Letter to the Editor: Let’s use common sense, both near and afar

In a recent editorial of the Chronicle, Andre’ Jones stated, “Be smart and use common sense by locking the doors to your house, shed, garage, and cars to prevent theft.” He concluded that it was better to be proactive and prevent a situation than to suffer the consequences.

This same advice can be extended to our southern border with Mexico. It is only common sense to have an effective barrier with several designated entry points where border officials can control who and what is coming into our country. This is the proactive and smart way to keep unwanted criminals, gang members, illegal drugs, and diseases for entering the United States.

Nationally, we have a severe opiate-addition problem. You may even know of someone in Charles City, New Kent, or beyond who has been affected by a drug problem. Did you know that 90 percent of illegal drugs come through the southern border? This needs to be stopped.

Furthermore, polio, smallpox, and chickenpox are highly contagious, airborne diseases that were eradicated decades ago, but are now returning to our country via illegal immigration at our southern border. According to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), there will be more people dying from tuberculosis (TB) in the upcoming years due to the influx of illegals with these diseases.

Legal immigrants are medically screened for these diseases in their own countries before they are allowed into ours. Screening people coming into America is a smart way to take control of the spread of serious illness on the citizens of our country.

Let’s protect the people close to us by doing the right thing. A person involved with drugs is more likely individual to rob your house. Let’s lock our doors, both at home and afar. Let common sense prevail and build a barrier to protect our citizens.

Peter Churins
Charles City