Letters to the editor for Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2015

The Nevada Appeal is accepting Thanksgiving poems, no more than 100 words in length, through today. Email poems to editor@nevadaappeal.com, or fax them to 775-887-2420, or mail them to the Nevada Appeal, 580 Mallory Way, Carson City NV 89701. Poems will be printed on Sunday, Nov. 22.

More on release of federal prisoners

This is in response to the article by Guy W. Farmer in reference to release of illegal immigrants from federal prison. There are a few points that need clarification.

First, the general release involves only 6,000 inmates from the federal prison system, and includes only nonviolent drug offenders, not rapists or murderers. Roughly 46,000 prisoners are among this category of non-violent drug offenders not affiliated with drug cartels.

Second, the recommendation came not from the Obama administration, but from the independent sentencing commission, and the recommendation was unanimous. “The releases are part of a shift in the nation’s approach to criminal justice and drug sentencing that has been driven by a bipartisan consensus that mass incarceration has failed and should be reversed ... Along with the commission’s action, the Justice Department has instructed its prosecutors not to charge low-level, nonviolent drug offenders who have no connection to gangs or large-scale drug organizations with offenses that carry severe mandatory sentences,” (Washington Post, via U.S. Justice Department, Oct. 6).

Third, among the prisoners slated for release, approximately one-third are non-resident, aka “illegals.” All of these non-resident releases will be deported, not released into American society. Justice officials stated: “About one-third are foreign citizens who will be quickly deported.”

I am not a proponent of illegal drugs, nor an apologist for the detrimental effects they cause on society. I merely thank you for the opportunity to clarify the situation.

Rex Norman

Carson City

Thank you for uplifting front pages

Thank you for the uplifting positive front pages of the Appeal. It is so great to see something beautiful or cute on the front page, instead of the negative, like most papers.

The picture of 14-month-old Jonathan eating snow brought a smile to my face and made my day a little brighter. Thanks again.

Donna Jensen

Carson City