Readers: Reduce Gun Violence Via Mental Health Access

Last week readers voted on a timely but controversial topic: reducing gun violence.

Q: What can/should be done to reduce gun violence? (Up to 3)

1. Address access to mental health services 66 [24%]
2. Ban some types of guns but protect the 2nd amendment 62 [22.55%]
3. Regulate access to ammunition 48 [17.45%]
4. Allow concealed-carry everywhere 20 [7.27%]
5. Ban all guns 19 [6.91%]
6. Require licensed gun owners to prove guns are stored locked up 19 [6.91%]
7. Censor violent TV shows & video games 13 [4.73%]
8. Fortify schools and workplaces 10 [3.64%]
9. Allow open-carry everywhere 9 [3.27%]
10. Other: 5 [1.82%]
11. Unsure/no answer 4 [1.45%]

The legislators who push guns are the very same ones that cut access to mental heath services. You can’t have it both ways, access to mental health treatment must be at least as easy as access to a gun.

In researching this I learned something about the intent of 2nd Amendment from former Chief Justice Warren E Burger:

We see that the need for a state militia was the predicate of the “right” guaranteed; in short, it was declared “necessary” in order to have a state military force to protect the security of the state. That Second Amendment clause must be read as though the word “because” was the opening word of the guarantee. Today, of course, the “state militia” serves a very different purpose. A huge national defense establishment has taken over the role of the militia of 200 years ago.

Some have exploited these ancient concerns, blurring sporting guns — rifles, shotguns and even machine pistols — with all firearms, including what are now called “Saturday night specials.” There is, of course, a great difference between sporting guns and handguns. Some regulation of handguns has long been accepted as imperative; laws relating to “concealed weapons” are common. That we may be “over-regulated” in some areas of life has never held us back from more regulation of automobiles, airplanes, motorboats and “concealed weapons.”  (Source — full piece highly recommended) 

I don’t know the answer to reducing gun violence but the NRA’s solution of more guns everywhere isn’t the type of society I want to live in.

— Steve Patterson

Hello Twenty-Thirteen

Most will say “two thousand (and) thirteen”, as I’m sure I’ll say a few times.

This comes as a surprise to some observers of English usage. From 2001 to 2009, it made sense to use the longer “two thousand” version of year names. The template was actually set way back in 1968, when Stanley Kubrick’s movie “2001” was marketed as “two thousand and one,” not “twenty oh one”—despite the precedent of pronouncing 1901 as “nineteen oh one” (or “nineteen aught one” if you want to sound particularly old-timey). (Boston Globe)

But I ask that everyone stop with “two thousand” and say “twenty.” But no matter how you pronounce it, have a great 2013!

— Steve Patterson

On KDHX 88.1FM Tonight

I’ll be talking 2012  tonight at 8:30pm (CST) with Collateral Damage host DJ Wilson on KDHX 88.1 FM.  Not in St. Louis, listen online here.

As you celebrate tonight please be safe and be considerate of others.  Thank you for reading in 2012 and I hope you’ll stick around in 2013.

— Steve Patterson

Poll: Support or Oppose Raising Seat Belt Violations From $10 to $50

I’ve long been a fan of seat belt use so the effort of Missouri state Senator Joseph Keavany to try again to raise fines caught my attention:

Now, almost three years later, Missouri still ranks pretty low among states for seat belt compliance, at 79 percent; hundreds of people involved in traffic accidents still die because they don’t buckle up; and Missouri’s fine for not wearing a seat belt is $10.

“The fine for littering in Missouri is $79.50,” Keaveny, D-St. Louis, told the Ride Guy last week.

Senate Bill 62 is the latest version. Keaveny prefiled it for the upcoming session and hopes to get this measure out of committee. (stltoday.com)

You can find SB62 here, and all the 2013 prefiled Senate bills here.

This is the topic for the poll this week, vote in the right sidebar and share your thoughts in the comments below.

— Steve Patterson

Copia Destroyed By Arson Five Years Ago

Five years ago today Copia Restaurant & Wine Garden was severely damaged after an early morning fire, .

The fire was arson. On May 5, 2009 the arsonist was sentenced:

Gilbert Summers, a former employee of Copia Urban Winery and Market, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison for the 2007 fire that caused $2.7 million in damages to the Washington Avenue eatery. (RFT)

Copia reopened in June 2010.

— Steve Patterson