Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Regarding Andrew Maggard’s letter to the editor (“If you can’t stand the heat,” Feb. 20 Readers Write), the writer implies that HB 1627 being proposed in the General Assembly involves simple criticism of elected officials that “smacks of childish whining”; however, it is far more important than that.

HB 1627 prohibits threats of death or bodily harm to individuals such as school employees, caregivers, family members, doctors in emergency rooms, the governor and his family. It also covers threats to bomb or damage buildings, places of assembly, or means of transportation, as well as harassment by computer.

It is obvious that threats such as these are not mere criticism, but possible preludes to real actions. This proposed law is nothing to ignore and more than necessary in this day of electronic threats, real or not. Threats to harm or kill can cause tremendous emotional trauma and disrupt one’s life in many ways. The...