tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83527809031420899152024-03-04T23:54:59.179-08:00All Things Wildly ConsideredThe blog for editorial consideration of topics from "a" to "z" to stimulate your further investigation and to draw your comments.Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.comBlogger2835125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-56799959326658318352022-11-09T07:11:00.000-08:002022-11-09T07:11:27.385-08:00Day After Election Blues: Scioto Stays Red<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnCcrkITpFY_VjabFKobiS7oEDis4cotwy4cJPPxZmPQFwLs746PMUOU1GbPmPjUvdSSckCg4gT0zN_w1zj_p2CzCByqvCkxc9XgPgKqWUo0t-JeBI4Z28j5hMOQx_BUKFciYPTUKK0RxzDwdG5H0mTaOxmtmCeH6mNXxmt2ZastOQ1dqFZGzlrvJkQ/s800/20220105-Election-2022-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="800" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnCcrkITpFY_VjabFKobiS7oEDis4cotwy4cJPPxZmPQFwLs746PMUOU1GbPmPjUvdSSckCg4gT0zN_w1zj_p2CzCByqvCkxc9XgPgKqWUo0t-JeBI4Z28j5hMOQx_BUKFciYPTUKK0RxzDwdG5H0mTaOxmtmCeH6mNXxmt2ZastOQ1dqFZGzlrvJkQ/s320/20220105-Election-2022-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you have the Day After
Election Blues? </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We offer no excuses.
Democrats suffered overwhelming losses in this week's election. Many
offices were up for grabs, yet election totals show the strong
tendency to vote a single party Republican ballot in Scioto County
and in the State of Ohio. Everyone talks about the power of the
party, not about the need for diversity and individual cooperation.
The overwhelmingly GOP public vote proves the party's domination in
our homeland. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In a place that very often
seems to choose the party over the individual, this domination begs
the question of how a political lock affects all of our lives</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These days campaigns pit
party nominees less as competent rivals and more as bitter enemies.
Political units realize a differing opinion on a single issue
produces votes. They harp on this popular difference to stir voters'
emotions and make them fear outcomes of electing a candidate who will
ruin their very existence. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's come to the point
where even one simple point of dissension strangles all respect for
any logical variance. As a result, concessions die and disagreement
often turns to total bias – now the bias is so strong that it
produces furious denial of framing an issue in a different
perspective. Political division is so strong that hatred rears its
ugly ad hominem head, cements single-party loyalty, and perpetuates
voting red or blue just because of family tradition.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The present political
division in Scioto County influences our society in so many negative
ways. Without input from both parties, diversity suffers as does the
will toward progressive movement – plus, a lack of toleration
produces discrimination and conflicts. Much of this stems from blame
generated by political parties. Blame – the act of censuring and
holding individuals or groups as morally irresponsible – seeks to
find scapegoats for our difficult problems, yet leads to strong party
affiliation. You know, “they” caused gas prices to rise or to let
criminals cross the border.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What happens when one
party has a virtual lock on the issues that most affect the public?
That party becomes so strong that they simply advance major policy
initiatives without the necessary support of the opposition. In other
words, they use their power to force their own agenda and deny the
opposition – party dominance assumes that only a particular
conception of representative democracy (in which different parties
alternate frequently in power) is valid. We know this isn't true,
don't we? In hindsight, history has taught us some very important
lessons – need I mention Vietnam or January 6?</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Allow me some liberal
examples of my beliefs that would assuredly challenge hardcore
Republicans and extreme right-wing supporters in Scioto County:</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I abhor gun violence and
support reform but do not wish to confiscate legal, reasonable
firearms.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I support a woman's right
to choose, but I do not favor abortion in any irresponsible,
birth-controlling nature.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I respect parents' rights
to understand curriculum, yet I believe critical race theory is not
being taught in public schools.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I do not favor censorship;
however, I trust institutions can establish logical policies on
defining appropriate, age-access to materials.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I acknowledge the
difference in “sex” and “gender” while respecting the
individual's rights to practice their own identity and be treated
with respect and equality. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I respect religions, but I
strongly support separation of church and state. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I believe the strongest
society is diverse and living here where diversity is marginal at
best reduces the strongest fabrics of our united nation.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I detest the opioid
epidemic and illegal drug trade while, at the same time, realize
