Category Archives: Second Amendment

NORFOLK, Va. Gun rights advocates will be heard by Norfolk City Council after months of lobbying for more firearm protections.

Robert Brown is the Chair of the 2nd Amendment Preservation Coalition, which is petitioning city council to consider an ordinance to protect the rights of citizens to keep and bear arms.

The Constitution says the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. It doesn't say government grants you the rights, said Brown.

The Coalition garnered enough signatures to bring the proposed ordinance to city council members to either reject, adopt or try to amend.

Council will hear comments at Tuesday's 6 p.m. meeting in the first of two public hearings on whether to adopt the Coalitions ordinance to prohibit the city from passing regulatory gun laws.

Nobody's advocating anything other than to take care of protect their home, their family and their business, said Brown.

A proposed ordinance intended to prohibit guns in public spaces like buildings, parks and at events was abruptly removed from the city council agenda in August after backlash over confusing text. Since then, council has not taken up the issue.

If you're going to want to propose something, how about having a conversation with us? Be transparent about it, said Brown.

The Virginia General Assembly passed a law this year allowing localities to regulate firearms on public property that went into effect July 1.

Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach all passed legislation reaffirming a commitment to protect Second Amendment constitutional rights.

City council can decide to vote on the ordinance or do nothing. Brown says he would be surprised if council takes any action.

If someone's carrying a weapon, they could save dozens of lives, and that's our position and it's not going to change, he says.

Brown says if council is unwilling to at least amend the ordinance in good faith, his next step is to collect the 4,000 signatures needed to try to get a referendum on the ballot so voters can have the final say.

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Second Amendment advocates urge Norfolk City Council for protections against increased gun regulations - wtkr.com

When Donald Trump became president and it was widely assumed that there would be a crackdown on illegal immigration, Democrats swiftly moved to create a sanctuary for illegal aliens in every state they fully controlled. Well, if Democrats could create a sanctuary for people who have no right to be in the country, most certainly one would expect Republicans to create sanctuaries for Americans and constitutional rights in the states they control, right?

Think again.

Following this election in Oklahoma, Republicans will hold an 82-19 majority in the state House and a 39-9 majority in the Senate. Those are greater supermajorities than what Democrats hold in California. One would think that this state would be a sanctuary for freedom during coronavirus fascism, for self-defense during the era of BLM and gun confiscation, and all-around fiscal and social conservatism in an era of ubiquitous socialism and cultural Marxism. The problem with that assumption, though, is that conservatives don't really have any majority, much less a supermajority. Liberal Republicans, who, by and large, are the less attractive side of the tyranny coin from the Democrats, are the ones who hold that majority.

In the days following the election, News 9 reported that Oklahoma state Sen. Nathan Dahm is drafting legislation to make the Sooner State a sanctuary from any potential unconstitutional violations of the First and Second Amendments in pursuit of a gun control agenda under a Joe Biden administration.

"A lot of how the feds try to implement these things is through local law enforcement, whether it's county sheriffs, local police departments, and they try to attach funding to that to force those cities and counties to do that," Dahm told News 9 in explaining the logic behind his proposal. "So what we could do is make sure that those cities and counties don't accept any federal funding to implement any gun control measures."

So why hasn't this bill become law, given the GOP's dominance in the legislature and the fact that such legislation has already been introduced in some form for several years?

"The Republicans have killed it in the state Senate each time," said Don Spencer, president of the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association, in an interview with Personal Defense World. "The Republicans are the problem of why you cannot get pro-Second Amendment legislation done in the state of Oklahoma. We have a supermajority in the Senate, a supermajority in the House and we have the Governor's office, so there is no one else to blame."

Across the country, Republicans are disenfranchising conservatives on nearly every issue of our time. If illegal aliens have states where they can go and claim sanctuary, why can't Americans find a constitutional sanctuary against gun-grabbing and coronavirus fascism in any state?

What about morals and values? Despite Republicans controlling the trifecta of government in Oklahoma, conservatives have failed for years to pass meaningful legislation protecting life for the unborn. The only successful measures they seem to pass are jailbreak provisions to weaken sentencing and deterrent for criminals.

Obviously, issues pertaining to foreign policy and national security are controlled by the federal government. But for conservatives, if they actually had a party representing them, there is no reason why they couldn't enjoy a sanctuary from coronavirus fascism, gun-grabbing, and violent crime and rioting in a substantial portion of the country. Trump likely won over 80% of the nation's counties, and Republicans control the trifecta of government in 24 states. So why is it that there seems to be no place that is an asylum for civil and religious liberty as well as for law and order? Because we refuse to look beyond the wretched Republican Party for our representation.

