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Disagree with your neighbor? Don't just stew over it; write about it. Flag as Inappropriate
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Stephanie May 24, 2013 at 06:14 pm
There has been a ban on gun research for the CDC and the NIH since 1996. In 2012 that ban was…Read More extended to all departments of Health and Human services in the US. I had no idea. Plus the ATF has not released any useful data or stats since 2003. Anyone (including myself) saying, "studies show..." in relation to gun violence doesn't have a leg to stand on because there are no national recent studies or data collection on this subject. The only data is coming from the NRA or studies allowed by the NRA. Congress, prodded by the NRA, banned research of gun violence. I am sickened that our government has allowed this to happen. How many suicides are there every year? Who knows? There is just no information. It's so bad that teachers in universities have been telling students not to go into gun studies, because there is no money in it. So even if we start research now, there are only 10-15 gun experts in the country and results take years. I'm so disgusted by this. Who bans research? In 1996 death by shooting was the 2nd leading cause of death to young people the first being car accidents. So Congress told our health institutions, taxpayer funded, they could not research that? That is so messed up. No wonder they say crime is down, but the jails are fuller than they have ever been. Studies show gun ownership does this and that. It's all a bunch of garbage, no one knows the truth. I'm not even mad at the NRA, I'm mad at our leaders for banning research. Who does that? I'm so mad I could spit.
James Gordon May 20, 2013 at 02:18 pm
Stephanie:
I don't recall asking for examples of licensees who made bad choices. I do recall asking…Read More if "you have an objective basis for your concerns?" You responded by identifying some anecdotal (as opposed to statistical) evidence that some licensees made bad choices. Your evidence fails to support your position. Here's a brief article discussing the number of licenses that Florida has revoked because of gun related crimes: http://politics.heraldtribune.com/2012/07/25/florida-approaching-1-million-concealed-weapons-permits/
Regarding your questions about G. Zimmerman. (1) I've already pointed out mistakes ziimmerman made, including following Martin. So, no, I would not want him to be the neighborhood watch captain. (2) I can and do avoid places where there are increased risks of violence (ATMs at night, check-cashing stores, prostitutes, drug dealers). That being said, I cannot accurately predict when/where I will need a gun. People are robbed in grocery store parking lots as well as coffee store parking lots. So, I believe the desire to have a gun in those locations is not unreasonable. More importantly though, I don't think people who are licensed to carry guns should repeatedly take their gun on and off all day long. This needlessly increases the risk of a negligent discharge. (3) The forensic evidence strongly supports virtually every element of Zimmerman's account of the incident. The significant element that is unsupported is whether Martin saw and attempted to grab Zimmerman's gun. Given that Zimmerman was already sustaining serious bodily injuries, this element isn't really necessary to believe the propriety of acting in self-defense. As to the two lies you reference, the first related to Zimmerman's finances. It was his wife who made the representations to the court. Zimmerman sat there "like a potted plant" in the words of the court. This obviously reflects poorly on him, but likely will not be presented to the jury. The second lie relates to his passport. A second passport was issued to him after he reported the prior passport had been stolen. The court itself did not believe Zimmerman was lying about the second passport, but that there were more innocent explanations. You apparently believe I think Zimmerman is innocent. I am waiting to see all the evidence before I make up my mind.
Stephanie May 20, 2013 at 02:39 am
You asked for some licensees who made bad choices with their concealed weapons and I gave them to…Read More you. Why don't you ever answer any of my questions? Knowing what you know now about George Zimmermans arrest record (before he killed Martin), would you want him in charge of your neighborhood watch? Does one need a gun to go to Starbucks? The grocery store? How can we believe anything Zimmerman says after he lied TO A JUDGE TWICE?
Claudia Cruz (Editor) May 9, 2013 at 03:01 am
Thanks Maria! It is hard to hear criticism, especially when we are set in our ways. But if someone…Read More notices something, it's better to consider there perspective because they'll notice things we may not. Look forward to reading more of your blogs!
Claudia Cruz (Editor) May 7, 2013 at 02:58 pm
I know a little boy that is obsessed with Diary of a Wimpy Kid. These suggestions for follow-up…Read More books are great. Thanks!
Robert McMenomy May 9, 2013 at 02:43 pm
Great, review! Saw it based on this and am telling all my friends to see the movie.
Susan May 12, 2013 at 12:58 pm
Tsk, tsk, tsk. You left out the word communist, and you also neglected to blame President Obama.
Erica Goss May 5, 2013 at 07:36 pm
Wow, I can't even wear 1-inch heels! Thank you, Mr. Wasserman, for helping to bring attention to…Read More this very important issue.
L.A. Chung May 3, 2013 at 05:14 pm
I think two-inch heels is a good start for getting a different perspective. Imagine what it might be…Read More like in three-inch heels! ;-)
Sheila Sanchez (Editor) May 3, 2013 at 05:08 pm
Thank you for your leadership and service to our Santa Clara County communities, Supervisor…Read More Wasserman. I'm also very grateful for your resourceful newsletter and this great post! Thank you.
