You make some very vaid points. One thing some people miss is that gun collectors and recreational, tactical competions in a controlled, sanctioned environment are reasons to own weapons, even high-powered ones. It is a way to hone one's skill and compete with others. I wonder how many casual gun owners, even ones with carry permits requiring training, could shoot a single person in a crowd without endangering others, especially with adrendline flowing, surrounded by frightened, shouting people?
But how does one "take back" all the weapons people already own? Those who do violence with high-capacity guns (usually stolen) will do it anyway, or with multiple guns or bandoliers of bullets. It is a shame that so many people fear for their lives and carry a weapon. You are correct. It steps across the line from cautioness to paranoia. But if the other person is ready to kill me or my family I wouldn't hestitate to shoot them. I would hate it and it would haunt me the rest of my life, but defending against someone who is so determined to kill is a justifyable situation.
As I was walking down the street to attend the public meeting last week about the Chattanooga Village I saw 4 magazines on the sidewalk on 11th Street. Going back to the car to retrieve my cell phone, there were some empty cartridges and some unshot bullets. This is directly across the street from the courthouse! I doubt there was target shooting involved. I have never been in a part of town or a situation where I felt carrying a gun would be to my advantage, but that shook me a little. In broad daylight? Very sad, and a bit frightening.
Many years ago my in-laws had collected gifts for my daughter when they travelled around the county for a year in their RV. Accidentally, the garbage bag the presents were in got taken to the local dumpster in the woodsy area where they lived. Realizing this, my mother-in-law and I rushed there to look for it. Among all the other black garbage bags she found it - between the upright 4 legs of a dead deer.
The Chattanooga Food Bank has a program where local restaurants donate their frozen, leftover cooked food for the Bank. It's not exactly dumpster diving, but a good way to feed people.
Isn't this closing the barn door once the horse is out? Anyone who wants to obtain a gun can and will by any means. How can a law be enacted that makes owning an assault rifle illegal,retroactively? Are you trying to make the fantasy that "Obama is going to take all our guns away" true? The children attacked in China the same day as the tragedy in Sandy Hook were assaulted with a knife.
The question “who in their right mind would…?” The answer is “no one.” People who commit heinous acts need treatment long before they become violent. According to NIMH “An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year" Personality disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, PTSD are all treatable.
Some may think that mental illness is an excuse for criminal behavior. It is not. Severe cases where standard treatment is not possible are handled in a more aggressive way. I am not attempting to excuse the acts of a seriously ill person nor do I condone institutionalizing anyone without a professional, very thorough examination. There are most definitely people who do not need to be free among society. My point is to address the real issue of how to deal with psychotics instead of guns. That is the hard question.
Whoever wrote the headline for this story is either totally insensitive to the recent murder of 26 people in a school or totally thoughtless. Either should be inexcusable.
Well said, as usual, David. Don't know about "miraculous, in a way, to stand in the middle of a Walmart store." That's another conversation. Unfortunately, it's not the next few weeks that will decide the future of the forest on the hill - it's exactly 3 weeks, with 2 of those being the most popular holidays in the year. The meeting last night was wide-reaching in the questions, but with the last public meeting on January 7 and the council voting on January 8, I fear the trees don't stand much of a chance. I would like to think that the council members will listen to their constituents and the voices of the people who want to save the hilltop. "Siddhartha found enlightenment under a tree" Will we find the tree still standing for us?
And be sure to email or call your City Council representative. We need to let them know we are watching them and we expect them to vote with their constituents.
More even-handed, factual reporting than the other 'news' article in the paper today. This is railroading on the par with CXS. My question has always been "WHY?" With all the vacant office space, retail locations and residential space in Hixson who decided this project is needed, and what did they use for data and facts? The community is decidedly against it, so we'll see how much luck the citizens have with the politial process in our fair city. Thanks for the write-up. We can always count on you to see the little person's point of view.
Marriage equality, unquestionably. My kid, a 30-year-old American Studies graduate, professes this now - that the next generation will wonder why this issue was so polarizing and so divisive.
Handle With Care
Excellent cartoon. It's amazing what a picture can say that people can't or won't
Cook: In guns we trust
You make some very vaid points. One thing some people miss is that gun collectors and recreational, tactical competions in a controlled, sanctioned environment are reasons to own weapons, even high-powered ones. It is a way to hone one's skill and compete with others. I wonder how many casual gun owners, even ones with carry permits requiring training, could shoot a single person in a crowd without endangering others, especially with adrendline flowing, surrounded by frightened, shouting people?
