To The Editor:

Among us are men speaking twisted things. “Medical Aid in Dying” — better known as assisted suicide — is not a novel idea; however, it's an initiative making inroads into our Newtown community. Political operatives disguised as “compassionate allies,” are targeting our vulnerable seniors and their families with a message of "mercy" that is devoid of hope (or truth). Assisted suicide is about as compassionate as giving a sailor in a storm an anchor instead of a life jacket.

The reality is that age is NOT a qualifier. Just last week a 25-year-old woman was euthanized under Spanish law — a landmark case that has echoed worldwide. For years, her father unsuccessfully fought the government to prevent the state-sanctioned killing of his daughter, who had been left vulnerable after a failed suicide attempt. Spain is not an outlier, just the most recent example.

Our Canadian neighbors have shamelessly doubled down and expanded their euthanasia programs to include people whose deaths are not “reasonably foreseeable”, including patients suffering from mental illness or duress. Canadian culture, which isn't much different than our own, has shifted from accepting death to actively promoting it. In just 10 short years, assisted suicide has become the fifth most common cause of death in Canada.

Look at what we’ve become. Can we not discern between righteousness and what’s wicked? Is there no line we won’t justify crossing? Where does it end? What is pitched as a compassionate solution for our grandparents will have devastating consequences for our parents, our friends, and — most importantly — our youth for generations to come. Only a fool would believe the goal posts won't be moved.

Yet here in Newtown, our local Commission on Aging (CoA), whose members are appointed by the Board of Selectmen, has been entertaining this political activism since last December. While most surrounding towns have immediately dismissed the proposal, Newtown’s CoA has spent the last four months deliberating it. You can read about it in their meeting minutes on the Town website. Governments job is to help the people, not to promote the killing of them. I find it deplorable and morally bankrupt for government to be in the business of encouraging and sanctioning suicide.

I call upon you, my neighbors — in the name of liberty, patriotism, and all that is sacred to the American character — to, come to our aid with all dispatch. For over a decade, well-funded political operatives have relentlessly pushed this legislation in Hartford. They are well organized; they are wealthy and they are persistent.

Together we must stand firm on the sanctity of life. No form of suicide is acceptable. We must instill this truth in our families, our neighbors and especially our youth today, or the tragedy of a 25-year-old daughter halfway around the world will become the tragedy of the neighborhood child you see waiting for the school bus.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing, they're already here.

David R. Kean

Newtown