Gun Ban Rebuttal

I think my colleague has taken one instance in which a gun was used in a harmful way to support their position on the Gun Ban without looking at more statistics other than what certain news agencies report.

The process of finding raw data without interpretation is a little difficult but I was able to find some.  For example in countries with the highest gun ownership per 100 people, here in lays this ranking: 
1. United States
2. Yemen
3. Switzerland
4. Cyprus
5. Saudi Arabia
6. Iraq
7. Finland
8. Uruguay
9. Sweden 
10. Norway

Of these countries, the only one which was on the top 20list for murder rate with firearms was the United States.

On another statistic taken, we see data which shows a declining crime rate as gun ownership increases, with a handful of outliers such as Maine, and Vermont which can be due to other factors, but the raw data follows a linear trend none-the-less. 

Another advantage in gun ownership is the ability to give an elderly woman a fighting chance against a doped-up young man who is either trying to assault her or play, “knock-out-Jew.”

If we did not have guns available for use, man would invent another tool to neutralize his fellow man.  For example, the 3D printable gun, which requires only a 3D printer, can be used lethally. 

I am a current CHL holder who owns several guns and always has my concealed weapon equipped.  I have been in various altercations with the public, and never once used it in a threatening purpose, or to end an argument.

I am on board for measures in which we can restrict guns to a certain few.  I believe a system in which people, who wish to be gun owners, should become licensed to carry; proving themselves in weapon handling and sanity tests which should be performed at fixed intervals -- just like owning a vehicle license more or less.  This system would be more thoughtful than reaching as far as to ban firearms.

Oh Frack Eathquakes!

Earthquakes in Texas?! I for one have never heard of such things in the 26 years I have lived in various parts of Texas from places like Andrews, to Victoria, Lubbock, Fort Hood and so forth.  So hearing about the slew of earthquakes that have struck in the northern Texas area in cities such as Azle, Reno, Mineral Wells, and Jacksboro etc., is perplexing.

From the 6^th to the 28^th of November, this north Texas area has experienced 16 earthquakes, six during the last four days.  From 1970 to 2008 there have only been 2 reported earthquakes in the region.  From 2008 to November 28 there have been 74 reported earthquakes.

What is the source of this tectonic terror? Residents will blame fracking. An increasing number of citizens and scientist are now pointing to the idea the waste water wells of fracking is responsible for the tremors. 

Residents are terrified by the unrelenting earthquakes, with the fear the next earthquake will bring their homes down on them.

"My wife, she's having panic attacks because of it," says local Keith Krayer from Briar, Texas.

In studies performed by the USGS where storage wells are used to dispose of the waste water produced by fracking, the number of magnitude 3 earthquakes swelled from 29 in 2008 to 134 in the past year.

In light of recent earthquakes in Texas, Ohio has recently passed moratorium legislature on fracking as well as Massachusetts setting their hold for 10 years, until evidence is found these earthquakes are not man-made related.

There comes a time when we Texans need our state government to put their foot down and have these companies stop damaging our homestead; however we need to do our part in the process in stalling these companies.  The dollar is very powerful in this matter.  By using products and services which do not use petroleum products, and minimizing our consumption of fossil fuels we can tell these companies we will have no part in the destruction of our state!

In response to Plastic Bag Ban Bad...

There are some very valid points when discussing the issues behind plastic bag ordinance in Austin in this commentary but here is where I disagree. 

I do not think the cost of plastic bags vs. the cost of paper bags is the issue in which the ordinance is combating.  The main issue is plastics come from oil.  This ordinance is one of the first steps of many in conserving oil until a new resource, which has as versatile an impact as oil, is discovered or manufactured.  It is used in plastics, in cars and bags, to pesticides, and fuel in vehicles from tractors, boats airplanes and automobiles.  Fossil fuels take eons to create, and the best way to recreate this “gold” still takes too long and cannot meet the consumer demand of the global population.

Another point in argument is that the lack in plastic bag production has cost the 4500 jobs, might very well be true.  On the other hand, I think these jobs were already at risk, not due to any other product but due to health concerns.  Some information available to the public notes health concerns which stem from even handling plastics much less being in the lab which makes these products! 