Putting aside the obvious election fraud for a moment, let's just say Trump lost the election. The reason why the base refuses to let go of Trump is because they don't see anyone else in the party fighting for them. Everyone is focused like a laser beam on the Senate elections in Georgia as if the world hangs in the balance based on their outcome. But we all know that the Left will continue to enact its policies administratively (as they are successfully doing now in the states even under Trump) and Republicans will do nothing meaningful with control of the Senate to stop that through budget fights.

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Horowitz: When conservatives cant even guarantee Second Amendment protection in Oklahoma ... - TheBlaze

Protesters calling for stricter measures against police violence should be on the same side of the barricades as Second Amendment opponents of stricter gun controls, argues a Virginia law professor.

Since both fear the governments monopoly of force and are skeptical of authorities ability to protect citizens during times of unrest, they have an equal interest in Constitutional guarantees of the right to bear arms and protect themselves, Robert Leider writes in a forthcoming article in the Northwestern University Law Review.

Decentralizing force allows private citizens to defend their interests and to protect the public when the government under-enforces the law, wrote Leider, an assistant professor at George Mason University.

The Second Amendment upholds a longstanding Anglo-American tradition of decentralizing the means of political violence, and fills the gap between public duties and private rights, he maintains.

The right to bear arms helps citizens in keeping the peace and enforcing the law, provides a check against private and public forms of domination, reinforces separation of powers, and promotes individual liberty and security, writes Leider,

Differing views on the Second Amendment often turn on the question of whether the government should have a monopoly on the use of force, according to Leider.

One perspective contends the government has the exclusive right to use force to prevent crimes, enforce the law, and punish wrongdoers, he said.

But a second perspective offers a much wider definition. While it acknowledges government as the ultimate decider of when force is permissible, it also maintains that government may delegate its preventative policing and law enforcement authority in diverse ways, even to private citizens.

This is exemplified most commonly in granting the right of self-defense, which allows a person to use deadly or violent force against another person without fear of reprimand in order to protect against a deadly threat.

According to Leider, the notion of self-defense is implicit in the rights granted by the Second Amendment, since there are many situations in which law enforcement would be ineffective to protect against harm, wrote Leider.

Leider added that the Second Amendments effective challenge to the governments monopoly of force represents a crucial protection for civilians in times of emergency and civil unrest.

The debates over the meaning of the Second Amendment underline profound disagreements over whether the government is, in fact, sufficiently protecting the people in its jurisdiction, said Leider.

He cited as an example the national movement for radical police reform, which heightened over the summer.

The protests consuming America derive largely from allegations of police misconduct, and many have adopted the motto Abolish the police, wrote Leider.

Presently, a large disconnect has emerged among those who both decry the police and who seek to further restrain guns and the private use of force.

But Leider argues that the two sides share a lot in common, and should unite to advocate for their own self-protection through the Second Amendment.

The government is under no obligation to furnish any individual citizen with police protection or law enforcement, said Leider.

So even if the state has some obscure public duty to furnish police protection in general, individuals lack any means of enforcement when the government refuses to protect them.

Leider also argues that the lack of sufficient effective law enforcement officials has led to underpolicing, meaning the monopolization of force isnt even being correctly applied.

According to Leider, police clearance rates are only 45 percent for violent crimes and 15 to 20 percent for property crimes.

Although a possible way to improve under-enforcement would be to increase the number of officers, increased police presence could make the overcriminalization problem worse without solving the under-enforcement problem, wrote Leider.

Under-enforcement also has a disproportionate effect on poor neighborhoods, Leider said.

Police are generally more funded in more wealthy neighborhoods, where tax money from wealthier families can invest more money towards law enforcement. This leaves poor or disadvantaged communities with less law enforcement services than neighborhoods that already are safer, he wrote.

If the government cannot provide adequate protectionand often it cannotthen the least it can do is to allow members of the community to protect themselves and to preserve law and order, said Leider.

We should reject claims that in a modern, urban society the governments monopoly of force is adequate to protect everyone within its jurisdiction.

Leider conceded that professional policing has made long strides since the days of incompetent constables, and we may have less need today for citizens arrest than in centuries past.

But he pointed out that private citizens already have even more power than just self-defense. He noted that in certain circumstances American law even allows private citizens to perform a felony arrest.

In the case of felonies, private citizens may arrest a suspected person if a felony has been committed and they have with municipal police to provide on-duty policing, said Leider. That is only slightly narrower than the arrest authority of professional law enforcement, who are excused if they have probable cause even if a crime has not, in fact, been committed.

Although Leider notes that those in favor of stricter gun control consider such law archaic for todays time period, Leider argued a government that has no monopoly of force has no moral responsibility to extend supplemental police protection or to indemnify for losses.

