Dear Editor:
In a letter to your paper, John Tomasin resorts to scare tactics to malign a man of great integrity, Bret Schundler. Mr. Tomasin contends that a woman impregnated by a rapist would be forced to carry that child to term because Bret Schundler says so. This is simply untrue.
The protection of life is the primary purpose of government. The difficult question that abortion raises is, when does life begin? For many people the answer to that question is found within their faith, and an individual’s belief as to whether life begins at conception or later cannot be changed by our laws. Most New Jersey residents know that Bret Schundler is pro-life. He has repeatedly made clear that he understands that his beliefs on abortion are not the prevailing beliefs and that he will not act against the popular will of the people of New Jersey. Abortion is legal, and if elected Governor, Mr. Schundler will uphold the law.
Mr. Tomasin’s letter begs important unanswered questions. What will happen to rapists, and can we expect more violent crime under a Governor McGreevy than a Governor Schundler? Our candidates for governor are both mayors. During Schundler’s term as Mayor of Jersey City, violent crime is down 28 percent. During McGreevy’s term as Mayor of Woodbridge, violent crime is up by 21 percent. Extrapolate Mr. McGreevy’s record over all of New Jersey’s cities. Now extrapolate Mr. Schundler’s results. Where would you rather live?
This is a straightforward issue. Bret Schundler will put more police on the streets, just like he did in Jersey City. I’d rather see rapes and unwanted pregnancies prevented than fetuses aborted, and I think most people can agree with that. I don’t hold the exact same beliefs about abortion that Bret Schundler does, but I respect him for standing firm in his beliefs. I will vote for him on November 6, not because he is pro-life, but because he will save more lives by making New Jersey safer.
Kristi Kaepplein