To the editor:

I don’t generally write to editors of publications expressing my views, but there was a comment made by Representative Brian Seitz, R-Branson, in the article entitled “No Foreign Laws Act” in the May 21, 2026, edition of The Call that I could not ignore. In that article, Mr. Seitz made a reference to the COVID-19 pandemic as a “scam-demic.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 21,621 Missourians died in this “scam-demic” between 2020 and 2022, and about 1.24 million died nationwide during this time period. Mr. Seitz should try telling the families and loved ones of these people that they died of a “scam” disease. Mr. Seitz also went on to complain that “international health organizations contributed to an overregulation of American liberties.” This unfounded view was soundly refuted by Representative Michael Burton, D-Lakeshire, who correctly pointed out that these international organizations provided recommendations, not mandated laws. Comments like this by Mr. Seitz show that he is incapable of critical thinking and has a bias against (and a lack of understanding of) sound principles of medical science, which hopefully does not reflect his constituency. If not, perhaps they can correct this unfortunate situation later this year at the polls.

Charles S. Gilham

Mehlville