Washington State is in the process of letting its citizens break federal marijuana laws and the Obama administration is presently trying to overturn the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (Senate 65-14, House 342-67). Both are contrary to the law and the beliefs of the citizens of a supermajority of states. So it appears that taking exception to existing laws is not isolated to the owner of a local florist.

For the Tri-City Herald to chastise the owner's action (Our Voice March 10) is also chastising a majority of TCH's subscribers, as more than 60 percent of the voters in Franklin and Benton counties agree with the owner. Just because the TCH staff supported Referendum 74 does not justify its editorial slam of the florist shop owner. The staff could have stated that the florist owner was taking exception to a law contrary to her beliefs without concluding the editorial with "If you do business in Washington, abide by the law" and its title "Richland florist must follow anti-discrimination laws."

I believe that TCH editors should have noted that the florist owner as a person of convictions willing to suffer the consequences under a very unpopular law in this area.

-- DON CURET, Richland