Illegal aliens should not be granted driver’s licenses
The argument that illegal aliens are going to drive anyhow so they should learn the rules of the road and be given a driver’s license is ridiculous. To say they are going to drive anyhow conveys we are aware these individuals are utterly disrespectful of our laws. When we reward instead of punish people who have broken our laws, we undermine respect for law and create an environment similar to that of the countries from which many of these individuals have come.
I would hope that if a terrorist who has come into our country illegally is stopped by the police for a minor traffic violation, that terrorist does not possess a valid driver’s license. A driver’s license conveys legitimacy; therefore, an individual with a driver’s license will not be scrutinized. But if an individual does not possess a valid driver’s license that individual will be scrutinized, and we can weed out terrorists who are in our country illegally.
The governor opposed a bill that would have changed the law, supposedly because of a potential loss of $156,000 in license fees. Anyone who has any common sense knows the real money is being made by businesses that are exploiting these illegal individuals, and you can bet they are the reason the governor has not supported repealing this law.
Phil Bredesen’s spokesperson, Lydia Lenker, is quoted in Nashville’s paper (Dec. 18, page 1) as saying, “This is an issue we thought would be dealt with on the federal level.” And then goes on to say the governor has asked the Department of Safety (whose name should be changed to the Departure of Safety because of its position in favor of driver’s licenses for illegal aliens) and Homeland Security if there is need for a change.
First of all, we don’t want a governor who is such a wimp he expects the federal government to take care of his problems within the state he governs. And if our governor doesn’t have enough basic intelligence to know there is need for a change, he is a threat to our state and should be removed from office as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Brian K. Whitman
191 Blanton Chapel Road
Manchester