Stability evaluation part of gun solution?
Part of the Second Amendment language could provide a solution to the problem of how to keep guns from falling into the hands of the wrong people. The amendment states: "A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state ... ." This shows the Founding Fathers were concerned enough about the quality and control of the people that made up the militia to provide for a way to make sure of the quality and stability of those people. There exists today a very good way to make sure of that quality.
The science of psychology has advanced enough that it is possible for clinical and diagnostic psychologists to develop a dependable evaluation for citizens wishing to purchase a gun to determine whether they are stable enough without any material violation of the letter and intent of the Second Amendment.
Evaluation results could be included in a database available to licensed gun dealers. This plan would not prevent all mass shootings or gun violence, but it could reduce their number enough to be a viable addition to the current computer background checks already being done.
Richard Shultz
We shouldn't be 'dopes' in 2024
In October 1974, Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman with what became the rope-a-dope technique.
George danced around, missing blows and using up energy. Ali just leaned against the ropes and waited. Ali hit George with a winning knockout. Thus, the technique, rope-a-dope.
The politicians in office now are much like Foreman, dancing around doing nothing good for this country.
I love the American people, and I love this country. This country is being destroyed from within.
The people in power believe that critical race theory should be taught in schools, drag queens can show up in our schools and the border is closed.
We the people should be like Ali and just lean on the ropes. In 2024, we absolutely need to be ready and able to "knock out" the people now in power.
If we do not vote these people out of office, then we become the dopes.
We need common sense people running this country. God bless the USA.
Ruth Cote
Community enjoys breezy, colorful kite-flying event at Sculpture Fields
I am writing to bring attention to something wonderful that happened in Chattanooga last Saturday afternoon.
At Sculpture Fields just off East Main Street, there was a kite-flying event called "Sculptures in the Sky." Hundreds of people came out to watch specialty kites being flown and to fly their own kites.
Many families with young children came; dogs were in plentiful supply. There was great diversity, all folks enjoying themselves at this community event.
Food and beverage trucks were available as well as music and face-painting.
The weather cooperated, and the sky was filled with colorful kites of all kinds.
Many thanks to the board of Sculpture Fields, the organizers and other volunteers.
Look for this event next spring!
Joy W. Jones
Politicians will get harsh judgment
Tennessee Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, as well as four GOP U.S. House members from the Volunteer State, have announced their support for Donald Trump in 2024.
All six were in the U.S. Capitol on the afternoon of Jan. 6, 2021, when that same Donald Trump unleashed a mob of his supporters in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Those six politicians huddled in refuge while that mob smashed its way into the Capitol while Trump sat in the White House and watched on television, doing and saying nothing for hours.
Blackburn, Hagerty, Fleischmann, Harshbarger, Rose and Green are cowardly and unpatriotic, prepared to help a manifestly unqualified candidate regain the office from which he was constitutionally removed by the votes of a majority who cast their ballots.
Former Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe may be correct in saying that in Tennessee these days the actions of the senators and representatives are "risk-free," but they all need to remember that they and their colleagues will also be judged by history. That judgment will be harsh.
David Cofield
LaFayette, Ga.
State should change tuition regulations
An employee of one of my neighbors sponsored a Ukrainian family from Odessa last fall under the Uniting for Ukraine program. Members of the employee's church and many neighbors helped the family get settled and assisted the father's and 18-year-old son's employment search.
Some aspects of this program need to be improved. When the U.S. allows refugees to enter on humanitarian grounds, work permits, Social Security numbers, driver's licenses and the like should be made available (or expedited) at their port of entry. Refugees should not have to wait six weeks, or longer, to secure documents that will allow them to open a bank account, apply for a job, facilitate renting an apartment or to drive legally.
Another oversight that could easily be corrected concerns state residency status. The visas given to our refugee friends are temporary. Tennessee colleges do not view students with temporary visas to be domiciled in Tennessee, thus they must pay out-of-state tuition. In this case, the older son (who is trilingual) dreams of attending Chattanooga State to learn 3D computer design and printing and then going to work at VW. Paying out-of-state tuition is not feasible for this young man. I call on Gov. Lee, Sens. Blackburn and Hagerty, and Rep. Fleischmann to help correct this situation.
Jack Zollinger
Status quo not working on guns
The cowardly GOP majority in the Tennessee General Assembly hurriedly closed shop and headed home to avoid thousands descending on the state Capitol/plaza to demand gun reform. Most of these were students just wanting to make it through school without fear of being blown away by gunfire.
For those of my generation who never had to do mass shooting drills, it's hard to grasp and many of our politicians still haven't got it. "Nothing's going to change," "what gun would you prefer to die with" and "boot them out again" were just some of responses to students and two young, Black representatives who dared to break decorum on the House floor while joining protesters for gun reform.
The status quo is not working -- death tolls are rising -- and those politicians who can't get it need to move over and make room for those who do.
Vivian Ervin
Lynchburg, Tenn.
Where is Ukraine's 'business plan'?
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Joe Biden have a concerning economic relationship. The Ukrainian president repeatedly asks Biden for money, and then some. Biden accedes.
I once was hired by a new client at a time when banks were eager to make loans. He asked me to come with him to his bank to borrow $500,000 to start a restaurant. His credit was sketchy and he had no reasonable collateral, but he persuaded the bank his business plan was solid.
Months later, he had made no progress on the restaurant and had paid nothing on the loan. He went back to the bank for another $250,000, got it, but never paid a dime on the entire $750,000.
See a parallel? Any collateral in either case? It's all about spending someone else's money for personal gain.
Three thoughts: 1) There is a sucker born every minute; 2) a fool and his money are soon parted; 3) the admonition contained in Proverbs 21:20.
Claudos Spears
Young Harris, Ga.