Greg Coppes May 9, 2013 at 11:58 pm
In our first meeting here I told you that I believed that any discussion or argument here was not…Read More done to change the minds of those involved, rather it was to influence those who are reading them; third parties.
You have been very helpful in that regard. Anyone reading our exchanges can see you for what you are.
I tried to have a discussion with you and could not even agree on the definition of words with out hours of argument
You have an agenda and you will not allow anything to get in the way of it. That agenda includes trying to circumvent and weaken the 2nd amendment and redefine it's intent.
Mark Paxson May 9, 2013 at 11:51 pm
Once again you misdirect. You made a specific statement about one California piece of legislation…Read More you claimed did very specific things and, therefore, was unconstitutional. I'm not arguing the constitutionality. I'm arguing that the factual basis, the things that legislation does, is wrong. We can't even begin to discuss the constitutionality if the facts are wrong. I have provided the evidence that your facts are wrong. You have yet to counter that evidence. And now you change the conversation to "the constitutional intricacies within hundreds of pages of proposed state & federal firearms legislation written in legalese." You made very specific factual claims about one specific piece of California legislation. I've provided the bill number as well as the analysis. And all you can do is now quibble over whether eristical is a word that I should have looked up.
I will never understand why you and the rest of the right-wingers are so incapable of understanding that if they post "facts" in the context of their arguments that are proven to be false, they believe the problem is with the person who proves them wrong. Seriously, Jeff ... if the factual basis for your claim of unconstitutional provisions is wrong, how can you keep arguing the legislation is unconstitutional? Why is it so hard for you to back up those "facts?" You're proving yourself to be no better than the rest.
Mark Paxson May 9, 2013 at 11:41 pm
You imply far too much, sir. But your further response implies other things. First, that I have…Read More ever questioned your interest in defending the Constitution. I have not. Second, that somehow those who haven't served in the military would somehow have less of a desire in preserving and defending the Constitution.
It's interesting, everybody I know who has served in the military who has expressed an opinion on the issue has stated that above all, they believe in the right of others to express their opinions, that what they were defending when they served was the beauty of the divergent views and opinions that exist in this country. Sadly, most of what you've done on Patch is contrary to that concept. As you have done everything you can to squelch any legitimate conversation about these important issues.
No, sir, I have not served in the military. A fact that I am not ashamed of. And a fact that is irrelevant as to whether or not I have a strong desire to preserve and defend the Constitution. Nothing I have suggested is an attack on the Constitution.
Robert Defulgentiis May 1, 2013 at 05:26 pm
Harry - "I have no problem with listening to ideas and discussing problems..."
Well,…Read More let's be specific - in an era of 70-1 population size/states, do you think the 2 Senators per state formula should remain in effect? Do you think the filibuster threat combined with 2 Senators per state instills too much power in the minority?
As for amending Constitution, do you think the 3/4 of the states formula, which can enable a VERY small minority to thwart a VERY large majority should remain in effect? What about a simple national referendum that required 60% of the PEOPLE to decide?
Do you accept that certain fears, protections, uncertainties that confronted the Founders are not AS present today as 225 years ago rendering certain "protections/procedures/protocols" dated?
Harry E. Smith May 1, 2013 at 05:05 pm
I have no problem with listening to ideas and discussing problems and trying to come to an equitable…Read More solution. Now only if the self-serving idiots we have in Congress would get to talking and LISTENING, problems might actually be start to be solved.
Letting the courts 'create' law is not the answer. The people still have a CHANCE to move change forward with their votes, but if they continue on with their idiotic re-electing of the same posturing fools who still get nothing done, we deserve our fate of never ending problems.
Robert Defulgentiis May 1, 2013 at 04:47 pm
Harry - "I think most Americans would rather submit to majority rule"
Well we do in such…Read More things as local and statewide elections...and we kinda do in national elections, though electoral college isn't pure majority rule. But I don't think Constitutional issues should be subject to a pure majority threshold vote - that kind of change should be difficult.............but how difficult? In a nation where the largest state is 70 X the size of the smallest - I don't think 2 senators each makes sense..especially when you factor in filibuster power. That formula needs adjusting....it needs to be discussed.
Likewise, it should not even be possible for the 13 smallest states repping 13 million to disable 37 states repping 300 million from amending the Constitution. The amending formula also needs adjusting....it needs to be discussed.
Pamela Smyth May 10, 2013 at 08:57 pm
We thank our teachers from elementary school through graduate school by remembering that spelling…Read More and literacy in the language of one's culture and community matters, that reading newspapers matters, that what we publish online represents their efforts to teach us how to articulate our thoughts and ideas, and how to read with care and consideration the opinions of others with that same thoughtful consideration. We thank our teachers by taking the work they do and the hours and hours of unpaid and free or volunteer work "behind the scenes" and the money they spend out of their pockets to improve the learning environment for their students seriously. Most of all, we thank them by growing up to be civil and to work hard at whatever jobs or tasks we are given in life to the best of our abilities; and if some of that work began with the encouragement and recognition given by a teacher, then that is a joyful word of thanks to all of us who were students and are indeed, today, teachers.
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