Joe Heck needs to take a stand

David Hatton, Henderson

Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013 | 2:03 a.m.

Congress is about to begin a new year. The constituents of Congressional District 3 want the House to act now to pass comprehensive immigration reform and to close the glaring loopholes preventing effective background checks for gun purchases.

Rep. Joe Heck’s town hall was very positive in that he understands the issues, his responses to moderate and progressive questions were direct and balanced, and his responses to conspiracy theorists and ideologues (and they were out in force) were appropriately dismissive.

We know that he can help this country move forward, but to do this, he must stand up to the extremist Tea Party members and to his own party leaders. Should he decide to be a moral leader, we’ll have his back. He must take a public stance against the obstructive behavior in the House.

We need Heck and a few more Republicans with spines to marginalize the dangerous obstructionists who have no understanding of the world today. While they laugh in their joy at repealing rights, rigging elections, preventing a living wage, taking away food assistance and turning their backs on science — the world is laughing at us.