Jetton made right decision about Lipke

To the editor:I am writing in support of House Speaker Rod Jetton's decision to oust state Rep. Scott Lipke as chairman of the House Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee. We should be holding our leaders accountable for acts that are morally wrong.

While I have no doubt that Lipke has done some good in his service to his state, his actions which caused him to be replaced as chairman were deceitful and gave good cause for Jetton to lose trust in him.

Last year Jessica's Law was passed. This was a good bill that needed to pass to protect our children. Lipke chose to delete 14 words from our laws, repealing the gay sex ban in Missouri. Due to this deletion, it is legal to engage in deviate sex. Even though the gay sex ban was technically unenforceable because of a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision, taking out those 14 words without telling his peers was plain deceitful.

Jetton acknowledged that he regrettably had not read the whole bill, which was 46 pages long. However, he mistakenly trusted Lipke.

I know the decision to replace Lipke must have been difficult for Jetton. He had to know he would receive a lot of flak. I know Jetton and his family, and I believe him to be a man of integrity, which I feel he showed in the difficult decision he had to make. I pray that Lipke does well and wish him no ill will, but I feel he was wrong and Jetton did the honorable thing.

SHARON L. BAWDEN, Marble Hill, Mo.