Wrong on every count

“Campus Carry violates five basic GOP principles,” was obviously written by someone with no understanding of either Republican or American principles.

1) The claim that it will “generate a tax increase” is based on the writer’s imagination. In the past eight years concealed carry permits issued nationwide have greatly increased with no additional taxes to pay for more law enforcement.

2) The author claims the law is confusing. In Georgia, the complete list is very short and clear. Campus carry law is just as clear.

3) The claim is that there is no mental health provision. Au contraire. To obtain a Georgia Weapons Carry Permit (WCP) a detailed application is completed, fingerprints are taken, and a background check is completed.

4) The concern is that there is no provision for training. Many people have been shooting their entire lives and others have received training in the military or law enforcement. If someone needs training it is a personal responsibility – a conservative/GOP principle.

5) The last claim, that supporters of campus carry want to “ax all gun laws,” is downright silly.

Campus Carry is logical based on the success of Georgia WCP Law.

First, it prevents crime. Nationwide since 2007, the number of people with concealed carry permits has close to tripled while murder and violent crime rates dropped 25%.

Second, mass shootings almost always take place in gun-free zones.

Third, concealed carry will allow students, especially female students, to defend themselves against attack.

Will there ever be a wrongful shooting on a campus? Because we are humans, it will invariably happen. Car accidents kill people and yet we drive. We trust 18-year-olds to vote for president and we should trust 21-year-olds to legally apply the Second Amendment on their college campuses.

Anti-Jeffersonians

It is an insult to this republic to suggest that Trump, Cruz and Kasich are qualified to be President of the USA. None of them embraces constitutional governance, particularly the imprimaturs of exclusivity and separation of powers vested in federal governance.

As bad as they are, they are augmented and likely exceeded by the irrefutable ineptitude and obstruction of Paul Ryan in the House and Mitch McConnell in the Senate. That voters are upset and frustrated is apparent, but it is the consequence of their own ignorance that succumbs to the lies, hatred, bigotry, racism and divisiveness of the 1% of the population that owns and orients all things GOP.

FDR bailed us out from the societal and economic devastation wreaked upon us by GOP Presidents Harding, Coolidge and Hoover. Their collective mantras were no different from the current collection of incompetent wackos, but far more civil, at least. Rebellion, insurrection, violent overthrow of all things deemed unworthy and global warfare to crush nations, nationalities, species and the climate are declared mandatory for USA redemption. From what? You got it -- try Nixon, Reagan, Bushx2 and Republican-lite Democrats Clinton and Obama, in the name of “compassionate conservatism” and economic supremacy.

Think Bernie Sanders and pray that his integrity and agenda will restore the republic to that envisioned by Thomas Jefferson and not Alexander Hamilton and the 1% he embraced to our everlasting detriment.

There’s no rebuttal to Jefferson, FDR and Bernie and to condemn them as liberals, commies, etc., exceeds stupidity and mandates educational rehabilitation.

Ready to serve

Public service is a challenging endeavor and fresh faces bring new perspectives. At every election, the voters have an opportunity to elect new people to a variety of positions. Vanessa Jackson, who has not held public elected office, has entered the race for School Board District 3 seat. She is an excellent choice. No duty is more important than ensuring that our children have the best educational opportunities possible.

I have known Vanessa for several years and have always been amazed at her drive and energy. If a problem exists, she will do everything humanly possible to correct it. No obstacle will deter her. No detail will escape her attention. She attacks problems with a positive attitude and works well with other people for the common good. Vanessa will be a welcome addition to the School Board where she will diligently represent her constituents and all of the children of Muscogee County.

I wholeheartedly endorse her decision to run for elected office. She served her nation as a soldier and now wants to serve her community. Her experience and her determination will ensure that she serves the entire community well.

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 2:23 PM with the headline "Wrong on every count."