private firms that specialize in life-saving rehabilitation are vital
to the recovery of Scioto County and Appalachia in general.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I respect the individual
but do not wish him/her to be overly beholden along party lines and
“same old, Good Old Boy” policies that promote failing, single
minded, conservative policies. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I strongly believe
teaching children to think and reason for themselves is paramount in
education and stems from tolerating diverse views in creative yet
responsive settings. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In closing, I fear
political domination will weaken both the advancement and innovation
of the area. I have never served on a group or on a committee that
discourages compromise formulated by </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>all</u></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
members to advance successful objectives. Tunnel vision and total
conservatism inhibit growth. As the Republican administrations in our
area rubber stamp their legislation and consolidate their views on
issues, they also ignore the will of the minority, be that minority
race, gender, religion, or creed. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No amount of flag-waving
and denigrating opponents strengthen the fabric of our weary
community. If they believe they need to “make America great again”
through stepping back into the past, I would remind them that the
past had significant its own problems, many of which lingered through
decades … and, in some cases, through centuries, Most of these
social nightmares were propagated by irresponsible leaders
handicapped with blinders who refused to acknowledge political
compromise and the necessity of bipartisan support. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You see what I mean? We
Dems lost the election. We know it. However – “We” can be your best
friend, your devil's advocate – “we” are the opposition who
promise to do our best in our minority to make sure that your majority
rule does not equal patting each other on the back and sanctioning
rigid, total conservatism. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjK1VD9Uv6pUpyIkajXELcIvTxua2Tcj7WlI38MSfrHjf0ns66o3-j5kc4M1xjbZgsYvZs71-ZS_1jXn523gZYuGGOSt20TcbxWf3P00l-zb05D5ZCcMZOZiJpfuA-w6NjgWp9WsGC14EDKWfKi25xjA5euw7it3BALulhIr6ymQOtMCceT3Gu5DvZQ/s1920/1f13bf57-c2c2-4990-8aa3-96f9b1ea2884_1920x1080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjK1VD9Uv6pUpyIkajXELcIvTxua2Tcj7WlI38MSfrHjf0ns66o3-j5kc4M1xjbZgsYvZs71-ZS_1jXn523gZYuGGOSt20TcbxWf3P00l-zb05D5ZCcMZOZiJpfuA-w6NjgWp9WsGC14EDKWfKi25xjA5euw7it3BALulhIr6ymQOtMCceT3Gu5DvZQ/s320/1f13bf57-c2c2-4990-8aa3-96f9b1ea2884_1920x1080.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-58635618509071279972022-10-07T08:52:00.001-07:002022-10-07T08:52:50.595-07:00Scioto Candidate Josh Lawson: Your Vote Matters<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5U0XylAdcXT1CaV2ZpDQG4l4QV-qzjCHrTRQaIGmD33xwPoAwbRKgUiBRcm4jwYp7wvFcfKNd9pL1XNo3WY4hjbyOuHXZQnlDt1HXTppHuaujJaDl12eOYIQD-3461r5xt71aVPaUUyKjbCqK5ZF-dyAglp6j_GlPERPops9SyvwvQWw-fHsPSf3XA/s1200/gettyimages-83556531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1200" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5U0XylAdcXT1CaV2ZpDQG4l4QV-qzjCHrTRQaIGmD33xwPoAwbRKgUiBRcm4jwYp7wvFcfKNd9pL1XNo3WY4hjbyOuHXZQnlDt1HXTppHuaujJaDl12eOYIQD-3461r5xt71aVPaUUyKjbCqK5ZF-dyAglp6j_GlPERPops9SyvwvQWw-fHsPSf3XA/w400-h249/gettyimages-83556531.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Many people seek change.
They have new, better opinions and ideas they fervently support, yet
as the old saying goes, “Talk is cheap.” The meaning of this
idiomatic expression is that it doesn’t cost anyone to say
something, and the real difficulty is in doing it. This is a
perceived truth all too evident during elections. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">How important is the act
of voting? Former U.S. President John F. Kennedy once said: "The
ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The simple act of casting
a vote – the most basic act of citizenship – can support and even
help effect important change. One would think all Americans over the
age of 18 would vote as a civic duty; however, according to the Pew
Research Center, only 55.7 percent of the U.S. voting age population
cast ballots in the 2016 presidential election. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Voter turnout numbers in
the United States are quite low compared to other developed nations.
In August 2016, the Pew Research Center ranked the U.S. 31st out of
35 countries for voter turnout based on the voting age populace among
the mostly democratic nations that are a part of the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stats on U.S. voter
registration tell a similarly shocking story. The Census Bureau
recorded that there were roughly 245.5 million Americans who were
eligible to vote in 2016, but only 157.6 million of eligible voters
were registered to vote. The United States Election Project had
similar findings, estimating apathy slightly higher: 46.9 percent of
eligible voters did not vote that election. Many Americans simply do
not take the effort to learn the voting process, as some see it as a
burden. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Participating in elections
is one of the key freedoms of American life. It is the right and
privilege of U.S. citizens to vote for the betterment of society.
