This is in response to Ralph Harder’s letter (Oct. 24), “Who will protect people’s rights.”

I will reference his own words about the angry “mob” mentality being the reason the Pledge of Allegiance contains the statement: “… to the republic for which it stands.” The United States is a republic intended to be governed by the Constitution. Laws are enacted by members of Congress because they know that the individual could lose his rights to the “mob.” The “mob” (citizens) seems to be easily controlled by what they hear in television  advertisements.

People have the right to petition the government, but no one has the right to take away individual rights.

Bill Hanson, Peru