If everyone recycles then we would not have an issue with plastic bags destroying the environment, but to say everyone remembers to recycle, and then goes out of their way to do so is a tall tale. 

I despise the ordinance as well. Paying for bags because I forgot mine at home again! But then I put it into perspective and then appreciate what is trying to be accomplished.

Open Carry

A stigma may be brought to mind when we hear, “Open Carry.” Lone Ranger or other hero complexes perhaps? Opposition to open-carry suggests more gun related-incidents will occur, but is this premise based upon speculation or raw data?  

As much history has happened around the world, we now have vast amounts of data to give Open-Carry a truly academic and intelligent analysis, instead of, “Okay well if this happens, then this could happen...”  This raw data is important because it gives light to mitigating factors of the use of firearms.  For example one might speculate that if they witnessed a crime they would go stop it or intervene in some way, but when the moment arrives with the mixture of fear and adrenaline, what would truly happen and would this go to plan? This data gathered with interviews and other data, assembled over the years is much more enlightening than speculation.

Scandinavian countries have some of the highest populations of gun ownership per capita yet still have a low crime rate involving firearms.  This angle paints a different view than what some opposition would tell us when they mention negligent use of firearms.

I feel open-carry is a good deterrent for crime.  It shows passive force in which crime can be deterred as shown in Arizona.  Open-carry has been allowed in Arizona since 1994, which has a correlation with the drop in crime rate. 

However, there are more variables that affect our society when it comes to guns than just having them.  As I have always said, education is everything; it is the most valuable asset we can have.  Firearm discipline and education should be understood as the common attribute by all gun and non-gun owners, just as an automobile education, a 4,000 pound bullet which has the potential to cause devastation, is understood.

Edu-Que-tion

    Juan Castillo wrote an article about the ever growing Hispanic population and whether or not these people will push the economy or be left out.  

    He argues that the there is an education gap plaguing the Hispanic culture.  This education gap eludes to the skills and knowledge needed to man high skill, high pay jobs, which most Hispanics do not posses.  While things have improved for the Hispanic people, because of  the help of community coming together and work of scholars, we are still trying to understand the variables which influence education for Hispanics. 

    Programs like MALES (Mentoring to Achieve Latino Education Success) have developed due to the education gap, to reach out to the Hispanic youths, so these youngsters may have educational advice to attain the highest education degree possible, and do so constructively and honestly.

    At the height of Castillo’s argument, he states the Board of Education has been chastised by the Hispanic community to include more events in history in which Mexicans have contributed to American or Texan glory, in order to instill an ethnic pride amongst the youth.

    Mr. Castillo often reports on race, minority related issues, writing and editing for Texas newspapers and radios.  Here, he  is reaching out to the Hispanic community to gather fellow Hispanics for the purpose of serving bigger roles within the community.

    I do agree with his point to an extent, but such a point has become tiresome to me.  Few actions of people genuinely fill me with awe and happiness, and the fact that there is a group of people working together to educate and mentor adolescents is the pinnacle of my list.  I believe education will truly help us solve the multitude of problems we face every day.

    Here is where I disagree.  At the top of his editorial there is a video reporting of the 28,000 increase in children under the age of 18 , from 2000 to 2010, 92% of the increase were Hispanic.  Also the non-Hispanic median age is 32 while the Hispanic median age is 26. This data mixed with the education gap says more and more Hispanic people are prioritizing family building over education or career.  I’m not saying one is more important than the other but I feel a lack of education can produce difficult situations and poor health decisions, which might explain the low median age. For example a lack of education might explain unhealthy diets and lifestyles which my lead to a lower life expectancy which would also in turn lower the median age.

   There are obviously more factors than this but at some point we also have to stop blaming everyone else for our dilemmas.  A good education can be hard to come by, but if the individual can put an effort into books and intellect as much as is put into social media gossip, a more fruitful knowledge can be attained, meaning better opportunities, and better roles in community.