Moreover, voting is the duty of every citizen in a democracy. It
guarantees people have the opportunity to make their voices heard,
and it safeguards individual liberty.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As elected officials have
the power to control lives and take money from wallets, all Americans
have a great stake in the outcome of free elections. Thus, their
votes have a very significant effect on community and county
decisions. In order to be properly managed, the affairs of these
political divisions must rest in the hands of the capable and trusted
leaders elected at the polls. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Too many Americans sit on
the sidelines during elections, especially during midterm or off-year
elections. Apathy is the enemy of the true voice of the people. Such
indifference derails this essential component of a successful
democracy. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Those who doubt
registering and casting a vote are so important need only imagine
living in a foreign country where such rights are denied. Or, these
doubters can look back in time and consider the corrupt inequality in
the U.S. when literacy tests and poll taxes were blatant forms of
discrimination barring Blacks and other minorities from voting in
Southern states. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One such important call to
action is at hand. All eligible people in Scioto County should cast a
ballot in the November 2022 election. Let's all be sure to vote in
this critical race. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Josh Lawson, candidate for
Scioto County commissioner, is running on a platform of innovation,
collaboration, and recovery. He is focused on many intersecting
social concerns of the county such as poverty, homelessness, and
economic exploitation – all issues of what he calls “a collective
trauma” that has devastated the region for decades.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lawson is asking for your
vote in the upcoming election. He points out that of the roughly
58,000 eligible voters in Scioto, only 46,000 are currently
registered to vote, and, on average, only 28,000 of those registered
actually turn out to the polls. Where is the majority in the total
population of 74,000 residents? He believes they need to be better
represented. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Josh Lawson urges every
citizen to vote in the election this fall. To help accomplish this
monumental task, he is leading a drive to register as many new voters
as possible because he understands the need for change and the
importance of those who will wage the good fight against this
lingering trauma. He believes success takes cooperation among all
people of every strata in the county. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lawson is asking for one
action from Scioto citizens. He calls on all residents to “stand up
for themselves, cast their ballots, and make their voices heard.”
He says the only real challenge is “to overcome the social apathy
that has propped up the status quo in Scioto County for far too
long.” </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, Josh Lawson summarizes
his campaign appeal with a question: “Will the real Scioto County
majority please stand up?” The election is near, and the definitive
answer will be given as people cast their ballots. Good luck, Josh.
Your aim is true. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0rw63xCv35HjjPS63JsNT5oKzQi1SdCBMGgwryskzBQw2QvjxbbjtEKjgvFuBoUOEV7iq7UVgMxQCCjTK6JN1Vz4ZWRW7uue-t-aHlnmbsiROBphFIJOPwVJzLlqT7K8OqGxO7QIkflOxPAKyunqXHOKM-9T82egPntp133nD4mXskRsQJuXkCvT2A/s800/register_to_vote_button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0rw63xCv35HjjPS63JsNT5oKzQi1SdCBMGgwryskzBQw2QvjxbbjtEKjgvFuBoUOEV7iq7UVgMxQCCjTK6JN1Vz4ZWRW7uue-t-aHlnmbsiROBphFIJOPwVJzLlqT7K8OqGxO7QIkflOxPAKyunqXHOKM-9T82egPntp133nD4mXskRsQJuXkCvT2A/s320/register_to_vote_button.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>
</p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-43273315887704511672022-09-08T07:08:00.001-07:002022-09-08T07:08:11.722-07:00Long Covid And Mental Health<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFod0trrwaKuge3FCC_1W1SmL9R8Qra5PCaV8qk9W4S7Ym1CK5KMXLt8JtcQkmjrU7bl79JoRVT08J8b-VqBBlSO6OpFwYryk-KjRh5hiMwVQJjgLGrVeBkbx1iTrq9w9C5m0TvgOh3eKSNpdW5YC8IlA5dnY1RAuuvxcf0Uhore7A31iOSEhYX7ppg/s640/305025751_176079328261730_4733944908821643547_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="640" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFod0trrwaKuge3FCC_1W1SmL9R8Qra5PCaV8qk9W4S7Ym1CK5KMXLt8JtcQkmjrU7bl79JoRVT08J8b-VqBBlSO6OpFwYryk-KjRh5hiMwVQJjgLGrVeBkbx1iTrq9w9C5m0TvgOh3eKSNpdW5YC8IlA5dnY1RAuuvxcf0Uhore7A31iOSEhYX7ppg/w400-h294/305025751_176079328261730_4733944908821643547_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Some
long Covid symptoms overlap with symptoms of psychological distress,
making it difficult to pinpoint their cause.”</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A Harvard team separated the
overlapping symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog and memory issues,
to look at just symptoms such as a persistent cough, shortness of
breath or trouble smelling or tasting, which are not usually linked
to psychological conditions. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The results were “almost
identical,” Siwen Wang, one of the study’s authors, said.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Wang and her team suspect that a few
factors could link stress and long Covid: First, stress can activate
molecules that signal the body to produce inflammation. Stress can
also lead to a suppressed immune response, making it harder for the
body to fight off viruses. She said people with depression might even
develop antibodies that mistakenly target their own cells. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Having a mental health issue is
always going to be more likely to predispose you to health problems
later on, whether it’s Covid, long Covid [or] a different
post-viral illness,” Becker said.</b></span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>(Aria Bendix. “Stress,
anxiety and depression may increase the risk of long Covid, study
finds.” NBC News. September 07, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Of U.S. adults overall,
around 19% of those who've contracted Covid have long Covid symptoms,
according to a June study from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. For some, the symptoms are debilitating. In the new
study, 800 people surveyed said their long Covid was preventing them
from engaging in routine daily activities.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="content"></a><b>(“Long
COVID.” Household Pulse Survey National Center for Health
Statistics. CDC. June 2022)</b></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I contracted Covid in July 2022, and the result was
devastating. With a history of major depression disorder, I tested
positive and struggled with the disease for many weeks. It knocked me
for a loop as I began experiencing respiratory problems, high
temperatures, weight loss, and tremendous fatigue. I suspect I suffer
from long Covid, and I struggled with these and other symptoms for a
long time.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">New research shows that
people who were experiencing psychological distress before getting
Covid were more likely to have long-lasting symptoms than those who
were not, according to new research. In other words, those who felt
stressed, anxious, lonely, depressed or worried about Covid before
getting infected were at higher risk of developing long-term symptoms