Leider said fears of vigilantism cited by opponents of gun controls are misdirected.

As long as private citizens participate in defensive force, meaning force that protects them from any present threat to themself or their property, vigilantism isnt an issue, he claimed.

But he conceded that there was a danger if citizens participated in offensive force, that is, force against a person or group to implement policy.

I do not want to suggest that private citizens should have the unqualified right to enforce any criminal law on the books, said Leider. Although police agencies may under-enforce the law, we simultaneously suffer from severe statutory overcriminalization.

Leider also made clear that hes not sure which laws should enforceable by civilians and which shouldnt be allowed.

But what he does say is that it would be more problematic when choosing to take responsibility beyond core common-law mala in se crimes to broad mala prohibita regulatory offenses.

The provision of law enforcement may be a public duty, but it is not a private right. And making it a private right would create profound separation-of-powers problems.

Self-help, decentralization of the governments monopoly and private law enforcement are the best remedies when governments undersupply needed levels of police protection, said Leider.

The right to bear arms still has relevance today, Leider argued, and should warrant consideration when determining the scope of the right, including that the arms protected by the Second Amendment should continue to include those arms whose primary value is public security rather than individual self-defense.

The full report can be downloaded here.

This summary was prepared by TCR justice reporting intern Emily Riley.

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What Gun Rights Defenders and Police Protesters Have in Common - Crime Report

Editor: I am a pro-life, fiscally conservative, second-amendment supporting, law-and-order citizen. It is for these reasons that I will never support a Republican Party that continues to betray these principles.

Republicans have typically been the party of strong support for the death penalty. As a pro-life citizen I oppose this position.

Republicans have typically been the party to oppose well-regulated gun ownership as opposed to the Second Amendment which states: A well regulated Militia...

Republicans have typically been the party to cut taxes, thus refusing to pay for the full cost or running the government and not balancing the budget.

Republicans have typically been the party to promote law and order as campaign slogans, yet starting with the Reagan presidency, Republican politicians have been complicit in the ever-increasing violations of the law. The Reagan administration violated the Boland Amendment in order to aid the Contras. The second Bush promulgated false information about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to motivate the invasion of that country.

Their motives were believed to be in the best interests of the country. Trumps violations had no such meritorious goals.

Trump has violated the emoluments clause by accepting payment for his hotel services from foreign governments. Trump allows those in his administration to violate the Hatch Act using their administration positions for political purposes. Trump violated the Congressional Impoundment Act of 1974 when he withheld aid to Ukraine for the sole purpose of getting the leader of Ukraine to say that he was investigating Joe and Hunter Biden. During the impeachment trial it was never once denied. And thus with the complicity of Republicans, Trumps corruption has gone unchecked.

With this background, it makes sense for each person to re-examine how they think of the Republican Party.

Randy Booken

Pringle

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Republicans have betrayed the principles of their party - Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice

Daily CommercialRemembering Marvin E. Jacobson

Readers of the Daily Commercial will miss the insightful and well reasoned "From the Left" columns written by Marvin E. Jacobson. Sadly, he passed away Nov. 15 at the age of 85.

As a former history teacher, he often pointed out the historical basis for political issues. He educated readers on how slave patrols influenced the passage of the Second Amendment, on how the lifting of banking restrictions led to the 1929 crash and the 2008 recession, and on how Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump used racism to attract votes.

Jacobson was a man of strong moral principles and an inspiration to everyone who knew him.

Jane Hepting, Eustis

We are all a bit poorer since Marvin Jake Jacobsons passing. In a county where Jesus Christ couldnt get elected if he were running as a Democrat and a state where environmentalism is a dirty word, it takes guts to be a Democrat, and courage and integrity to speak the truth.

Jacobson was always there. His many opinion pieces were well reasoned, thoughtful and compassionate; and when he cited facts you could take them to the bank.

Jacobson was an inspiration. That he did it all with a sense of humor always amazed me. Thank you, Jake, for being who you were, for standing up and for doing it so well and for so long.

Elizabeth Kapoor, Leesburg

So, if my understanding is correct, Donald Trump and his minions decided to overturn the Constitution so that he could become our ruler, similar to the socialist and communist countries he warns his cult that the demon Democrats want to do. Remember, when Rome was burning, Nero was fiddling; when Americans are dying, Trump is golfing. His cult is unbelievable. They threaten the lives of poll workers, governors, doctors and scientists and what does the GOP-led Congress say? The silence is deafening.

I promised myself that I would leave the country of my birth if he won. I can no longer tolerate a country that idolizes a man who has broken and continues to break every one of the 10 Commandments over and over again; makes fun of Gold Star families and disabled people; calls Mexicans rapists; makes up the most ridiculous conspiracy theories and has worked for four years to create a civil war between the Democrats and the Republicans by constantly vilifying the Democrats.

