To the editor:

In all the years I have had letters to the editor published I have received just two letters responding to what I wrote.

The first one, almost four years ago, was actually from someone I knew who said he disagreed with much of what I said and then invited me to coffee. The second was a few months ago in response to my letter, “Proud supporter says Trump will succeed,” published Sept. 4th. The letter I received was unsigned and was without a return address. The letter writer either knew me or had to do research to get my address. The writer said he would not sign the letter because he felt I was so far to the right. Although I will readily admit I am a conservative MAGA Republican I am far from being “so far to the right”. In fact, I consider myself to be a moderate on many issues. The writer of course does not know me and was making a blind and inaccurate assumption about me.

The writer questioned why I believe former President Trump (now President-elect Trump) can make America safe again. First and foremost, Trump will make America safer by closing and securing the border to stop illegal immigrants from entering this country undetected, stopping those that would commit crimes against American citizens, and to stop the smuggling into the country of the killer opiod drug fentanyl.

Second, Trump will do what he can to eliminate sanctuary cities and states and will direct Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an agency Kamala Harris wanted to abolish, to deport criminals, making America safer. Recently in the news we found out there are thousands of known criminals that have been allowed in the country and are wandering around the country, unknown about who they are or where they are. Trump will find them and deport them.

Third, Democrats have openly said for years they wanted to defund the police and some cities have done so and some have since then reversed their efforts to defund. Trump will work to further reverse defunding efforts and will provide more resources to law enforcement. Without adequate law enforcement presence crime increases in many city neighborhoods, particularly poor neighborhoods that have experienced a greater percentage of their city’s crime.

The writer took particular exception about Trump making America strong again. The writer stated, “I am proud of this country and so are millions of Americans. Your words on America being strong ‘again’ is also disturbing.” Perhaps the writer felt America was strong and did not need to be made strong “again.” My use of “again” was in the context of what Trump did in his first four years and would do again to make America strong, certainly strong again economically — give us lower inflation, lower gas and grocery prices and lower interest rates.

I am one of the 77 million Americans who are also proud of their country and voted Nov. 5th on what we believed is needed to make America safe again and strong again and who we believed will be the one to do it — President Donald Trump.

Chuck Peterson

Fort Dodge