from their illness, a new study found.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For the research, a team
at Harvard looked at survey responses from nearly 55,000 people in
the United States and Canada from April 2020 to November 2021.</span></p>
<div dir="LTR" id="taboolaReadMoreBelow">
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Siwen Wang, MD; Luwei
Quan, BA; Jorge E. Chavarro, ScD; et al. “Associations of
Depression, Anxiety, Worry, Perceived Stress, and Loneliness Prior
to Infection With Risk of Post–COVID-19 Conditions.” </b><i><b>JAMA
Psychiatry</b></i><b>. September 07, 2022.) </b>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Of that group,
more than 3,000 participants said they'd had Covid, and around 1,400
said they had long Covid, defined as Covid-related symptoms lasting
four weeks or longer.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The results
showed that people who reported psychological distress before they
got infected had a 32% to 46% increased risk of long Covid, compared
to people who did not report such distress. And those who reported
high levels of two or more types of psychological distress, such as
both depression and anxiety, had a 50% increased risk.</span></p>
</div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What's more, the study
found a stronger association between long Covid and psychological
distress than long Covid and some of its known physical risk factors,
such as obesity, asthma and hypertension. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">The factors that we
identified are more strongly associated with risk of long Covid than
pretty much anything else anyone’s found," said Andrea
Roberts, an author of the study and a senior research scientist at
the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The findings indicate that
mental health can have an effect on physical Covid symptoms, the
researchers said. But they emphasized that the long Covid symptoms
among the patients studied were very real and arose as a result of
their infection.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">The results shouldn’t
be misinterpreted as supporting post-Covid conditions as
psychosomatic,” said Jacqueline Becker, a clinical
neuropsychologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who
wasn’t involved in the research. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">We’re seeing people
who are just having trouble leaving the house or performing other,
more regular activities like remembering to turn off the stove when
they’re cooking. Multitasking has become a little bit more
effortful. Some people aren’t able to function at all,” Becker
said.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Aria Bendix. “Stress,
anxiety and depression may increase the risk of long Covid, study
finds.” NBC News. September 07, 2022.)</b></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I,
personally, found long Covid greatly ramping up my depression and
interfering with my mental health during the infection. At age 71, I
feel particularly vulnerable to the impacts of long Covid. I urge all
people with pre-existing mental illness to seek the best standard of
care if they contract the illness. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Claire
Steves, a professor in ageing and health at King’s College London,
said the Harvard study emphasised the need to build support for
vulnerable people and to improve mental resilience in the population
at large. “It’s important to state that this association does not
mean that prior mental health issues cause long Covid, rather that
mental health issues increase the vulnerability of individuals, due
to decreased reserve so that physiological changes manifest in daily
life.” </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Bottom
Line</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Make
no mistake. No matter the slight symptoms shown by many who test
positive these days, Covid can be debilitating. I strongly believe
your immune system and preexisting health problems greatly affect the
impact of the virus. I know I had recently quit wearing a mask to the
grocery store and to other public places weeks before I fell victim.
I surely learned this was unwise. Now, I will take the needed
precautions once again.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Know the common signs for
Covid. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Common signs and symptoms
associated with long COVID</span></p>
<ul><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fatigue </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mood changes </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Loss or change in
taste and smell </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Cough </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chest pain </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Difficulty breathing </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sleep problems </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anxiety </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Depression </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Memory problems
(“brain fog”) </span>
</p>
</li></ul>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you feel bad or
experience these symptoms, get tested. My advice is to respect the
damage Covid can inflict. Be proactive and responsive to signs. Above
all, take care of yourself and be especially mindful of others whom
you may expose to the virus. Remember – many are vulnerable to
severe consequences once they contract Covid. I know I would not want
anyone to suffer with the strain I had. I was a physical and
emotional wreck for a very long time.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was not eligible to take
the new antiviral pills; however, my wife Cindy had Covid too and did
very well with this treatment. Seek advice from health officials.
Here is an an address for information about the pills and what you
need to know about them: <a href="https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20211229/the-new-covid-antiviral-pills-what-you-need-to-know#1." target="_blank">https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20211229/the-new-covid-antiviral-pills-what-you-need-to-know#1.</a></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We all are tired of Covid
restrictions and putting up with new strains of the virus. It tests
our patience and our way of life. However, on the positive side,
maybe this journey will help us all develop some healthier habits and
more sympathy for those in harm's way. I know one thing from my Covid
experience: I am so much more conscious of my environment and the
fragile connection to the outside world. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>
</p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-81866799826924924452022-08-15T08:07:00.001-07:002022-08-15T08:07:19.686-07:00To Scioto Commissioners: <p>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLRrBaLpFZsnJ_vSP1aUdMeGB1WV3_idGakgXlSs_5yzhX_1jx96bROgJ6BbmuOMolQq7IYvIZ6Sen6Ngwd4-79mXcUbplVnO5HJ7KOtWNHLUzL5eDEi8NoW7KZI0GlzgvM5OsbCl1AcuzQ9c-wE6iIeQk8UC_-dB6JYDIWslgZJHeMswoBbg99vY6w/s640/web1_Courthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="640" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLRrBaLpFZsnJ_vSP1aUdMeGB1WV3_idGakgXlSs_5yzhX_1jx96bROgJ6BbmuOMolQq7IYvIZ6Sen6Ngwd4-79mXcUbplVnO5HJ7KOtWNHLUzL5eDEi8NoW7KZI0GlzgvM5OsbCl1AcuzQ9c-wE6iIeQk8UC_-dB6JYDIWslgZJHeMswoBbg99vY6w/s320/web1_Courthouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After much thought and
soul searching, I realize I must make myself clear about writing in
this blog and online concerning the Scioto County commissioners.
