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GregStevens,Publisher Chip Thompson, Editor EDITORIALBOARD How to have your say: Letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and no more than two double-spaced pages or 500words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section will be published. Email: editor@red bluffdailynews.com Phone: 530-527- 2151ext. 112 Mail to: P.O. Box 220, 545 Diamond Ave., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @REDBLUFFNEWS Thismaybeoneofthe toughest columns I have had to write. Let me start by tell- ing you that there probably has never been a woman who re- ally enjoyed hav- ing an abortion. However, I be- lieve all women should have the right to make that difficult choice. The challenge writing this column begins because every- one has a strong opinion on this issue, even men. Some- times I wonder why so many men have strong opinions. All men pretty much do in the re- productive process is enjoy the fun part of creating a life. Should abortion be as much their business as the wom- an's? The big Republican gains in last November's elections strengthened the anti-abor- tion forces in the U. S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate. How- ever, I think it is the GOP vic- tories on the local level, the statehouses and governor's mansions, that might be an- other starting place for an- other round of legal restric- tions on this dividing issue. Arkansas for instance, al- ready has strict anti-abortion laws. Now a Republican gov- ernor has succeeded a Demo- crat there who had already ve- toed two measures that would have banned most abortions beyond a certain stage of preg- nancy. The lawmakers in Ar- kansas are now planning to seek more restrictions. Those might be restrictions such as barring doctors from adminis- tering abortion drugs through telemedicine. Also, Republican gains in the West Virginia Legislature might redouble pressure on Democratic Governor Earl Ray Tomblin to accept a ban on most abortions, which he has previously deemed unconstitu- tional. And Tennessee voters recently approved a ballot ini- tiative that removes a 15-year barrier to legislation limit- ing abortion legislation in that deeply conservative state. I feel the issue of abortion might never be solved. It is an issue that has no middle ground. Radicals on the far right and far left frame it as life and death. A constituent who was obviously on the far right told me once it was noth- ing short of "killing a baby." Abortion rights advo- cates have had setbacks in the states for several years. Women seeking abortions could face mandatory wait- ing periods or ultrasound re- quirements. Clinics may face stricter building codes or hospital admitting privilege rules they can't satisfy. Doz- ens of clinics have shut down already in multiple states. Texas, for instance, has fewer than 10 abortion clinics now. A year ago, it had 40. The last enormous abortion line was drawn in the dirt in 1973 with Roe v. Wade, when our United States Supreme Court said the due process clause of the 14th Amendment — equal protection for all cit- izens — did extend to a wom- en's decision to have an abor- tion. All 50 states have strug- gled with this issue. The 1973 decision was complicated, but decided that "viability" was a key to abortion rights. If the fetus cannot live outside the mother's womb, then termi- nating the pregnancy can be an option. The time life can be deemed viable is most of- ten placed at seven months, or 28 weeks. I believe making a deci- sion on abortion is as close and personal as a woman ever has to make. I feel certain the trauma of that decision re- mains with her for the rest of her life. When politics makes one chose between Pro Life and Pro Choice, it truly is a mission impossible. My question is, should these abortion decisions remain in the hands of individual states? Or should Roe v. Wade be re- visited again by the United States Supreme Court? Please let me have you can- did and straight forward opin- ion on this tough issue. Again, I promise to respond. StanStathamserved1976- 1994 in the California As- sembly and was a television news anchor at KHSL-TV in Chico 1965-1975. He is presi- dent of the California Broad- casters Association and can be reached at StanStatham@ gmail.com. My take On abortion and the right to life, choice I think it is the GOP victories on the local level, the statehouses and governor's mansions, that might be another starting place for another round of legal restrictions on this dividing issue. Ilovethislittletown Editor: My mobility has gradually deteriorated over the past 20 years to where I now walk halt- ingly, only with the aid of two canes. My visits to the Post Of- fice serve as a reminder of Red Bluff's courteous and gracious people. Someone always opens the door, often having to wait while I hobble up the ramp. Young girls, working men, a gang-banger lookalike, even the proverbial little old lady all nod politely and smile as they usher me in. It is a heart-warming re- minder of the spirit of this lit- tle town. That warm glow cooled last week when I drove off and left my canes in a cart in Grocery Outlet parking lot. I noticed my lapse and returned within min- utes. But no luck, no canes had been turned in. It was no big loss; they were just drugstore canes. But I was left glumly thinking, "What is happening? This is Red Bluff. Who would take off with a crip- pled old man's canes?" All is well again. I went back this week and there were my canes, stored in Grocery Out- let's office awaiting my return. On the day I lost them, I had missed the lady who turned them in by minutes. Many thanks to Grocery Outlet and to my unidentified benefactor. I love this little town. — Linton Brown, Red Bluff Community spirit, donations made festival a success Editor: Having attended many staid and serious meetings, dinners and conferences at the Red Bluff Community and Senior Center, on the afternoon of Dec. 14 I experienced an entirely dif- ferent event. The building was filled with hundreds of families — lines were waiting to get in, kids were laughing and living it up, music filled the auditorium, children were hollering after winning a prize at one of the games, free books were given to every child, juice and snacks were available, families were working on special craft proj- ects and almost 50 volunteers were smiling and dealing with the exciting commotion. That describes the 24th an- nual Children's Christmas Festi- val where, of course, Santa and wrapped gifts for every one of the 590 participating children were the major attractions. When the center