Letters on military suicides, Karl Peterjohn, David Dennis
Military suicides exceed war deaths
According to Wikipedia, 6,717 U.S. military personnel have died from injuries sustained in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars in the entire 15-year period from 2001 to the present.
In comparison, the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 22 combat veterans die from suicide per day. That’s one death every 65 minutes; about 8,030 deaths per year. At that rate, in only 7 1/2 years, the number of military suicides will exceed the 58,200 American lives lost in the entire 20-year period of combat during the Vietnam War.
Please think about that: 6,717 deaths by combat in 15 years; about 8,030 deaths by suicide in only one year.
What have we gained in return for the lives of our young men? Freedom? Security? Really?
Rod Cook, Caldwell
Re-elect Peterjohn
If you want your taxes to go up, then vote for David Dennis for Sedgwick County Commission on Aug. 2.
During the four years Dennis and I served on the Kansas State Board of Education, he refused to take any action to make sure that tax dollars got into the classroom. Instead, he always voted with the Democrats to demand $450 million to $600 million more from the Legislature. That would have been a major increase on all Kansas taxpayers.
Each board meeting, the consent agenda included $20 million to $30 million in rubber-stamp federal grant approvals. As chairman, he would not allow questions or discussion on whether these tax dollars were benefiting any Kansas students or teachers. Whatever the staff recommended, Dennis always approved.
But Karl Peterjohn was working hard in Topeka to hold down spending long before he was elected to the Sedgwick County Commission.
Peterjohn does his research, asks questions and expects rational, honest answers before voting. Dennis only went through the motions of representing the taxpayers.
Peterjohn is a true Republican. We need him back on the County Commission.
Walt Chappell, Wichita
Dennis is best
As a lifelong and active Republican, I urge west-side Sedgwick County Republicans to join me in voting for retired Col. David Dennis for District 3 county commissioner during the Aug. 2 primary.
Unlike Karl Peterjohn, Dennis is also a lifelong member of the Republican Party. He’s served as a precinct committeeman, is pro-life, a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association and consistent defender of Second Amendment rights.
One of the most important issues at the local level is the budget, and Dennis understands how to make responsible fiscal choices for Sedgwick County. He has experience managing a $125 million budget. His opponent voted for deficit spending last year while also cutting nonprofits and services.
This consistency and these values make Dennis the best choice for District 3 Republicans.
Juvetta Slane, Wichita
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This story was originally published July 11, 2016 at 12:04 AM with the headline "Letters on military suicides, Karl Peterjohn, David Dennis."