Letters to the Editor - Dec. 28, 2012

"We've always done it this way,' and that ends the discussion." --Maxxine Kurtzbein

":The importance of this article will scarcely be doubted by any persons, who have duly reflected upon the subject. The militia is the natural defence of a free country against sudden foreign invasions, domestic insurrections, and domestic upsurpations of power by rulers. It is against sound policy for a free people to keep up large military establishments and standing armies in time of peace, both from the enormous expenses, with which they are attended, and the facile means, which they afford to ambitious and unprincipled rulers, to subvert the government, or trample upon the rights of the people. The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them."

--Joseph Story
Supreme Court Justice

And the much ballyhooed 'Arab Spring' ... does come to mind..

"Why were there no teachers or school personnel armed and prepared to stop the violence initiated by Adam Lanza?" Because until two weeks ago everyone was saying teachers were all socialist union thugs. Why in the world would we want to arm them?

"Because until two weeks ago everyone was saying teachers were all socialist union thugs." --E.J.Farrar

Excluding yourself, and the children of course, just about how many does the term 'everyone' constitute? 5, 10, 15, 20 people?

At Columbine High School, a full-time, uniformed and armed sheriff's deputy assigned to the school was on the campus when the rampage started. Didn't deter anyone, didn't save anyone. The sooner we abandon this insane fantasy about armed teachers transforming themselves into Bruce Willis a'la "Die Hard," the sooner we can begin a serious discussion about how we got here, and what to do about it.

Over in China deranged individuals go onto school grounds and slaughter children using nothing more than a sharp kitchen knife. Over in the middle east deranged individuals use explosives to murder school children.

Heck, David, our very own government hands out free for the taking...fully automatic high capacity weaponry to GROUPS OF POORLY TRAINED CIVILIANS in other countrys so that they may defend themselves.

Take the country of Switzerland for instance, did you know that most (if not all) adult male citizens keep a fully automatic weapon stored in their homes for emergency use. I dunno, maybe it's because they spend more time yodeling than they do watching Bruce Willis and his Die Hard films ... why do you think that is?

Being a lifelong hunter, I have mixed emotions about some of the gun regulations proposed. I do agree automatic weapons (with high capacity clips) have little value to my needs, or that of many others.

On the other hand, it seems that those who have the position to use the bully pulpit to oppose ideas (such as armed guards in schools) don't even attempt to walk the walk -- President Obama's daughters attend a school that employs 11 armed guards (similar to the children of many other high ranking government officials).

Under those circumstances, it's rather obvious our elected leaders use a different set of values when proposing (or opposing) legislation for the general population when compared to their personal choices. It appears that the more important the position, the less chance of a conscience getting in the way.

The circumstances faced by President Obama and his family are so spectacularly different from those faced by an ordinary citizen that the comparison has no relevance to a serious discussion of gun control -- or much of anything else, for that matter. Obama receives dozens of death threats daily, some of which -- I assume -- are also directed at his family. Most are probably nuts, but some are probably serious. I'm surprised he even lets them out of the White House, frankly.

Dances -- Yes, I was aware of the situation in Switzerland. I suspect it's largely a difference that speaks more to our history and culture. I have a friend who is from Switzerland and visits there regularly, I'll ask him sometime.

The last president to sign-up for a lifetime of Secret Service protection was Bill Clinton. Oddly enough you'd think that George (dubya) Bush would have too.

Gotta wonder which of those two guys prefers to own his very own Bushmaster semi-auto over the government issued and maintained version?

Why do you think that is, David? My only question would be...does our ex-president prefer to have 30 round magazines ..or.. the standard issued 20 round version when it boils down to defending their own hearth's & home's?

Right here, in Yamhill County, we are now living in an age when even a trusted Sheriff's department captain can call for help during an armed stand-off within city limits ... and be denied that help.

Now...if you will, try to imagine just how inconvenient it would have been for a deputy requesting the same help in a more rural area.. Any thoughts?

Of course the President has a unique situation. That does not justify saying one thing publicly and doing another privately, no matter who you are. Clinton, for instance, Bush 2 for another.

Not having 'a spectacular difference' would include nearly half of Congress, who send their kids to protected private schools, as does NYC Mayor Bloomberg. In fact, 39% of Chicago public school teachers opt for private education for their children. One shouldn't believe that is a simple coincidence.

The message can polished and shined until the glossy finish is gone, but it stills comes down to being truthful on all accounts.

Don,

I just read an interesting article about the Norovirus that concerns me, and should concern everyone. The virus is highly contagious and kills 800 Americans a year, yet, nobody is calling for those having been diagnosed with the illness to be involuntarily committed ..or.. taken off the streets for the safety of their surrounding community.

From my perspective, allowing diagnosed carriers of the Norovirus to walk freely about the communty is no different than allowing loaded firearms in the hands of children. Yet, you don't notice anybody advocating for suspension of any Norovirus carrier's Constitutional rights.

Why do you think that is?

"Why do you think that is?"

Because the government needs and wants (and availability to them) do not necessarily coincide with those of the general public. Besides, didn't you know that people don't kill people, Norovirus does!

There are currently 75 of these known carriers of death up in Portland. Shouldn't the FBI and our State Police be concerned, that, any of them may be planning on entering a crowded movie theater ,.or.. maybe some busy shopping mall this weekend?

Obviously, that's not going to happen.