Letter to the Editor

I have been a resident of Texarkana for more than 50 years; 30 of those years have been in the New Town community. I am a mother of five children. On Nov. 6, 2006, my oldest son, Shaun L. Sanders, was found slain in his home in Texarkana. As a mother I am heartbroken, saddened by the loss of my son to know that someone would have done this to my child or anyones child. It is frightening. I dont believe that my son would take his own life or someone else. That was not Shauns character.

I want results. Tell me something that I can believe. It seems that I am falling on deaf ears. It seems that no one hears my cry. I am asking for help from anyone who knows, anyone who cares to help me in my effort to solve this crime. As a mother I need closure. Most of all a peace of mind. In closing I know that God is a just and fair God. God will get the glory.

Gwendolyn Sanders Burks

Texarkana, Texas

Keep killer in jail

TO THE EDITOR:

This is in response to the story by Lori Dunn on the murder of Bill Long. I was glad to see that the Gazette found this to be a worthwhile story. Anyone who had been the victim of such a crime knows the helplessness the family feels in regard to justice. This man should spend the rest of his life behind bars he is a threat to society and to the family of Bill Long.

Anyone wishing to sign their name to the list of those wishing to keep Eddie Lyon Jr. in prison is asked to write a letter stating so and mail it to: PO Box 7409, Texarkana, Texas, 75505.

Cindy McPherson

Texarkana, Texas

Game fowl traditional

TO THE EDITOR:

Game fowl have been in my family for many generations. In the old days more people lived in rural areas and game fowl were more popular. I can remember a newsstand about halfway between the post office and Bi-State Justice Building. They used to stock a game fowl magazine on the shelf. I would mow grass to buy me one. Grandmother ordered me some white game chickens from one of those books.

The animal rights organizations have been very successful in passing laws against cockfighting, one state at a time. They only have one state left, Louisiana. Back in the late 40s in Hot Springs, Oysters Pit was the world series of cockfighting, although Arkansas already had a cockfighting law. Later, Orlando, Fla., was the place to go. In San Antonio, Burgs Mill Pit ran for about 30 years and Texas already had the law. When I lived in Phoenix, Copper State Pit was the world series of cockfighting. People flew in there from all parts of the world and large sums of money was wagered. It was legal at that time, but its not now. Sometimes its hard to enforce laws, especially if local officials dont want to. Cockfighting brings money into a community and some officials want to get re-elected.

We have a ban on smoking in Texarkana, Texas, but some are ignoring it and I dont see any elected officials tripping over each other to get it enforced.

England passed a ban against fox hunting. Ive been told the animal rights people donated 1 million pounds to get it done. Ive also heard the fox hunters are ignoring the ban. Ive been to a fox hunt in England. The horses are tall and magnificent and the dogs are beautiful.

Sometimes laws only make criminals of good and decent people. The populations of our prisons are exploding. Many are non-violent and have violated laws that we didnt need to start with. Taxpayers have to feed and house people that are of no threat to anyone.

I heard cockfighting described as gruesome. Is it gruesome for a boxer to beat his opponent into unconsciousness? Is it gruesome to injure a quarterback to take him out of the football game? Is it gruesome for children, women and civilians and military people to have their limbs blown off and killed? Compared to this, cockfighting is not gruesome.

The animal rights organizations are almost finished with their obsession to pass state laws against cockfighting. Meanwhile, more than ever, puppies and kittens are being put to death. Louisiana is their last state to get a law passed against cockfighting. What will their next crusade be to raise money? Maybe deer or duck hunting. Does anyone have enough money to stop them?

Will Ellis

Texarkana, Texas

Addiction has many faces

TO THE EDITOR:

The Meth-Monster story was nice and scary. Its about like saying, ‘Say no to drugs’ but its more to addiction than looking bad. I myself have seen drug addicts who still look good. But that story could go both ways. When an addict gets into recovery, some of us get to looking better, the reverse of your story.

Im Raydeen and I am in long-term recovery, which means that I have not used drugs or alcohol for more than 18 years. I am committed to recovery because it has given me and my family new purpose and hope for the future while helping me gain stability in my life.

I am now speaking out because long-term recovery has helped me change my life for the better and I want to make it possible for others to do the same. I found recovery through a 12-step group, but our traditions do not permit me to name it in the media. I never said I was going to grow up and be an addict. It happened. Through this program I will live. There is help.

Raydeen Edwards

Atlanta, Texas