anything, he once again filled his script mostly with rhetoric. His latest offering seems little more than a repeat of his last two offerings to The County. As with his prior letters I have some questions and comments about this one, too.
Mr. Kipp mentioned people who entered our country illegally having lived here peacefully for years. My question to Mr. Kipp is: Does that make illegal entry into our country any less of a crime?
Mr. Kipp mentioned the lights in the detention facilities in Florida being kept on 24/7, he assumes to keep prisoners awake. My question to Mr. Kipp is: Have you thought of the possibility that the lights are kept on 24/7 for their safety? Many things happen in the dark that people should be protected from. Some innocent, some nefarious.
Mr. Kipp claims that there is widespread racial profiling arresting random brown people off the street. First, Mr. Kipp, if you had taken my advice and looked up the meaning of “probable” in “probable cause,” you might have a better understanding of how the system works. Also, If a crime is committed and 80 percent of the people committing the crime are people of any color, white included, is it racial profiling if 80 percent of people that color are questioned about the crime?
Will there be mistakes made when it comes to detaining the wrong people? Yes, there will be. But those here legally will have no problem offering proof of their legal status.
As far as the people in detention camps being denied food and water for long stretches, I’m afraid before you can convince me of that you will have to offer legitimate proof that it was done intentionally, if done at all.
Mr. Kipp seems more interested in commentary than open discussion, so I don’t expect any answers to my questions. He hasn’t answered any yet.
Walter Crean
Madawaska