first opened, Ben Sale and Ron Clark started the festival to ensure that every child had a holiday to remem- ber. The tradition was contin- ued for many years by the Red Bluff Kiwanis Club and, when asked, Tehama Together eagerly agreed to sponsor this years's event. To have such a successful and heartwarming commu- nity event, as they say, "It takes a village" and in this case a county — the giving and caring people of Tehama County. Having worked on the fes- tival for any years, Larry Ste- vens requested that Tehama To- gether assume this year's spon- sorship and then he agreed to chair the planning committee. Jessie Woods, owner of the Gold Exchange, and Lou Aviles, head of the Red Bluff CHP unit, be- came major contributors to the success of the program by so- liciting donations, getting gifts wrapped and even going on shopping sprees with other con- tributors to purchase more than 500 gifts valued at $5 to $10. Maria Salas, Anabel Hernan- dez, Chris Hurton, Karla Stro- man, Robin Collins and Candy Carlson were also indispensable committee members. Additional thanks for do- nations from many local busi- nesses, organizations and indi- viduals. To all of those we say thank you. Tehama Together, now celebrating its fifth an- niversary as an all-volunteer agency, is thankful for the sup- port it receives for its projects and always welcomes assis- tance. — Orle Jackson, Red Bluff Counseling center celebrates 50 years of service Editor: The Family Counseling Cen- ter and the Hope Chest thrift store are celebrating 50 years of service in Tehama County in 2015. The counseling center, then The Family Service Agency, was started in 1965 by a committee of Rotarians; in the same year the Hope Chest was also estab- lished to support the counseling agency financially. As we celebrate our long partnership, we at FCC and the Hope Chest would like to thank the people of Red Bluff for their on-going support. Most recently this was dem- onstrated through "Christmas for a Cause," sponsored by the Gold Exchange. The Hope Chest and the Family Counseling Center both received valuable in-kind dona- tions of much-needed supplies to improve our facilities and serve the public. A big thank you to Jessie Woods for all her help and initiative. The people of Red Bluff also continue to give generously of their used items for the Hope Chest. The Hope Chest volun- teers sort all these items, and proceeds from their sale go to support the Family Counseling Center. Both agencies greatly appreciate all the wonderful do- nations. And many community members faithfully give to the Family Counseling Center fi- nancially, enabling FCC to con- tinue to help families and chil- dren with the counseling they need. We want thank our generous community as we look to the future and continue our suc- cessful partnership. — Hillary Lindauer, Red Bluff Your opinions Cartoonist's take When I was a lad, I would sprawl on the floor, reading "Dick Tracy" in the Sunday com- ics and marveling at high-tech police tools such as magnetic air cars and two-way wrist TVs. Nowadays an unknown po- liceman might saunter up to a kid in a crowd and whisper, "You're going to ruin your pos- ture sprawling on the floor that way. And I agree with you: your sister spends too much time showering." According to an investiga- tion by USA Today, at least 50 federal, state and local agencies are currently in possession of Range-R, a handheld device that uses "continuous wave radar technology" to detect motion (as slight as breathing) within a home or other building from 50 feet away. The devices were purchased without public debate and with the court system having scant knowledge of their existence. Of course no one should worry about privacy concerns; this is obviously an innocent, unin- tentional oversight, along the lines of "Honey, I forgot to men- tion it, but my mother arrives tonight to spend three months with us." Despite headlines about the government "seeing" inside your home, I'll try not to sensational- ize this. The Range-R indicates only motion and location, rather than providing an actual image. But authorities also have drone technology, radar with a 3D im- age and handheld devices for tapping into phone data. As the old saying goes, if your only tool is radar, pretty soon every problem starts to look like Burt Reynolds and Jerry Reed hauling contraband Coors beer. "Don't get your panties in a wad over this issue," advised one federal agent. "Never MIND how I know they're in a wad. Just un- derstand that no one has any- thing to fear from the new tech- nology, especially not that slea- zebag who seems to be spending an awful lot of time frolicking with my ex-wife in the basement hot tub that I paid for!!!" Law enforcement agen- cies swear they are not prepar- ing even more invasive devices. Phone calls about a device code- named Turn Your Head And Cough were not returned. Of course there are some readers out there who will puff out their chests and declare, "Bring it on. I, my high school sweetheart wife and our two- point-five adorable children have nothing to hide from the author- ities. Ha ha ha ha." These naive ninnies do not take into account the shifting sands of "hate" crimes, zoning ordinances and partisan poli- tics. What's okay today may be the unforgivable sin tomorrow. ("I spy with my little electronic eye...people talking about the weather but not doing anything about it!") The Range-R and other high- tech devices can be invaluable for locating unconscious smoke- inhalation victims, making drug busts less dangerous and out- witting hostage takers. But if misread addresses, personal vendettas or overzealous pros- ecution allow even one percent of cases to erode our precious Fourth Amendment protection from unreasonable searches and seizures... Old-timers can remember when a man's home was his cas- tle. Now the feds can theoreti- cally use loopholes such as "Your moat is using three percent more water than the current vol- untary limits. Probable cause! We're busting down your draw- bridge, knave!" I hope more citizens will de- mand safeguards such as court- issued warrants and stand against this Orwellian night- mare. ("Orwellian nightmare? Is that the one where it's the last day of class, you haven't stud- ied and a naked Orson Welles is your teacher?") *Sigh* Danny Tyree welcomes email re- sponses at tyreetyrades@aol. com and visits to his Facebook fan page Tyree's Tyrades. Danny Tyree Technology vs. privacy: Is home no longer your castle? Stan Statham OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, January 29, 2015 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B2