A few weeks ago in Nashville, a group of Metro police officers made a sweep on a homeless camp on one of the coldest nights of the year. One man in particular was cited for trespassing, and when he returned to the camp, he found that his tent had been slashed open with a knife... by one of the officers! "My tent was slashed. I mean, it looked like Freddy Krueger had come through there and cut it up. Brand new tent. I hadn't had it two weeks. $150 dollar tent, and they're not easy for me to come by being homeless, you know." The man had no choice but to sleep in what was left of his home, and woke up under a half inch of snow. Metro Police Officer Shaun Heath admitted what he did and has since been demoted and taken off the streets pending investigation. "This was one officer doing something that he shouldn't have done. It should not have happened, there's no question about that. He realizes that. He realizes that he was wrong in what he did," said Metro Police Cmdr. Marlene Pardue, of the West Precinct. The homeless man, now relocated and using a borrowed tent, is not asking for a new tent or the officer's job. He simply wants an apology and mutual respect. I feel that if Officer Shaun Heath wants to continue to "protect and serve" the people of Nashville, he should replace the home he destroyed and make a formal, public apology.

My adult son is autistic. Doctors and hospitals refuse him care and attempt to redirect us to institutional care. Every time he is in the emergency room, doctors want him sent to a state psycniatric hospital that has a history of deaths, not from natural causes. If I agreed to have him sent, he would be shackled and transported in a sheriff's car. I just called to have him transported to the ER, because he appeared to become increasingly agitated with a medication change. The police came with the paramedics and roughed him up. It must stop. We have to come up with humane ways to deal with mental handicaps. If the handicapped are not discriminated against and receive appropriate medical care, they are less likely to need crisis treatments.

Kids are getting in trouble at school for wearing their hats.

I'm sorry, I didn't know that practicing my religion was so offensive. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwJqUQzghhM)

keeping clean election in pa and voters rights

Please help me urge our Governor to not infringe upon our second amendment rights, or engage in the one upmanship that is taking place between some other states. These laws that are being passed will effect no one but law abiding citizens.

It's asking lawmakers to legalize marijuana and back off the legislation that would ask the federal government to uphold federal marijuana laws over state laws, like Washington State and Colorado.

Democracy only works if all are allowed to participate. Stand for democracy now, or find a new country to live in. I served my country in war and peace for 30 years. I will always defend our democracy. Will you?

Wireless Electric Meters are being "mandated" by NHEC to be installed on every one of 82,444 homes in the utility franchise area although there is no federal or state mandate requiring this. Wireless meters place serious potential risks affecting electric consumer health, safety, security, and privacy due to the radiation created by the wireless transmission of electrical use data. Citizens have a constitutional right to protect their health and safety from the wireless meter RF radiation now considered a possible cause of cancer by the International Agency for Research on Cancer; the cause of house fires that are being investigated across the nation; and the loss of security in the home through abuse of personal electrical use data obtained by those who would cause harm to persons or property.

This country is out if control when it comes to guns. Though I am not a gun owner, I understand that people have the right to bear arms under the second amendment. With this in mind I have become scared for the safety of my daughter, whether at school, or any other public place, for that matter. We need to use a common sense approach, and not be bullied by the N.R.A.

Republicans are trying to prevent Virginians from voting for Democrats by starting another roadblock to require everyone to have a photo ID. It will require more than 5 hours to travel to governmental center and cost $20. This will be a hardship to seniors, disabled,young people and an inconvience to everyone, since we all received new voter cards last October.We could feed hungry children using the money this will save.

Even though I have hunted and fished all my life, I believe that there needs to be a sensible alternative to the private arms ownership proliferation that has created a serious public health and safety problem. As car drivers we accept the responsibility for carrying liability insurance. Background checks and limitations on ammunition magazines are comparable and we should support such legislation.