To the editor,
Let's not turn our veterans away.
We ask our servicemen and women to do extraordinarily difficult things. Things that take a physical and emotional toll. Things that make it difficult to adjust to life back at home. And when that toll leads them to make mistakes in life or get pulled into addiction- it’s up to us to help pull them out of it.
I was disappointed to read that the Dakota County Attorney’s Office will be sending our veterans in need to Carver County, instead of establishing our own veterans court here in Dakota County. It’s long past time that we established our own veterans court to give deserving veterans a second chance.
I’ve been a long-time advocate of using veterans Courts, and co-authored a bill in the State Senate to help create them statewide. One of the reasons veterans courts are effective is because a veteran gets the support and resources they need locally- connecting them to the place they live. That sense of belonging is a fundamental building block to getting their lives back. Sending them an hour away sends the wrong message and is less effective.
Dakota County is the third largest county in Minnesota with strong networks of veterans and veterans groups. We have the support and resources to help. Our servicewomen and men have done so much for us, let’s do our part for them. If elected Dakota County Attorney, I’ll establish a veterans court of our own.
Matt Little, candidate for Dakota County Attorney
Lakeville
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