LETTERS: Immigration adversely affects wages

To the editor:

Saturday’s Review-Journal editorial (“Not all the rage”) was fine to a point. There were statistics to reinforce the editorial’s point of view, all of which justified not increasing the minimum wage. I agreed with every one of them, but the editorial left out the 30 million-pound elephant in the room. Regarding one particular paragraph “Labor is a commodity, and as such it is subject to the pressures of supply and demand. Right now … there is an oversupply of workers.”

I ask, where did all these workers come from? That elephant is mass immigration, mostly from Mexico, which has caused an ever-increasing supply of workers who are willing to work more hours for less money, and maybe work two or more jobs.

The political left has ignored or advocated for many of the causes of the current situation, then has had the audacity to complain about the wages of low- or no-skilled workers. Until there is resolution and a reduction of illegal immigrants, wages will stay stagnant, and an ever increasing supply of workers will be competing for the same job.

GEORGE PEEL

HENDERSON

Gun-free zones

To the editor:

Store owners should think twice before making their stores gun-free zones. If they choose to go gun-free, then it should be their responsibility to provide armed security to protect the customers from the people who do not pay any attention to “No guns” signage.

Concealed firearms permit holders have undergone extensive background investigations and should be considered friends of law enforcement and law-abiding citizens. Denying these permit holders the right to protect themselves, and possibly others, does not make sense. Who has heard of a permit holder going on a shooting rampage?

The theater in Colorado (12 people killed, 70 injured) was a gun-free zone. The Virginia Tech campus (32 people killed, 17 injured) was a gun-free zone. If there had been armed permit holders present, it is possible that some of the bloodshed might have been prevented.

If store owners want to make their stores gun-free, without providing armed security protection, then they should post signs that read: “No guns allowed except for law enforcement and concealed firearms permit holders.”

ROGER WITCHER

LAS VEGAS

Minimum wage rage

To the editor:

I see where the progressives are at it again. This time, they’re at the forefront in demanding chain restaurants, such as McDonald’s, pay their employees $15 an hour (a “living wage”). I have an idea: Why don’t these nags use the money they waste on their noisy but fruitless demonstrations to open restaurants across the street from the chains, pay their new employees 15 bucks an hour and compete in the marketplace?

In other words, why don’t they put their money where their mouths are?

JERRY FINK

LAS VEGAS

Bishop Gorman football

To the editor:

Bishop Gorman High School is being applauded for winning yet another state title in football. But isn’t it time for Coach Tony Sanchez and the private school to adopt the same principle as Findlay Prep in basketball, and compete only against those teams in the upper divisions of high school sports on a national level?

Bishop Gorman is no longer a local team, and it’s time to let the public school teams in Nevada compete on a level playing field. Public schools are not sponsored by casino moguls, don’t have multimillion-dollar training facilities and can’t recruit the best players from inside and outside the county.

Bishop Gorman should limit its games to teams with a national profile, just as it has a national profile. Let the players from Nevada public schools enjoy some of the same success Mr. Sanchez’s teams have had for the past five years.

Come on, Gaels, it’s time to share the wealth.

A.J. POGONOWSKI

LAS VEGAS

Hunting and conservation

To the editor:

Fred Voltz’s commentary couldn’t be more incorrect (“Killing wildlife doesn’t count as preservation,” Sunday Review-Journal). Conservation derives the vast majority of its resources from the 11-cent excise tax imposed in 1937 at the request of hunters and fishermen, on guns, ammunition, bows, arrows and fishing equipment, not to mention the billions of dollars outdoorsmen and women spend on hunting and fishing licenses.

I am a proud lifelong hunter and fisherman, and have probably spent more than $100,000 on my hunting and fishing exploits over my 61 years. This year, I spent about $2,000 on license fees; factor in the motels, gas and all the new hunting supplies, and I probably added an additional $6,000 to the economy in 2013 alone.

I am a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. We have purchased more than 6 million acres of land across the West that can only be used for wildlife habitat. At our 2012 national banquet in Las Vegas, members bid on hunts, hunting and fishing trips, guns and other hunting and fishing accessories, and all of the proceeds (millions of dollars) went into wildlife conservation efforts. We have reintroduced elk back into their native habitat in Wisconsin, Ontario, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountains.

In 1907, only 41,000 elk remained in the United States. Today, there are more than 13,000 in Nevada and more than 1 million in the United States. In 1900, only 500,000 white-tailed deer remained; Texas has more than 2 million today, and they number an estimated 15 million nationally.

Mr. Voltz, the next time you see a wild deer, elk, antelope, sheep, mountain lion, bobcat, quail, duck, Canada goose or any nongame species such as raptors, thank a hunter.

ROBERT GARDNER

HENDERSON