These officials do a fine job in their office with the tough work
facing them. I commend them for their service and their love for the
county. Scottie Powell, Bryan Davis, Cathy Coleman, and (Former Commissioner Mike
Crabtree) deserve praise. Thank you for your hard work.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have disagreed with the
commissioners at times in their stance on various issues along with
some other views such as declaring Scioto County a Second Amendment
Sanctuary; however, I never meant for my writing to be a personal
attack on any of them. I hope they – and the public – do not take
it that way. I do not mean my understandings to take away from their
accomplishments. They are good people, and I realize I may have a
different view or two on politics. That's all. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Still, I am concerned that
they and others may see my writing as harmful rhetoric. I am sorry if
this is the case, and I want to take this time to apologize for any
such detriment that may be conceived. I sincerely apologize for such
a view, and I want to say I hope the commissioners accept my concerns as
a person who also loves Scioto County. I support all their work to better our area. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Commissioners, please
excuse me if you have taken offense in anything I have said.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I especially want to reach
out to Bryan Davis for understanding that any disagreement I have is
not personal or hateful. I know that Bryan and I have different opinions
at times and we can express our passion in pretty forceful terms. Thinking
about my past posts, I am sorry if Bryan is upset with me, and I hope we
are still friends. I want the best for all folks here. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If I have said
things to upset you, Bryan, I hope you forgive me. You are a
dedicated person I respect very much. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading this
blog entry. I pray we residents of Scioto can continue down the path
of area recovery and improvement. Politics aside, we are people in
transition with high hopes for the future.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Commissioners, thank you.
I know we can work out any differences with greater understanding. <br /></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sincerely, </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Frank R. Thompson</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-60634468940635736552022-07-23T07:10:00.003-07:002022-07-23T07:10:51.802-07:00Second Amendment Sanctuaries: Please Consider the Deadly Assault Weapon MCX-SPEAR <p>
</p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin93ZW3XXDnqFpL7J5g_FuYzg88YKF_7QVI2WDOaLb7QCUI2IEeWRqK0Md_3kMb4XXHw09ODFKAvqqZjlgUin0Qc7QQ2eS8e7n90eQNFxlqoq7-qNVCmEwtt-UDKv4tByipxYwxC9DeAw8led6xtTq-f4_UcfQiOnmu8zMwqj-BMSk3qmyqYZT_RnDDw/s1269/spear-white-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="1269" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin93ZW3XXDnqFpL7J5g_FuYzg88YKF_7QVI2WDOaLb7QCUI2IEeWRqK0Md_3kMb4XXHw09ODFKAvqqZjlgUin0Qc7QQ2eS8e7n90eQNFxlqoq7-qNVCmEwtt-UDKv4tByipxYwxC9DeAw8led6xtTq-f4_UcfQiOnmu8zMwqj-BMSk3qmyqYZT_RnDDw/w400-h126/spear-white-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>The MCX-SPEAR, the
civilian version of the US Army’s new NGSW-R (Next Generation Squad
Weapon-Rifle) </b>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A gun
company is marketing an assault rifle that can shoot through
bulletproof vests to civilians, a report says, amid ongoing debates
about gun control following a string of deadly mass shootings.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>SIG
Sauer's MCX-SPEAR is the civilian equivalent of the US Army's NGSW-R
(Next Generation Squad Weapon-Rifle), specifically created to tear
through body armor, <i>The Daily Beast </i>reported.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>"'It'll
shoot through almost all of the bulletproof vests worn by law
enforcement in the county right now,' Ryan Busse, a former firearms
company executive now a senior policy analyst with the Giffords Law
Center, told the outlet.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>(Alia Shoaib. “New
assault rifle being sold to civilians is twice as powerful as the
AR-15 and capable of shooting through bulletproof vests, report
says.” </b><i><b>Business Insider.</b></i><b> July 23, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">War-Fighting
Weapon</span> </b></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Of course, making this gun
commercially available raises questions about the possible outcomes
if it were to get into the hands of a mass shooter. SIG Sauer's
MCX-SPEAR can fire bullets with twice the kinetic energy of an AR-15,
<i>The Daily Beast</i> reported. The gun fires bullets with a longer
range, and it has a noise suppressor that could make a gunman harder
to locate, the outlet reported.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9U3DvXIJv6UG4tXWm7Eg_4dAzUJKtYdPmGgl2Gh_ZnHOSKYYR-7a8NO_vCdtEph9RdcqTHBSOdqahGehnqaSA0h8dA5i_9zNVHPHe3HjLw7HMYldWawEup-QUGwVsAF9Ij-IyQBwoIHNzhFt1cjkOmKk-IQZGqrGFNlDL03rlE6t6xR1z30f2Bi7cA/s600/sig6851x5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9U3DvXIJv6UG4tXWm7Eg_4dAzUJKtYdPmGgl2Gh_ZnHOSKYYR-7a8NO_vCdtEph9RdcqTHBSOdqahGehnqaSA0h8dA5i_9zNVHPHe3HjLw7HMYldWawEup-QUGwVsAF9Ij-IyQBwoIHNzhFt1cjkOmKk-IQZGqrGFNlDL03rlE6t6xR1z30f2Bi7cA/s320/sig6851x5.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sig Sauer rifles were
