Letter: Constitution protects rights of homeless, too

Monday, Dec. 15, 2003 | 9:07 a.m.

Elected officials take an oath to defend and uphold the constitution. This oath is not subject to interpretation: It is clear and absolute. Why then do elected officials treat their constituents unequally? Why do the police selectively enforce laws and violate the constitutional guarantees of the homeless with the elected officials' benign approval?

This is not only my opinion. If you check, you will find numerous newspaper articles over the last two years to document this abuse. Elected officials' public statements will show that they have given tacit approval to this policy.

Who are the homeless? They are veterans and military retirees who comprise about 30 percent of this population (2,000-3,000). This is disgraceful in peacetime. During wartime it is criminal. The mentally ill, many sleeping in the desert, comprise about 40 percent of this population (2,500-4,000). What does it say about our society?

Since 9-11 we have seen families join this population. In the Clark County school district there are more than 1,000 homeless children. Despite protestations by elected officials and homeless providers, there were not sufficient beds and programs for veterans, military retirees, the mentally ill, those with gambling, alcohol and drug addictions and families. About two years has been spent in obstructionism and negative policies. Now is the time to comprehensively help the homeless to address their core problems. The constitution also protects them.

FRANK PERNA