The issue of what to do about preventing the shootings and mass murders in places like Newtown, Conn., is one that has been around for some time and is not likely to go away.
It is another reminder that the American people are capable of adopting cultural mindsets and philosophies that probably will never be reconciled with a result that satisfies of all the parties who are involved.
The arguments raised by these parties involve high emotion as well as logic and reason, and the matter of what could be referred to as “gun control vs. criminal control” is no different.
The question boils down to this: How do we safeguard the rights of the vast majority of the American people who are law-abiding and nonviolent in nature while protecting society from those who are predators and seemingly without conscience or regard for other human life?
We do not always agree with Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, but sometimes we do, and we like a part of his proposed budget for FY 2014.
It would dedicate $25 million of the state’s proposed school construction funds to making our schools safer.That includes strengthening school security with camera at entrances, automatically locking doors, shatterproof glass, and buzzer entrance systems among other enhancements.
It would establish a Maryland Center for School Safety and help further a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement partners to ensure a comprehensive approach to school safety.
Technology already exists, and is in use, that restricts access to schools or other public buildings, allows surveillance of those who enter and — when necessary — provides an immediate way to isolate suspicious intruders and lock down other parts of the building while alerting both the police and the building’s occupants.
The governor’s plan would help school officials identify gaps in their emergency planning and preparedness and the training that school personnel might someday be called upon to use.
This is a good idea that should appeal to everyone. It would be $25 million well-spent.
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It makes sense
It makes sense
Governor wants funds to improve school safety
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Better ‘Click It’
If you notice more police on the highway this week, it’s for a couple of reasons.
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They do bite
This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. For anyone thinking that is not such a big deal, consider that 4.7 million Americans annually are bitten by dogs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Stop buying licenses; let them find the money somewhere else
A few months ago, I received two cards from the National Rifle Association. These were dealing with a legislative alert.
They asked that I should contact Sen. George Edwards and Delegate Kevin Kelly concerning the anti-gun legislation. -
Strength of gun laws is not reflected in grisly statistics
According to the FBI’s uniform crime reports, California had the highest number of gun murders in 2011 with 1,220, which makes up 68 percent of all murders in the state that year and equates to 3.25 murders per 100,000 people.
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An old story
What for years has been an on-again, off-again battle over funding between the Allegany County Commissioners and the Allegany County Board of Education seems to be growing even uglier.
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‘Forgotten warrior’ not forgotten
The Korean War is often called “The Forgotten War.” My generation remembers the Battle for LZ X-Ray at Ia Drang, The Tet Offensive, and Khe Sahn of the Vietnam War.
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Organization needed to help utilize the Potomac River
I am a committee remember on the Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway which stretches from Palmetto to Venice, Fla.
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Reducing meat consumption can help ease climate change
A review of 12,000 papers on climate change, in the May 15 issue of “Environmental Research Letters,” found that 97 percent of scientists attribute climate change to human activities.
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Editorial Cartoon - 05/18/2013
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Maryland has stopped being “The Free State”
I am a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and, last but not least, the National Rifle Association. I am a yearly member of the American Legion.
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