The States Must Lead—And We Must Demand It
We are living through a moment of real national danger. The rule of law is being strained, constitutional limits are ignored, and federal power is increasingly used to intimidate and divide rather than to protect. When national institutions falter, the states are not spectators. They are a constitutional counterweight—and today, they may be our last line of defense.
Democratic governors, acting together, have the authority and responsibility to meet this moment. As chair of the Democratic Governors Association, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is uniquely positioned to convene his colleagues and help forge a unified response rooted in constitutional governance, democratic norms, and equal protection under the law.
That leadership must be visible and coordinated: a joint declaration of principles, interstate cooperation to protect civil liberties, and emergency legislative action to set clear limits on unlawful federal overreach. Governors should also insist on accountability where federal enforcement has failed, including basic standards for transparency, oversight, and the use of force.
History does not judge moments like this kindly when leaders hesitate—and when citizens stay silent. Governors will only act boldly if they know the public is watching and demanding leadership.
This is not symbolic. It is urgent. And it is achievable.
Now is the time to call our governors and urge them to stand together, defend the Constitution, and lead.
Patty Satalia, Diane Ebken and Linda Barton, State College
Why Pennsylvania Must Ban Live Pigeon Shoots!
Bucks County is home to a cruel and primitive practice that most Pennsylvanians believe belongs in the past: live pigeon shoots. At the Philadelphia Gun Club in Bensalem, Pa birds are released from boxes to be shot at close range. It is reported that the club typically holds about a dozen shoots per year at its Bensalem Pa property. While the vast majority of states have outlawed this cruelty, legislative loopholes and political maneuvering have allowed it to continue in Pennsylvania.
House Bill 1097, sponsored by Bucks Co. Representative Perry Warren serving Yardley, Newtown and Upper Makefield Twp seeks to finally close this shameful chapter by banning live pigeon shoots statewide. The passage of this legislation is an urgent imperative, grounded in stopping animal cruelty and the overwhelming public will to end this practice.
The most compelling argument against live pigeon shoots is the profound animal cruelty inherent in the practice. The pigeons are launched from spring-loaded boxes just thirty yards from shooters, leaving them with little chance of survival or escape. Observers report that a significant percentage of birds are not killed outright but are wounded and left to suffer. After each round, wounded birds are retrieved, often by untrained youths, who employ gruesome and inhumane methods of euthanasia, including snapping their necks, or smashing them against surfaces.
In fact, there is a superior alternative to live bird shooting- “clay pigeon shooting.” Clay shooting allows participants to focus on the spirit of competition and accuracy without the sacrifice of life. Many clubs offer beginner-friendly courses, making it an ideal outdoor activity for families.
The movement to ban live pigeon shoots has a long history and is supported by a broad coalition of veterinarians, hunters, and concerned citizens. Despite this, legislative action has been repeatedly stymied by special interest lobbying and campaign contributions. House Bill 1097 to ban pigeon shoots has languished for over 30 years in the Pa Assembly! It is time to pass House Bill 1097 and end live pigeon shoots once and for all.Please contact your State Representative and Senator and demand they take immediate action by stating their support for HB 1097. Tell them that Pennsylvania has no tolerance for such unnecessary animal cruelty. 2026 is an election year for all Pa State Representatives and many State Senators. Make your voice heard today. To find your State Representative, visit: https://www.palegis.us/find-my-legislator.
Victor M Verbeke Esq, Harleysville
No Longer the People’s House
In his first month in office, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick made a statement wherein he called Congress “the People’s House.” His press release described how he introduced a measure to remove the “Members Only” signs in the House of Representatives to “[force] lawmakers to interact with constituents.”
How things have changed in 9 years.
Earlier this month over 225 of Brian Fitzpatrick’s law abiding constituents gathered in a public space to rally. They planned to go up to Fitzpatrick’s office in groups of five (abiding by his stated rules) to make public comment during his posted office hours. Instead these engaged citizens were met with a heavy, multi-car police presence and Fitzpatrick’s locked doors.
After the fact, when outraged constituents called Congressman Fitzpatrick’s office to complain about those locked doors, they were met with a variety of excuses. Some were told about an all-staff meeting. Other excuses included a late lunch break and a bathroom visit. All of these strain credulity, as none of them addressed the huge police presence outside the building and Fitzpatrick’s second floor office space.
The First Amendment of the Constitution protects not just speech, religion and assembly, but also the right “to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” That locked office door displayed Brian Fitzpatrick’s scorn for the First Amendment just as it displayed his hypocrisy in speaking of “The People’s House.” And I hope this insult is remembered by all of his constituents.
Kierstyn Zolfo, Lower Makefield Township
An Unlawful War Americans Don’t Want
Roughly 70% of Americans oppose a U.S. war with Venezuela. Even many of Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters do not want to be dragged into another open-ended conflict—especially one launched without Congressional authorization, in direct violation of the Constitution.
Trump’s reckless misuse of the U.S. military would inevitably cost civilian lives, put American service members in harm’s way, and further damage our already diminished credibility abroad. We’ve seen this movie before, and it never ends well.
If protecting Americans from illicit drugs were truly the priority, why did Trump pardon the former President of Honduras who was serving a 45-year U.S. prison sentence for funneling 500 tons of cocaine into the United States while taking millions in bribes from drug traffickers tied to El Chapo? That decision alone shatters any claim of a principled “war on drugs.”
The U.S. invasion of Venezuela also seriously undermined America’s moral authority in confronting the real dangers that our nation faces. Russia’s positioning of nuclear capable missile systems in Belarus and China’s live-fire drills near Taiwan pose far greater threats to our national security than Nicolas Maduro.
Trump’s fixation on Venezuela appears driven by personal grievance, oil interests, and self-enrichment — not by America’s safety. Distracting from the Epstein files is a definite bonus.
Invading Venezuela might soothe Trump’s ego and pad his bank account, but it won’t make America safer, more secure, or more affordable. Call Senator McCormick and Congressional Republicans to demand they start upholding the Constitution and actually put America first.
George Polycranos, Port Matilda
ICE Murders With Impunity
Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital was shot and killed by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents Saturday as he attempted to assist two other women being abused by federal agents. This is the second killing of a U.S. citizen by government agents this month.
On January 7, Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old wife and mother, was killed in Minneapolis after dropping her 6-year-old son at school. A masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, Jonathan Ross fired into her car, shooting her in the face.
Instead of investigating these murders, federal officials, including President Trump rushed to justify the shootings, contradicting video evidence, and labeling both individuals as “domestic terrorists.”
Our government’s first responsibility is to keep people safe — not to kill its own citizens and obscure the truth. Full transparency and independent accountability are the minimum standards for any democracy.
These incidents are not isolated. In just four months, federal immigration officers have shot at least nine additional people across multiple states and Washington, D.C.
How many thousands of other people have ICE and CBP brutalized, sprayed with chemical agents, indiscriminately grabbed off the streets or out of their homes, shoved into unmarked vans, held in detention centers without access to lawyers, or deported without due process?
Across the country, Americans are protesting because this pattern of behavior is wrong. We deserve a government we can trust – not one that deploys masked agents, uses deadly force with impunity, and then attempts to rewrite reality and tells us our eyes and ears are lying to us.
Congress has both the power and the obligation to act before ICE turns our country into a police state. Every American who believes in justice and the rule of law must demand a full investigation into this abuse of power.
David B. Kyle, New Columbia
