Regarding the Feb. 8 front-page story “Spencer revokes veteran home permit”:
Resident Barbara Kemper said the home was a great idea, but she didn’t want it next door. She said this is “not about bashing veterans” like those who fought for America to help the South Vietnamese people to be free as we are, or veterans of the war we are in now. If one of these veterans was her son, I wonder what she would say.
I was involved in the Vietnam War for 11 months, 28 days and a few extra minutes. I came home alive, with most of my body parts except for some blood that I shed on that country’s soil. The American people still don’t understand what the Vietnam soldier went through. The combat veterans were involved in more combat than in any other war, an average of 240 days a year.
By the way, the neighbor who hit the deck and crawled under the couch would have made a great man in our unit. Or maybe he is a combat vet and has a problem.
Dr. Tim Heath, I would be proud to be put on your guard duty roster to guard our veterans from harm’s way. Plus, it might increase property values to have free 24/7 security in the neighborhood.
— Jerry Murph
Kannapolis

This letter is in response to the use of the gas chamber on homeless, hurt or sick animals. The gas chamber is a horrible death for innocent animals. Out of 100 N.C. counties, only 10 still use the gas chamber. Why is it so difficult for our commissioners and the Rowan County Animal Shelter to agree to do away with this primitive way of euthanizing helpless animals?
The facts are clear: Money has been donated to set up lethal injection, which is cheaper than the gas chamber and more humane, and eight employees are already certified in using lethal injection. So, why have we not removed the gas chamber, which is cruel and costs taxpayers more money?
During a commissioners meeting in January, only Jon Barber made a motion to discuss the gas chamber. Yet Vice Chairman Craig Pierce, who did not second the motion, is the one who talks about a no-kill shelter but says it will take a long time. When Barber wants to speak, he sometimes is not allowed. While all the other commissioners are trying to appear as if they care about these helpless animals, many animals are still being gassed. (It is illegal to gas puppies, pregnant animals or those already near death.)
Many horror stories about abuse and cruelty to animals have surfaced in recent months. Clai Martin, who is over the shelter, said, “All of my staff have the utmost compassion for animals.”
Really? How could this be since you continue to use the gas chamber when lethal injection is more humane and costs taxpayers less money?
Commissioners, when is the gassing going to stop?
We are the voices of God’s animals, and as Christians, we are determined to end the senseless suffering of innocent animals. We will not go away!
— Merriann Davis
Rockwell
Angela Goodman
Landis
Dana Yarbrough
Spencer