Gun Control

In the past week, CNN, MSNBC and USA Today have publicized the results of a new study that found that tougher gun laws CAN and DO have an effect on homicide rates. The study found that states with the strictest gun laws did in fact experience a lower overall mortality rate from firearms than states with the least or weakest gun laws. Average citizens have no need for guns with a capacity for more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The assertion that it is their 'right' to own such weapons conflicts with the rights of other ordinary citizens to live without fear of violence against themselves, their family members, and their society as a whole. While thorough background checks are necessary, they are far from resolving the problem. The assumption that mental illness is the culprit rather than firearms does nothing more than further stigmatize an already marginalized group. The NRA pushes to blame the 'mentally ill' in order to further their own agenda. Reality is, the average killer is not mentally ill. The average killer is experiencing rage, seeking revenge or enjoys feeling 'entitled'. The issue is not gun ownership. The issue is the ownership of assault type firearms by ordinary citizens who have no 'need' of such weapons. If the Sandy Hook shooter was armed with a handgun with a 10 shot magazine rather than an assault rifle capable of firing 4 rounds per second, the outcome would have been dramatically different.

My hand has been deformed since birth and causes lots of pain, to no avail pain killers dont help. I am a good samaritan and hate to break the law, but marijuana is the only thing I've found to relieve the pain to nothing. Another thing is that hemp can save our rain forest which are the lungs of our Earth. Paper is made from trees and trees take along time to grow. While hemp requires months Just like standard crops are today. Thank you for your time and concern.

Legalize Marijuana

To start a dialogue on the causes of poverty in our country.

The Los Angeles County zoning code has loopholes in it that allow multinational big box retailers to enter without the permits smaller businesses must have, Save Altadena is asking the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to adopt a moritorium on new permits and to adopt model regulations so Multinational big boxes will have to compete on a level playing field with small local business,

Implementation of the Medicaid expansion program for Iowa.

During the 1980s, many state courts recognized the existence of public-policy exceptions to at-will employment. These courts were influenced by a large number of law review articles published since the mid-1960s that condemned the doctrine of at-will employment. And, as an increasing number of state supreme courts recognized public-policy exceptions to at-will employment, other states were willing to join the rapidly growing minority, which soon became a majority.

In his Sunday, March 10 column, Thomas Friedman asked Bill McKibben and his organization to “go crazy” if President Obama approves the Keystone XL pipeline. Specifically, Mr. Friedman wrote: "I HOPE the president turns down the Keystone XL oil pipeline. (Who wants the U.S. to facilitate the dirtiest extraction of the dirtiest crude from tar sands in Canada’s far north?) But I don’t think he will. So I hope that Bill McKibben and his 350.org coalition go crazy. I’m talking chain-themselves-to-the-White-House-fence-stop-traffic-at-the-Capitol kind of crazy, because I think if we all make enough noise about this, we might be able to trade a lousy Keystone pipeline for some really good systemic responses to climate change. We don’t get such an opportunity often — namely, a second-term Democratic president who is under heavy pressure to approve a pipeline to create some jobs but who also has a green base that he can’t ignore. So cue up the protests, and pay no attention to people counseling rational and mature behavior." We ask the Mr. Friedman join in any such “crazy” pipeline protests, to help bring attention to climate policy.

The fact the governor --Honorabke John Kitzerber has devoted his energy to make sure our students succeed in school--graduate in large number. He has allocated resources nt just talking--is commendable., Applauded him.

In 2011, the Aging and Disability Services Division's budget that was presented to the Nevada's legislature proposed the elimination of the Senior Tax Assistance/Rent Rebate (STARR) program. The legislature approved the elimination of the program that benefited low income seniors to fund other services, and GOV. BRIAN SANDOVAL signed regardless the damage done to low income seniors.

How can we stop or slow global warming if we keep building infrastructure that contributes to global warming. No coal in Oregon.