displayed during the NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits at the Kay
Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on May 5, 2018, in Dallas, Texas. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"The MCX-SPEAR was
developed with direct input from US warfighters to provide more
power, distance, and accuracy to replace the current M4 rifle
platform," the company's website says.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">This is a weapon that
could defeat any body armor, any planned body armor that we know of
in the future,” then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told the
<i>Army Times</i> in 2019. “This is a weapon that can go out at
ranges that are unknown today.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Milley had in mind the
body armor worn by Russian and Chinese troops. The Army just shrugged
when asked this week whether the same could apply to that worn by
cops.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Please, refer your
question to Sig Sauer and civilian law enforcement agencies,” a
spokesperson for the Army Modernization Team told <i>The Daily Beast</i>.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Michael Daly. “‘Proud’
Gunmaker Figures Out How to Make Mass Shootings Worse.”<i> The
Daily Beast</i>. July 20, 2022.)</b></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Marketing</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The company said that the
MCX-SPEAR would be available at "select dealers," <i>Firearm
Blog</i> first reported in January. In the press release, Ron Cohen,
President & CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc, said it was "a rare
opportunity for passionate consumers to own a piece of history.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the dealers said
that the arms manufacturer sent out 2,500 and 5,000 of the weapons
and they sold out quickly, despite the hefty manufacturer's suggested
price tag of $7,999, The Daily Beast reported.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A customer service
representative for SIG Sauer told the outlet that more weapons would
soon be shipped to gun stores at a lower price than the "first
editions" models.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I know it's coming,"
the representative told the outlet. "We're trying to get these
things out as fast as we can. Get as many guns as we can out the
door."</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Alia Shoaib. “New
assault rifle being sold to civilians is twice as powerful as the
AR-15 and capable of shooting through bulletproof vests, report
says.” <i>Business Insider.</i> July 23, 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Civilians and firearms
created with the specific purpose of tearing through body armor? My
God, what have we become? I'm sure every gun-worshiping Billy Badass
will drool over this weapon. SIG Sauer's marketing to civilians is
just insane. It features either military guys or special forces
officers touting the weapon. The plan is clear: forget basic
training, just buy the gun military special operators use. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I know gun-lovers and
Second Amendment Sanctuary supporters are going to give many reasons
for civilians buying and owning and … using … such a deadly
military firearm. However, I am sick and tired of the reckless
abandon of gun companies, gun lobbies, and politicians who ignore gun
violence perpetuated by these weapons of mass destruction. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our own Scioto County
commissioner Bryan Davis recently stated in the Facebook video of the
July 7, 2022 commissioners meeting … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>“</b></i><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>And what we need to do
is make sure that if there is an armed assailant out there and he has
a gun, you know what, it's all right to have one that's bigger than
what he's got. And, you know what? It goes back to the founding of
our country. The Founding Fathers showed great wisdom in the fact
that the right to bears arms shall not be infringed. And that means
no way, no how.”</b></i> </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, I say “how.” We
must address gun violence and stop madmen from accessing assault
weapons like the MCX-SPEAR. Our officials who oppose all reform
should understand the real consequences of their support of “no
infringement.” Ohio has currently loosened gun restrictions and
firearm training. Its new commitment to “stand your ground”
legislation now opens the door to terrible judgments by those with
overly aggressive behaviors and mental illness. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Put this weapon in the
hands of the public? Why? I see no reason for such greedy marketing
behavior or for directly creating the desire for more death and
