To the Editor:

I write in response to Ethan Reynolds' letter of June 26, 2023, where he alleges that State Issue 1 would harm our democracy. First, we do not live in a democracy; we live in a constitutional republic.

As a constitutional republic, we hold elections and elect representatives that pass our laws. If we don’t like these laws, then we can either elect new representatives or overturn these laws on a statewide ballot or collect signatures and vote on new laws.

State Issue 1 has arisen because leftists Democrats have given up on this process. Instead, with funding from coastal billionaires such as George Soros, they are trying to cram legislation into our state constitution.

Issues such as abortion, gun control, minimum wages and so on are state legislative decisions. After State Issue 1 passes, voters will still have the ability to collect signatures, initiate a statute and pass it with a simple majority. State Issue 1 will only apply to new constitutional amendments.

Our state constitution is a sacred document that has been riddled for too long with legislative issues. State Issue 1 will help fix this problem. Please vote yes! 

Scott Allan Pullins, Esq.

Mount Vernon