Trump is a deranged, pathological liar and if he was standing in front of me, I would tell him that. This is a man who cannot fire anyone without tweeting about it. He cannot look at another person face to face and fire them because he is a coward.

When Ben Franklin emerged from the Constitutional Convention, a woman asked him what kind of government we have, and he answered, A Republic if you can keep it. Looks like 63 million gullible cult members and the Trump party occupying Congress are hellbent on destroying our country as we know it. I am a senior and have seen many idiotic situations in government over the years, but this is really inconceivable. Everything about Trump screams, Me, Me, Me.

Barbara Hill, Eustis

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Letters to the editor for Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020 - Daily Commercial

The National Assembly gave the Bill the green light earlier this month.

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni delivers 2020 Budget Speech in Parliament, Cape Town, on 26 February 2020. Picture: GCIS.

CAPE TOWN - Parliament on Thursday approved the Division of Revenue Second Amendment Bill, which provides for the governments response to the COVID-19 pandemic and allocates funds for national, provincial and local government.

The Bill was passed by the National Council of Provinces, with six provinces in favour, the Western Cape against and abstentions by the Free State and Limpopo.

The National Assembly gave the Bill the green light earlier this month.

During the debate, opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), highlighted the impact on provincial and local government finances of having to help fund the R10.5 billion for South African Airways (SAA) business rescue.

In his reply, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni again repeated that the money was not a bailout.

For example, its provision for (unused) tickets, retrenchment costs, commitments which have been made with the airline companies that have provided the aircraft to us and so on and so forth, so its not a bailout I will insist on that.

Mboweni also made it clear the decision wasnt his.

That was a Cabinet decision by the way, and therefore the responsibility of the minister of finance is to implement a cabinet decision. Its not my own private decision.

He expressed sympathy for the financial difficulties faced by local government and said the process of reviewing the formula for the division of revenue should be sped up.

Local government currently gets the smallest slice of the division of revenue cake.

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Parly gives Division of Revenue Second Amendment Bill the green light - Eyewitness News

Call it a tale of two elections, for it was indeed the best of times and the worst of times. Which year qualified as best and which was the worst depended on what side of the political aisle a candidate occupied.

Greenbrier Valley Democrats had reason to feel the tide had turned in their favor with the midterm election of 2018, when they captured both seats in the 42nd Delegate District, as well as other key offices. Vote tallies were tight, but Jeff Campbell and Cindy Lavender-Bowe, both of Lewisburg, were on their way to the Legislature, having defeated Republicans Denny R. Canterbury and Steve Malcomb.

With a smattering of similar results elsewhere in the state, Democrats found themselves giddy over what appeared to be a blue wave.

Turning the page to 2020, however, the fortunes of the two major political parties had reversed, as GOP candidates wrested away both of the 42nd Districts seats in the House in convincing fashion in the Nov. 3 general election. A red wave swept Barry L. Bruce and Todd Longanacre to the beachhead where Delegates Lavender-Bowe and Campbell once stood.

What accounted for that stark difference in outcomes between two elections held a mere two years apart?

For answers to that question, The Register-Herald turned to the four 2020 candidates and aperson with a longer view of the local political scene to get their perspectives.

Bruce, Lavender-Bowe and Longanacre participated in separate telephone interviews for this article, and Campbell responded in writing to similar questions set forth in an email.

Greenbrier County Commission President Lowell Rose, a Republican who was re-elected for a third six-year term in that office earlier this month, also participated in a telephone interview, offering his assessment of the race for the 42nd.

There are inherent differences between a midterm election like the one in 2018, in which the presidents party is expected to lose ground and voter turnout is typically low, and a presidential election year like 2020, in which more people vote and national issues dominate the airwaves.

In 2018, 22,267 votes were cast for all four candidates in the 42nd District contest, while in 2020 the vote total for that race was 27,951.

The 42nd Delegate District includes 28 of Greenbrier Countys 29 precincts, along with three precincts in Monroe County and one in Summers.

The Trump effect

Both Campbell and Lavender-Bowe stated that a major factor in the Republican victories at all levels this year in West Virginia, not just the 42nd District race, was the popularity hereabouts of President Donald Trump.

The top of the GOP ticket was stronger in 2020 than it was two years ago, Campbell wrote. President Trump is wildly popular in our district and through the state, and everyone was riding his coattails (in 2020).

In 2018, Senator Joe Manchin was at the top of the (Democratic) ticket and, locally, state Senator Stephen Baldwin was on the ballot.

Also, the Greenbrier County Republicans worked hard flipping voter registrations (this year).

