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.
Opinion
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It makes sense
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Governor wants funds to improve school safety
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Help keep teen drivers safe during the summer months
Memorial Day marks the beginning of the 100 deadliest days of the year on our nation’s roads for teen drivers.
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Walk Smart
Many local residents will be visiting Ocean City this summer, so it is worth noting that the resort has launched a campaign that it hopes will keep pedestrians out of harm’s way.
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Trailer case bound to increase scrutiny on town of Piedmont
This letter is in response to the recent story concerning the guilty plea entered in federal court by Piedmont’s town foreman (“Piedmont town foreman Shingler enters guilty plea,” May 21 Times-News, Page 1A).
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Fixing community’s problems starts with your young people
I am writing this letter to the editor because I think our community really needs to work on plenty of issues. Some of them are:
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High priority
Maryland school officials on Tuesday put an exclamation point on the need to take student-athlete concussions more seriously.
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Why are there no answers to these questions?
We currently have the most corrupt administration in the history of the country. Every day more and more lies come from the Obama administration.
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Roaming dogs prove menace to some residents of LaVale
I am writing to inform your readers and the animal control staff of Allegany about a problem that is dragging on and unresolved, yet.
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These types should look to the Boy Scouts for an example
Consider these headlines:
NRA will “Never Surrender.”
The Tea Party will “Never Surrender.”
The No Tax Group will “Never surrender.”
Neocons will “Never Surrender.”
Far Left Liberals will “Never Surrender.” -
Housing project will have bad effect on property in this area
I am writing to you to voice my opposition to a low income housing project that has been proposed for construction on a tract of land on Pine Swamp Road in Mineral County, W.Va. I am a registered voter and resident of Mineral County and live in the New Creek/Pine Swamp area.
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Why have the media been silent all this time?
When I read the Cumberland Times-News Editorial this morning, Friday, May 17, entitled, “Outrageous,” I laughed like a kid at a birthday party!
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Help keep teen drivers safe during the summer months
