John Vestal (
March 20th, 2008 at 8:44:39 AM)
My email this morning to Sen Renee Unterman (R-Buford)...original bill sponsor....
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Dear Senator,
Good morning. I was dissapointed to hear on the radio this morning that you were choosing to not push the current version of SB454 for a vote due to the attachment of legislation allowing local referenda on Sunday package sales of alcohol.
Senator, although I am a Republican constituent in a neighboring district (27th - Sen. Jack Murphy) I would be interested in hearing your comments regarding this issue and your opposition. We're all familiar with our Governor's silly past rhetoric in talking about Sunday sales (both during prior and current sessions), but I have yet to hear a valid argument AGAINST allowing municipalities where alcohol sales are already legal to address this issue as a local one. It seems the most prevalent argument used is based on faith-based convictions.....which are powerful and completely valid, but which do not belong in matters of legislation in my opinion.
As a voting resident of Gwinnett County, you would have every opportunity to oppose Sunday sales at the local level (on the same basis as your current opposition) and lobby your fellow residents to do the same. Likewise, I would be able to address the issue as I see fit in Forsyth County. As a fellow Republican, I would hope you share the generally-regarded conservative ideal of allowing the lowest level of government that has the resources and capabilities to address local issues to do so, thus reducing the need for involvement by the higher levels in a 'nanny state' scenario.
Senator, please feel free to contact me if you are willing to discuss this issue. As a life-long Republican, I am becoming more and more dissatisfied and dissapointed with many in our Party as they seem to forget and go on to betray some of the basic tenets of governance for which our Party has long-stood.
Thank you for taking the time to review my concerns.
Respectfully,
John Vestal
Cumming, GA 30041
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