Regarding the Feb. 28 story “Benton berates 14 House Republicans: Vancouver’s Vick, others chastised for stance on signature-gatherers bill,” most of us have been accosted by signature-gatherers. They are rude, pushy, demanding, accusing and threatening. This isn’t true for all of them but enough to require changes in their behavior. To have to register with the state, complete training, and other requirements to become a signature-gatherer is not too much to ask of a paid signature-gatherer.
It sounds as if Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, has never been confronted by a signature-gatherer. For me, the worst was the signature-gatherer for the marijuana initiative. A young man, his eyes were bloodshot, and he was persistent. I did not sign his petition.
I feel lots of people who sign these petitions don’t realize they can become laws that they may not want at all. The liquor law and the pot law passed after being put on the ballot through petitions signed by citizens in the street and in front of local businesses. How many of these laws did we really need or want?
HB 2552 is good and necessary.
Ann U. Harris
Vancouver