By the time the general election was held this fall, registered Republicans outnumbered registered Democrats in the county for the first time in decades.

Commissioner Rose, who has often reached across the aisle in his political career, added his voice to Campbells assertion that the strength of the Republicans perched at the top of the ticket made a huge difference this year.

It had a whole lot to do with President Trump and his popularity here, Rose said. West Virginia has really changed overall from Democrat to Republican, including in voter registration.

Even Greenbrier Countys chief election officer, County Clerk Robin Loudermilk, recently changed parties. Appointed in 2012 and later elected to that same office as a Democrat, Loudermilk flipped her registration to Republican earlier this year.

Longanacre also cited the Trump effect in explaining his own success this year, although for different reasons than those given by his Democratic counterparts.

President Trump has had four years fighting against everyone Democrats and the media, Longanacre said. People were so fed up over all of this hatred of Trump that they flipped parties in revenge.

We rode the red wave.

Loud national messages

The national messaging of both parties loomed large over the local political scene, effectively overshadowing persistent West Virginia issues such as poverty, health care concerns and education, Lavender-Bowe said.

The tone of the election was really different this time, she said. There wasnt much of a national focus in 2018, but the president and the governor were a big factor this year.

She also pointed to the social and civil unrest across the country in the run-up to the election as a related factor that nudged people toward the Republican message.

Being constantly bombarded by scenes of violence and reports about protests on television and social media it was really terrifying for people, especially older people, Lavender-Bowe said. People voted the way they felt would keep them the safest.

Longanacre said he felt the 2020 election reflected a backlash against the Democratic Partys disdain for core American values.

People are kind of nervous. Theyre afraid of what they see as Communism being put forward by Democrats as Socialism, he said. Voters didnt like the animosity of the Democratic Party the way they treat people for living by the Bible and being pro-life.

Bruce also reflected on the rightward drift of the electorate.

Theres been a red wave in Raleigh, Mercer and Pocahontas counties as well as the counties of the 42nd, he said. One reason I decided to run this year is that Im a Constitutionalist and a Christian. I see our Constitutional rights eroding away at both the state and federal levels.

We need law and order in this country. Theres fear that what is happening elsewhere will happen in West Virginia.

Campbell wrote, I think the national political climate worked its way down to local races throughout the state. Although Washington politics and Charleston politics are two different things, there are polarizing figures in D.C. that West Virginians dont like.

He said he believes the end result was down-ballot voting in which people voted more for the party than for the person.

A philosophical shift

When Rose looks at the bigger picture, his perception is quite different from the Democrats viewpoint.

While stating that Republicans had stronger candidates in the race for House seats representing the 42nd this year, Rose said the philosophical shift that led local voters to favor the GOP over the Democratic Party was not really about restlessness in the electorate. Its rooted more in the Democratic Partys relocation to the left of center.

The Democrats swung way too far to the liberal side; they left old-time Democrats behind, he said. Theres a big difference in ideals between conservative and liberal candidates. Everybody was ready this year for more conservative tickets. Theres a conservative movement in this country.

Although he characterized both Democratic candidates in the 42nd as liberal, Rose said Lavender-Bowe publicly embraces more liberal ideas than does Campbell.

I was surprised that we (Republicans) got both seats in the House, Rose said. I wasnt surprised that Cindy is out, due to her positions. I have nothing against her personally, but she is liberal on a lot of issues.

Lavender-Bowe said she wanted to run a positive campaign, and for that reason had not responded to Republicans negative mailers that labeled her as a pro-abortion candidate (she self-identifies as pro-choice, as well as pro-mother and pro-child) who was part of the Harris-Biden squad.

Complex issues cant be adequately discussed in a mailer, Lavender-Bowe said. Im not going to run a dirty campaign. I ran as myself.

She added, Its hard for me to think my message didnt resonate with the voters. They got the national message instead, and it really impacted down the ballot.

She said the national message included unfair attempts to link down-ballot Democratic candidates with controversial initiatives such as defunding the police.

Facing an effective Republican campaign filled with what she termed negativity and aggressiveness on social media, Lavender-Bowe said she was personally hampered by the restrictions necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic, given the fact that both her husband and her son have asthma, making them more vulnerable to the virus.

On the other hand, Longanacre said he had no personal concerns over Covid-19 during the campaign.

I didnt stick my head in the sand over a virus with a 99.9 percent recovery rate, he said. I knocked on doors. I got out and met people. That had a positive impact. My opponents didnt do that. They relied on mailers.

Support for gun rights also loomed large over this years election, according to Bruce.

We are a state that supports the Second Amendment, he said. Both Todd and I were strong there. People just didnt like the positions of the incumbents in this race. West Virginia is a conservative state and wants to remain a conservative state.