destruction. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3X6vvw0DJUM6XVbZxfYX4PHeXgyDevZ2Agb0GA21O0thefTCPYq-NYHLN8GJ5XD2QacxNQngv4Or-Ad7GwlIgVTdjecErDcXbRezTxqKD_vqQLpArmIl5hwOhSbreEcC7C57sWuqvEAyDJACntyH9bruS1jvQehJCpMT31Uf2AolnluA1zqt2yrr_Bg/s1480/220719-sig-rifle-police-tease-02_oudcuk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1480" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3X6vvw0DJUM6XVbZxfYX4PHeXgyDevZ2Agb0GA21O0thefTCPYq-NYHLN8GJ5XD2QacxNQngv4Or-Ad7GwlIgVTdjecErDcXbRezTxqKD_vqQLpArmIl5hwOhSbreEcC7C57sWuqvEAyDJACntyH9bruS1jvQehJCpMT31Uf2AolnluA1zqt2yrr_Bg/w400-h225/220719-sig-rifle-police-tease-02_oudcuk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-49949386194772159472022-07-22T07:36:00.000-07:002022-07-22T07:36:46.825-07:00Ohio GOP: Abortion Ban Allows Rape Into Motherhood<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> <br /></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqTL2mtzBd99TesSK3uO6bWvLx2WZqZ8hDoGJHQWPwpN9PTy37eo3fyw5gfzyHmKJ9BQWFYGoVU8p1d26IikgmKqFSfTOmE75OuUVAOcaw2JK6OZdiVWxaAy-GV7NERBIftBYrX4ZJ-T35l9c8NUV4UJYLVv2upNEJyI5i7jNIbDpIBz8tGN7lSyokw/s660/9942d9fa-f1e9-4566-ac10-88c27bef9725-Ceb_Pro-Abortion_Rally_BJP_06.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="660" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqTL2mtzBd99TesSK3uO6bWvLx2WZqZ8hDoGJHQWPwpN9PTy37eo3fyw5gfzyHmKJ9BQWFYGoVU8p1d26IikgmKqFSfTOmE75OuUVAOcaw2JK6OZdiVWxaAy-GV7NERBIftBYrX4ZJ-T35l9c8NUV4UJYLVv2upNEJyI5i7jNIbDpIBz8tGN7lSyokw/s320/9942d9fa-f1e9-4566-ac10-88c27bef9725-Ceb_Pro-Abortion_Rally_BJP_06.webp" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ohio's
new abortion law does not have an exemption for pregnant children or
mental impairment.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
<i>USA TODAY</i> Network Ohio Bureau reported, Ohio's Republican
lawmakers who control the state have no plans to change that. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>There
is much debate among doctors, lawyers, and lawmakers about which
circumstances an abortion could be administrated if the pregnancy
presented "a serious risk of substantial and irreversible
impairment of a major bodily function" or death of the pregnant
person.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>(Amelia Robinson. “Ohio
girls are raped into motherhood. After rape at OSU, she was nearly
one.” <i>The Columbus Dispatch</i>. July 21, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The new abortion law took
effect despite public sentiment for legal abortions. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In May 2022, Pew Research
found, overall, a clear majority of adults say abortion should be
legal if the pregnancy threatens the woman’s life or health (73%)
or if the pregnancy is the result of rape (69%). A smaller majority
says abortion should be legal if the baby is likely to be born with
severe disabilities or health issues (53%).</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Democrats’ attitudes
about these circumstances follow a similar pattern. At least
eight-in-ten say abortion should be legal if the pregnancy threatens
the woman’s life or health (84%) or the pregnancy is the result of
rape (83%). A slightly smaller majority says the same about abortion
if the baby is likely to be born with severe disabilities (68%).</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Republicans are more
divided on these questions: While a clear majority say abortion
should be legal if a woman’s life is endangered (62%), a slightly
smaller share say the same about a pregnancy that is the result of
rape (56%). Republicans are far more divided on abortion if the baby
is likely to be born with disabilities or health problems: 38% say
abortion should be legal in this circumstance, while 29% say it
should be illegal and 31% say it depends. </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(“America’s
Abortion Quandary.” Pew Research Center. May 6, 2022.)</b></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCr6Lad6IyiJdBmWAAJP0ELomhLTwOSdBHOCUKH0jIgvbtZGImC-i5Dhb7fCYL16mTb4FQiyllTN2JZRXMWzQ0-EMyR5WkwkvEqXgE8GAIdwoQsWcSrDHdNQPC99NHcASnRKXK23MlwiIwzIWvJtcr1MHL9YyxX4R2bVR2tkce9BYyhwZdLjDAm5tUg/s411/Screenshot%202022-07-22%20at%2009-20-20%20Poll%20Shows%20Ohio%20Voters%20Want%20Abortion%20Rights%20Protected.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="411" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCr6Lad6IyiJdBmWAAJP0ELomhLTwOSdBHOCUKH0jIgvbtZGImC-i5Dhb7fCYL16mTb4FQiyllTN2JZRXMWzQ0-EMyR5WkwkvEqXgE8GAIdwoQsWcSrDHdNQPC99NHcASnRKXK23MlwiIwzIWvJtcr1MHL9YyxX4R2bVR2tkce9BYyhwZdLjDAm5tUg/w400-h263/Screenshot%202022-07-22%20at%2009-20-20%20Poll%20Shows%20Ohio%20Voters%20Want%20Abortion%20Rights%20Protected.png" width="400" /></a></b></div><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A poll by <i>USA TODAY</i>
Network Ohio/Suffolk University in late May found about 53% of
Ohioans polled by said they wanted to protect abortion rights here.
Another 39% wanted the Ohio Legislature to restrict access to the
procedure. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.4 percentage
points. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The partisan divide was
stark: 85% of Democrats backed abortion rights compared to 21% of
Republicans.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Greg Gatlin. “Poll
Shows Ohio Voters Want Abortion Rights Protected.”
