Gary Watts
Salt Lake Tribune" Sen. Buttars' opposition to the proposed legislation is based primarily on his belief that to specifically include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals in the proposed statute as a protected "subgroup" would start us down a slippery slope that would have every "subgroup" (he specifically mentioned those with tattoos) asking for similar protection.
That argument loses some of its credibility when we recognize that similar protections for valued subgroups are already in place and have wide public support. I will cite just three for your consideration.
* We double fines for speeding in road construction areas.
* We impose 20 mph speed limits in and around our schools.
* We enhance penalties for attempted assassination of elected government officials.
Why? Because we recognize that citizens we value highly, i.e. our construction workers, our school children and our elected officials, are at increased risk because of whom and where they may be. "