Reviewing and revamping

Lavender-Bowe said the states Democratic Party needs to figure out how to better present its message.

The first time I ran (in 2018), there were lots of town halls held around the district, she said. It was easier for somebody to hear your voice and see your face as you discussed issues.

Monetarily, our party doesnt donate to candidates; instead the focus is on getting out the vote, which was fine in 2018. But this year, with the pandemic, our volunteers offered rides to the polls, only to find nobody wanted a ride to the polls. Its harder to get people to get out and vote during a pandemic.

Lavender-Bowe said she and other Democratic candidates are now evaluating the failures of 2020.

Were asking how do we rebuild the Democratic Party in West Virginia, she said. I believe we can best change at the grassroots level by restoring voters face-to-face contact with candidates and capitalizing on our volunteers. In that, were lucky in Greenbrier County with our Democratic Womens Club. So many counties dont have that kind of organization.

Campbell also wrote of the support his modest campaign received this year from the Blue Skies Ahead PAC and the Greenbrier County Democratic Womens Club, which organized a county headquarters and assisted with advertising.

On the other hand, he was blunt in saying he received no help from the state Democratic Party.

But he said he certainly doesnt regret his stint in the West Virginia Legislature.

I worked hard, tried to do a good job, and ran a clean campaign, Campbell wrote. Im glad I got to live my dream. It was an honor working at the State Capitol, and I never took one day for granted.

Ive been surprised by the number of people whove reached out to me since election day. It makes me feel appreciated and that I did something right while I was there.

Both Bruce and Longanacre praised the support they received from the Greenbrier County Republican Executive Committee and Republican Club.

It was remarkable, Bruce commented, citing assistance ranging from door-knocking support to maintaining multiple party offices all across the district,plus a well-attended pre-election rally at the fairgrounds and a Trump Train of vehicles that may have been the largest in the state.

This was a team effort high energy, Bruce said. When you have high school kids walking around with you while youre campaigning, it adds to your energy.

Lavender-Bowe said, as a candidate and a delegate, she has encountered many West Virginians who say theyve never voted. People close to her sons age think their votes dont matter because of what theyve seen in the media about the impact the Electoral College has had on recent presidential elections, at times rewarding the loser of the popular vote with the highest office in the land.

We need to empower our people, Lavender-Bowe said. I saw reports during this election that other states had the highest numbers of voters in history. One reason for that is that those voters had the opportunity to vote in a different way. Meanwhile, in West Virginia, people said the election didnt fit their schedules. They said they didnt have time to vote while the polls were open either on election day or during early in-person voting. And I assume other people didnt go to the polls because they were afraid of Covid.

She said she also heard from constituents who were confused about the process for requesting an absentee ballot. People expected that they would receive an application automatically, as they had before the summer primary, when instead they needed to be proactive and contact their local county clerk to request a mail-in ballot for the general election.

In short, Lavender-Bowe said, the factors that may have affected the outcome of the 42nd House District race were myriad.

Rose sees the race as a simpler affair a clear battle between conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats.

Both Todd (Longanacre) and Barry (Bruce) are pro-Second Amendment and pro-life, he said. People around here care about those issues. Even registered Democrats have voted Republican in the past several elections; it didnt happen overnight.

In fact, Rose said, The Republican Party today is almost where the Democratic Party was in the 1960s and '70s.

Email: talvey@register-herald.com

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A tale of two elections | State & Region | register-herald.com - Beckley Register-Herald

To the Editor:

Re An Unlikely Alliance to Save Lives (Science Times, Nov. 17):

It is encouraging to see the gun-owning community confront the extreme danger of a firearm in the hands of a person at risk of suicide. The article explores a range of strategies for gun dealers and owners to keep guns away from those who might do harm to themselves, and mentions an effective solution when voluntary measures fail: extreme-risk protection orders, commonly known as red flag laws.

These laws provide a means of last resort for removing guns from an individual who is at risk of imminent harm to himself or others. Connecticut was the first state to pass an extreme-risk law, in 1999.

In Connecticut, a study found that for every 10 to 20 protection orders issued, one suicide was averted. Because suicide can be impulsive and guns are far more lethal than other means, these laws lower death by suicide over all, not just by guns.

Extreme-risk protection laws include due-process protections that protect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. No court has struck down one of these laws, despite opposition by the National Rifle Association.

Jonathan PerloeCos Cob, Conn.The writer is communications director for CT Against Gun Violence.

To the Editor:

Re The Post-Presidency of a Con Man, by Michelle Goldberg (column, Nov. 15):

As the editor of Mad magazine for almost 35 years, I was shocked, disappointed and outraged to see President Trump visually compared to Mads gap-tooth grinning idiot mascot, the What, me worry kid, Alfred E. Neuman.