But how does one "take back" all the weapons people already own? Those who do violence with high-capacity guns (usually stolen) will do it anyway, or with multiple guns or bandoliers of bullets. It is a shame that so many people fear for their lives and carry a weapon. You are correct. It steps across the line from cautioness to paranoia. But if the other person is ready to kill me or my family I wouldn't hestitate to shoot them. I would hate it and it would haunt me the rest of my life, but defending against someone who is so determined to kill is a justifyable situation.
As I was walking down the street to attend the public meeting last week about the Chattanooga Village I saw 4 magazines on the sidewalk on 11th Street. Going back to the car to retrieve my cell phone, there were some empty cartridges and some unshot bullets. This is directly across the street from the courthouse! I doubt there was target shooting involved. I have never been in a part of town or a situation where I felt carrying a gun would be to my advantage, but that shook me a little. In broad daylight? Very sad, and a bit frightening.
Cook: Joy to the Dumpster
Many years ago my in-laws had collected gifts for my daughter when they travelled around the county for a year in their RV. Accidentally, the garbage bag the presents were in got taken to the local dumpster in the woodsy area where they lived. Realizing this, my mother-in-law and I rushed there to look for it. Among all the other black garbage bags she found it - between the upright 4 legs of a dead deer.
The Chattanooga Food Bank has a program where local restaurants donate their frozen, leftover cooked food for the Bank. It's not exactly dumpster diving, but a good way to feed people.
Cook: Guns kill, not autism
Isn't this closing the barn door once the horse is out? Anyone who wants to obtain a gun can and will by any means. How can a law be enacted that makes owning an assault rifle illegal,retroactively? Are you trying to make the fantasy that "Obama is going to take all our guns away" true? The children attacked in China the same day as the tragedy in Sandy Hook were assaulted with a knife.
The question “who in their right mind would…?” The answer is “no one.” People who commit heinous acts need treatment long before they become violent. According to NIMH “An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year" Personality disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, PTSD are all treatable.
Some may think that mental illness is an excuse for criminal behavior. It is not. Severe cases where standard treatment is not possible are handled in a more aggressive way. I am not attempting to excuse the acts of a seriously ill person nor do I condone institutionalizing anyone without a professional, very thorough examination. There are most definitely people who do not need to be free among society. My point is to address the real issue of how to deal with psychotics instead of guns. That is the hard question.
Cold shooting dooms UTC Lady Mocs
Whoever wrote the headline for this story is either totally insensitive to the recent murder of 26 people in a school or totally thoughtless. Either should be inexcusable.
Cook: Does a hug falling in the forest make a sound?
Well said, as usual, David. Don't know about "miraculous, in a way, to stand in the middle of a Walmart store." That's another conversation. Unfortunately, it's not the next few weeks that will decide the future of the forest on the hill - it's exactly 3 weeks, with 2 of those being the most popular holidays in the year. The meeting last night was wide-reaching in the questions, but with the last public meeting on January 7 and the council voting on January 8, I fear the trees don't stand much of a chance. I would like to think that the council members will listen to their constituents and the voices of the people who want to save the hilltop. "Siddhartha found enlightenment under a tree" Will we find the tree still standing for us?
David Cook: The railroading of a Hixson hilltop
And be sure to email or call your City Council representative. We need to let them know we are watching them and we expect them to vote with their constituents.
David Cook: The railroading of a Hixson hilltop
More even-handed, factual reporting than the other 'news' article in the paper today. This is railroading on the par with CXS. My question has always been "WHY?" With all the vacant office space, retail locations and residential space in Hixson who decided this project is needed, and what did they use for data and facts? The community is decidedly against it, so we'll see how much luck the citizens have with the politial process in our fair city. Thanks for the write-up. We can always count on you to see the little person's point of view.
David Cook: The God who loves Slavery
Or maybe equal rights for women. That amendment was never ratified, you know.
David Cook: The God who loves Slavery
Marriage equality, unquestionably. My kid, a 30-year-old American Studies graduate, professes this now - that the next generation will wonder why this issue was so polarizing and so divisive.