Guns Aren't Responsible

First published in 1994
An inanimate object can not be held responsible for its use. If a person is hit and injured by a car, the car is not held liable for the injuries; the operator of the car is held liable. I have yet to hear anyone suggest that all cars should be removed from the streets. In 1989 there were 49,600 accidental motor vehicle deaths. It could be argued that if all people gave up the use of their automobile and depended on public transportation the death rate due to motor vehicles would be substantially reduced. But, we do not blame the automobile.
Why is it that people blame the handgun for deaths? It is the person behind the gun that is responsible for a handgun killing, not the gun. As for accidental deaths due to firearms, in 1989 the total was 1,600 deaths. Far fewer people than were accidentally killed by automobiles. Accidental falls accounted for 12,400 deaths in 1989 and drowning accounted for 4,600 deaths. If a person drowned in a pool I would not blame the pool. Using common sense, not emotion, it is apparent that inanimate objects, such as guns, cars and pools, are not at fault.
In this present effort to ‘get guns off the street’, we are putting the focus only on guns. Personally, I am not worried about the gun that Mr. and Mrs. Smith have, especially if they are willing to turn it in for toys or whatever incentive is offered. It is the gun owned by ‘John Doe Crazy’ or ‘Gang Man Fred’ that I would like to see disappear. I doubt that they are among the people who are turning their guns in. If John Doe Crazy breaks into my house I want the right and support to protect myself with a gun.
Personally I do not oppose all legislation regarding gun ownership. Certain people are unstable and would make risky gun owners, just as a person guilty of breaking numerous traffic laws can be a risky driver. Those exceptions, however, must never become the rule. It is wrong to take away one person’s rights just because someone else can’t handle the obligations which go along with those rights.
Emotions and words can easily hide the true problems. Let us all look beyond the gun and focus our attention, our wrath, on the true problem of death by guns. We must decide how to handle the violence and crime and not be put off by remedies that fail to address the real problem.
Above all let us each remember that a basic principle that has guided this nation from its very beginning has been the rights of individuals. The slow erosion of any of those rights will alter everything this nation is about

Unique

UNIQUE
First published July 8,1994

If you look at the fruit from three apple trees you may see many differences. If one of the trees is in soil not particularly suitable then the apples may be inferior. A particularly well cared for tree may have exceptionally good fruit. The third tree could be in good soil with a good climate but the fruit might be infested with bugs causing the fruit to be poorer than it otherwise would be.
These differences in the fruit of the tree, is not truly the fault of the tree but rather the result of the circumstances which affect that tree.
Of course there are different varieties of apple trees with differing characteristics. A Red Delicious apple is quite different in looks and taste from a Granny Smith apple but that doesn’t mean that one is better than the other.
People mature with differing genetic backgrounds and varying social and physical influences. Divorce, poverty, drug addiction, illness, siblings, education, social standing are among some of the things which can effect a person’s development. A person’s genetic abilities do not change but they can be enhanced or narrowed by a person’s surroundings. A person who is mechanically inclined can excel over someone who lacks such an ability just as someone who is tone deaf would be a poor musician. Education and opportunity are of course essential for a person to reach their maximum potential.
We often fail to acknowledge people’s best abilities. Not everyone can be a noted physician, singer, athlete, or minister. If no one is willing to work as a cashier, how would any store operate? If there were no construction, how would a skyscraper be built? If no one was willing to be a cook there would be no restaurants, no waiters and waitresses, no busboys, no restaurant managers, etc. We each have a role to fulfill and we should each respect everyone else’s role. Everyone has certain abilities for which they are well-suited and we, as a society, lose something when we fail to acknowledge the worth of each individual.
We are each unique individuals, formed and molded by genetics and transformed by our unique environment. I believe it is a natural response to divide people into categories. People divide themselves by race, ethnic background, political interest, religious beliefs, etc.. If we attempt in school to teach our children to treat everyone equally then is it right to have quotas or to give unequal treatment or opportunities? This spring the local high school sent out lists of available scholarships. Some were solely for women, some solely for students of certain ethnic or racial backgrounds.
I can understand these differing groups wanting to give a helping hand to a student of their choice. Are we however sending out the wrong message? If we are trying to promote fair and equal treatment regardless of race, ethnic background or gender then is it right to use these factors in determining who should get scholarships?
This desire to help someone you have some similarity with is only natural but the line between natural response and bigotry is invisible. Is a member of the NAACP a bigot? Most people would think not. If a person joined a national association for White People I am certain they would be considered racist

One Failed Bridge

There was an article last week in the Pocono Record about a bridge in Monroe County that is now closed. The article stated that the bridge will not be repaired until 2009 and that the detour is seven miles and will be used by approximately 700 cars a day.

Think about those numbers. 4900 miles a day will be driven every day because this one bridge was not maintained on a timely basis. Assuming that this bridge will be repaired in one year, that is 1,785,500 miles extra that the citizens of that area will have to drive.
At 20 miles to the gallon that is a waste of 89,275 gallons of gas at the price of $4.00 per gallon that makes a $357,100 added cost.

Government waste comes in all shapes and sizes. For the people affected by this one bridge the cost for 700 drivers works out to an average $510 over the course of one year.

Our State Senators and State Representatives need to immediately turn all gas taxes that are collected into a fund only for the repair of the roads and bridges of this state.

We don’t need more money taken from our pocket, we need the government to better spend what they already have taken from us.

If you agree with me please email this to your state public officials.

Tolls on Rt. 80

Making Interstate 80 a toll road through Pennsylvania is a bad idea. There are better ways for this state to increase taxes. What will be the cost of widening the road where the toll booths will be? What will be the cost of hiring and paying the salaries and benefits of the toll workers and the administrative workers this toll will require? What will it cost to get the Federal government approval for this folly? Aside from all of that we will have to pay with our time, especially when the road is heavily traveled and the tolls get backed up.

What would I have done if I really believed the state needed more money to maintain the roads and bridges? Easy. I would have increased the gas tax. It is a tax already in place so it wouldn’t have added any new costs, it would only have added the needed revenue.

There are 6000 bridges that are in need of repair in this state. Why hasn’t money been set aside for this? Or is it that money has been poorly spent?

The majority of people work very hard for their money. It is a shame that our state leaders believe that our hard earned money can be better spent by them.

Funding the Troops

Either we stand behind our troops or we don't. We really can't have it both ways. Sitting on the fence as our Congress does is wrong.
If you stand on the fence any one can knock you over. If you keep your feet on the ground you've got a chance.
If people line up behind you and support you, then you've got a really good chance of surviving.

Sample Letter on energy independence

Dear Senator,

No more excuses. No more delays. We want results now. We want drilling for oil in Anwar. We want action. We have given the government years to fix this problem. Our patience has come to an end.
Do not reply that we should cut consumption. Do not tell us about ethanol. Do not tell us about global warming. Do what you were sent to Congress to do, WORK FOR US. Make this country energy independent by allowing us to use that fuel which is here in this great land of ours.

Sincerely,

An American Tired of Excuses and Looking for Results

Opinions

With this blog I will give you, my fellow citizens, my opinions and when time permits, I will provide sample letters, which can be used by anyone to e-mail their government representatives.
It is time we all stepped up our efforts to achieve the government that we need and want.
We have a representative government. And right now it represents us very well, if you really think about it fairly. Most people think about themselves and their needs and wants – and that it what many of our representatives in Washington and in our state capitals do – they think of themselves first, too.
If we want our representatives to work for us then we need to work at really telling them what we want them to do. And we better not sugar coat what we say. We need to be forthright and blunt.