I worked with Alfred E. Neuman. I knew Alfred E. Neuman. Alfred E. Neuman was a friend of mine. Donald Trump is no Alfred E. Neuman!

John FicarraStaten Island

View original post here:
Guns and Suicide - The New York Times

Republican candidate for Virginia governor and current state senator Amanda Chase made a stop at The Glenwood Center in Huddleston on Nov. 13 for a meet and greet. This comes almost two months since then-Republican candidates Daniel Gade and Bob Good visited Smith Mountain Lake during an event hosted by the Proud Patriots of SML.

Known as Trump in heels in Virginia, Chase, who is a graduate of Virginia Tech, has been a well-known political candidate not only in the state but across the country. Her Facebook page has a follower count in the 6 figures, but she has also been featured on Fox News, The Ingraham Angle hosted by Laura Ingraham, and One America News Network (OANN), among other programs.

The decision to run for governor was an easy one for Chase.

I saw what was happening in Richmond during this past session all the attacks on our communities, Second Amendment, the Constitution, the businesses, the churches and our ability to worship. Our way of life here in Virginia was comprised under this new Democratic majority, she said. I knew legislatively I couldnt fix things because we didnt have the votes.

The frustration of not helping Virginians didnt sit well with Chase, and she announced on Presidents Day back in February that she is running for the leading position of the executive branch.

As for the Second Amendment, Chase is a staunch ally, perhaps the most well-known ally of the Second Amendment in the state. Nicknamed Sen. Annie Oakley, Chase mentioned that its personal to her, as she open carries wherever she goes. She also said its the next line of defense in case police arent able to get to the scene quickly to assist.

I dont leave my house without carrying a firearm, ever. Not even when I go for a walk around my neighborhood, she said. Its very important to me.

Recently, defunding the police has been a major talking point in the state and across the country. Chase believes that its a terrible policy to push.

We need to defend our police, not defund our police, she said. Ive said weve never fully funded our law enforcement. I do believe law enforcement is a core function of government. We need to keep our communities safe; we need to keep our businesses safe and our schools safe.

Another topic Chase addressed is health care. She noted that she has fought against Medicaid expansion in Virginia, especially in the Senate. Chase also said that some Republican candidates who will be running for governor have worked with Gov. Ralph Northam to expand Medicaid, which she said is not good.

Medicaid was designed, originally, to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, not able-body people. Its to help people who can least help themselves, she said. Whats happened now, because they have expanded Medicaid, it is a Trojan horse that Virginia is ultimately going to have to pay the price for. Currently, the federal government is footing the bill for most of it, but not for much longer. And Virginians are going to have to pick the tab up through taxpayer money.

Still on the health care topic, Chase mentioned that in the General Assembly, she has supported legislation such as the health care transparency bill. She said it would create greater transparency by forcing hospitals for the first time to let a patient know how much an elective service is prior to services being rendered so they can shop around and get the best price.

One aspect one may realize about Chase is she is strong in her faith and is a big believer in freedom of religion. As for COVID-19, Chase doesnt believe it should interfere with a persons right to practice their beliefs.

I have always said educate, not mandate, she said. Even in a crisis, we must respect peoples constitutional rights and freedoms. I believe what he (Northam) has done by closing down churches is unconstitutional. When our religious freedoms are at stake and on the line, yet again, its time for us to push back. If you can go to a liquor store, you should be able to go to church. If you can go to an abortion clinic and get an abortion, you should be able to go to church. This governor is picking which businesses are essential, which one is not, and in my opinion, thats unconstitutional.

Chase also stands for school choice, letting the parents decide the education for their children. She doesnt believe the government should be mandating vaccines, especially the COVID-19 vaccines. Chase also is 100 percent pro-life, a big supporter of small businesses and seeing them through these difficult times, and for small government. Chase noted that in regard to small government, she has opposed and voted against every tax and every fee increase.

These issues and her policies were the main talking points of the night at the event, and Chase feels it went very well.

I think it went great and everybody received my message, she said.

Ever since Chase first took office as a state senator in 2015, she has made her mark in the state, and it has shown with the rewards she has won. According to her website, in her first two years, Chase received the 2017 Virginia Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Advocate for Virginia Business, the 2017 James River Association Hero Award, and the 2016 Legislator of the Year Award for the Treasurers Association of Virginia.

In her personal life, Chase has the experience of being a small business owner and has worked in executive management in both the private and public sectors. The mom of four believes her experience in the political field combined with the success she has seen is why she feels that she will be ready for the responsibilities that the governor position holds.

