I read Sid Salter’s July 4 article about David Waide and Mr. Waide’s legacy at the Farm Bureau and in Mississippi. I hope the voting public of Mississippi remembers Mr. Waide’s successful attempt at blocking SB 2623, the bill that would have made it a first offense felony to intentionally and maliciously abuse a domestic dog or cat in Mississippi as it is in 46 other states.

If one was to call the Farm Bureau and ask for an application to join, you would be sent a package of Farm Bureau information about how they help women with “crime issues.” If this were true, Mr. Waide would have backed SB 2623 with good reason. Study after study by law enforcement agencies, specifically the FBI, have shown that animal abusers go on to commit violent crimes such as rape and child molestation. I cannot see Mr. Waide’s position, made public at a February 2009 Farm Bureau meeting, that SB 2623 would impact “corn and soybean production.” I can see that Mr. Waide’s position on this issue continues to keep women and children in Mississippi in harm’s way from violent offenders.

If Waide is thinking about running for political office, he can expect this issue to be riding sidesaddle with him.

Kim Wolford, Jackson