To the editor:

I appreciate Fran Hopkins’ response to my letter about reinstating the draft. Having been so concerned about this important issue, I have communicated with our candidates to determine how they would vote on reinstating the draft.

Frederico Cura, a researcher from Kerry’s Washington, D.C., campaign headquarters, forwarded a Reuters article by Thomas Ferraro, covering Kerry’s speech May 25 in Portland, Ore.

The article states that, when asked by a student whether he believed the draft would be resumed, Kerry said, “If you elect me president … I will give us a foreign policy that absolutely makes it unnecessary to have a draft.”

In contacting candidates for the Kansas 2nd District U.S. congressional seat, Nancy Boyda has unequivocally stated that she would not support a draft. Jim Ryun has stated that the volunteer army is doing fine and that he would not favor a draft at this time.

The Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice will be host to a forum this fall on reinstating the draft. This is not a partisan, nor a rich-vs.-poor issue. I encourage everyone to contact your candidates and elected officials to see how they would vote on a draft. Then I invite you to attend this forum and let your voices be heard on this vital issue.

Marcia Riley,

Lawrence