Dont tell her she cant win; Chase wont believe it. She has her reasons as well. She has won every race she has been in, and for this particular one, she started early, which she says has been very important to her. Chase also said she has already exceeded all her financial goals, which is quite the feat considering she announced one month before the pandemic. According to Chase, all the money she has raised has been from the people, none from political action committee or special interests.

For Chase, her personal goal is to return Virginia back to the Constitution, and she feels that its a calling for her. She says she is ready for the challenge.

Day one Ill be ready to be the governor of Virginia, she said.

Read more stories in the current issue of the Smith Mountain Eagle newspaper. Pick up a copy or subscribe atwww.smithmountaineagle.com/subscriber_servicesto view articles in the print and/or e-edition version.

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Republican candidate for Virginia governor Amanda Chase visits Smith Mountain Lake, says she will be ready to lead the state back to the constitution...

photo by: Nick Krug

Free State's Ben Hill and Lawrence High's Stanley Holder III battle it out in the 145-pound class during a dual Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016 at Lawrence High School.

The 2020-21 high school winter sports season will start on time, though there will be a longer break before competition resumes in January. And there wont be any spectators allowed at these competitions until at least Jan. 29.

During a meeting on Tuesday that lasted about four hours and was watched live by more than 6,000 people on YouTube the KSHSAA Board of Directors voted to start the winter sports season on time on Dec. 1 with the amendment of having a longer competition moratorium than usual. The motion ultimately passed, 53-22, after a lengthy discussion that resulted in two amendments to the original proposal.

KSHSAA Board of Directors Special Meeting

The new competition moratorium is now from Dec. 23-Jan. 7, meaning games can resume on Friday, Jan. 8 after the break. After play ends in late December, practices for the high school winter sports teams will resume on Monday, Jan. 4.

The initial proposal on the meeting agenda was to delay the start of all competition until Jan. 15, but Olathe North principal Jason Herman proposed an amendment to allow competition to take place in December. He suggested having competition until Dec. 22, and then not having another game until Jan. 15.

After it passed by a 44-25 margin, Mill Valley Athletic Director Jerald VanRheen offered up a second amendment to that motion to move the restart date up to Jan. 8. That motion was ultimately passed, 41-34, but the final item ended up being passed by a wider margin.

There were 77 BOD members for all such votes, which meant 39 votes were needed for majority. The middle school sports season will mirror the amended high school sports schedule, which ended up passing by a 70-7 margin.

It means that the local sports teams are currently expected to miss just one game on its original schedule. Lawrence High had a home basketball doubleheader with Olathe West on Jan. 5, while Free States basketball teams were slated to travel to Shawnee Mission South on the same day.

While the schedule will remain mostly the same, that doesnt mean the high school winter sports season will be business as usual. KSHSAA voted in favor of no spectators being allowed at high school events from Dec. 1 through Jan. 28, which passed by a 50-26 margin. Middle school sports will not have fans in attendance either.

All participants and attendees of events will be required to wear face coverings, which is a motion that passed by a 76-1 margin. The only exception is athletes and officials actively playing as well as medical exceptions.

No more than four teams can play at one site for basketball, but eight-team tournaments can be held as long as there are multiple gymnasiums. No more than eight schools or 112 wrestlers will be allowed at wrestling events. That all passed by a 59-15 margin.

Regular-season lengths remain untouched for all winter sports programs, which includes a 20-game slate for basketball squads.

All of that voting was preceded by a public discussion forum. During that portion of the meeting, speakers got the opportunity to plead their case for why the winter sports season should take place. One of those individuals was Eudora senior Jayla Pierce, who is committed to play softball at Rockhurst while also being a standout in volleyball and girls basketball.

Pierce begged the board to not delay the start of the high school sports season, a request that was ultimately answered. And that should be considered a win for all the student-athletes, even if they are playing in empty venues for the time being.

Items resulting from the KSHSAA Board of Directors Meeting:

The BOD voted in favor to begin the winter activity competition season on Dec. 1 and continue through Dec. 22 before taking a winter moratorium for practice and competition beginning on Dec. 23.

The winter moratorium usually runs from Dec. 23 to Dec. 27, but the board chose to extend the moratorium on practice and competition through Jan. 3. Practice may begin on Jan. 4 and competition may resume on Jan. 8.

Basketball may have a maximum of 20 games, not including the postseason.

Swimming and diving may have a maximum of 10 competitions, exclusive of the state meet.

Boys and girls wrestling may have a maximum of 18 events and no more than 30 competitions points, exclusive of the postseason.

Bowling may have a maximum of 10 competitions, exclusive of the postseason.

No spectators will be permitted for high school and middle school contests from Dec. 1 through Jan. 28, 2021.

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KSHSAA allows winter sports to start on time, but with no spectators - Lawrence Journal-World