<i>https://www.suffolk.edu/news-features/news/2022/06/06/15/41/suffolk-poll-shows-ohio-voters-want-abortion-rights-protected.</i>
Suffolk University/<i>Cincinnati Enquirer</i>. June 05, 2022.)</b></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-r9pFtKY94ckfOCglWx_eACSAbJ7grKYlt7aZOn0mRGxBau1TvF7olXTr1hFXqNUyOXDVN3yDGaFENXBiymUZ2e4X82L-dqyqYQfYPiF2B3P4thBBP1qFJ7AnmvKYRDWpelkXnEar-ge2GEBd8Iq8m9cMC4JlxEttlqY7LwrGrkSPq4yVC2IAO-COA/s1074/PF_05.06.22_abortion.views_0_0.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="840" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-r9pFtKY94ckfOCglWx_eACSAbJ7grKYlt7aZOn0mRGxBau1TvF7olXTr1hFXqNUyOXDVN3yDGaFENXBiymUZ2e4X82L-dqyqYQfYPiF2B3P4thBBP1qFJ7AnmvKYRDWpelkXnEar-ge2GEBd8Iq8m9cMC4JlxEttlqY7LwrGrkSPq4yVC2IAO-COA/w501-h640/PF_05.06.22_abortion.views_0_0.webp" width="501" /></a></div><b><br /> </b><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxKB9hA1WA9mY5U34tQlrwIZf_7dkiUdkADQBD7Cfdh-p8f54I_eT3IAOr0JSAixu3D5_u1WOwH_aSRC69WRUtc_Gn_MYP7Qrr3-18DhWlky8xUTdqvM0UpyvHwSeXjadS0PVafLM_ozdq34eNopVW-kxo8QUS0FyzPbUIu9d4HKCG-qCukhPyeVn9A/s1178/PF_05.06.22_abortion.views_0_2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="620" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxKB9hA1WA9mY5U34tQlrwIZf_7dkiUdkADQBD7Cfdh-p8f54I_eT3IAOr0JSAixu3D5_u1WOwH_aSRC69WRUtc_Gn_MYP7Qrr3-18DhWlky8xUTdqvM0UpyvHwSeXjadS0PVafLM_ozdq34eNopVW-kxo8QUS0FyzPbUIu9d4HKCG-qCukhPyeVn9A/w336-h640/PF_05.06.22_abortion.views_0_2.webp" width="336" /></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Brief History</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In late June 2022, after
the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that
legalized abortions nationwide, Ohio outlawed abortions for people
who have been pregnant for six weeks or longer. Soon after, in July,
several news outlets reported that Ohio’s law forced a 10-year-old
girl who had gotten pregnant by rape to travel to the neighboring
state of Indiana to legally terminate the pregnancy. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Many people, including
politicians and members of the media, questioned the veracity of the
story. About a week after the story went viral, a 27-year-old man was
jailed and charged with raping the girl, according to reputable news
outlets.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As news of that arrest
circulated online, a rumor surfaced claiming that Ohio’s abortion
law would have actually allowed the girl to legally terminate the
pregnancy in that state – in other words, she supposedly could have
avoided the trip to Indiana for an abortion. For instance, Glenn
Greenwald, a journalist and lawyer, stated in a tweet thread, “Ohio
has a rape exception in its law…”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As news of that arrest
circulated online, a rumor surfaced claiming that Ohio’s abortion
law would have actually allowed the girl to legally terminate the
pregnancy in that state — in other words, she supposedly could have
avoided the trip to Indiana for an abortion. For instance, Glenn
Greenwald, a journalist and lawyer, stated in a tweet thread, “Ohio
has a rape exception in its law…” </span>
</p>
<div dir="LTR" id="Section5">
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Glenn Greenwald</span></b></i></p><i><b>
</b></i></div><i><b>
</b></i><div dir="LTR" id="Section6">
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b><a name="id__7g8uu10whpo"></a><span style="font-size: medium;">@ggreenwald</span></b></i></p>
</div><i><b>
</b></i><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">An ICE official told Fox
the arrested suspect is a Guatemalan immigrant in the US illegally,
likely shifting the focus of the story. Also, Ohio has a rape
exception in its law so that part is still unclear.</span></b></i></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But that was not the case.
Ohio’s law banning abortions for people who have been pregnant for
six weeks or longer did not make an exception for rape victims, as of
July 2022. </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Nur Ibrahim. “Does
Ohio’s Abortion Ban Have a Rape Exception?”
<i>https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ohio-abortion-law-no-rape-exception/</i>.
July 18, 2022.) </b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>No Exceptions –
Judging Morality With Politics </b></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Recent Ohio legislation
banning abortion falls clearly along political lines. The GOP defends
a legal regime that they helped to craft. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Slate Senior Writer Mark
Joseph Stern explains … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>By the time it
shook out that the GOP is the anti-abortion party – which was not
fully clear until 1980 – you still have Republican politicians
saying they’re for the rape and incest exception. That continues
from Ronald Reagan through Donald Trump. If you ask Republican
politicians whether they support a nationwide ban, the answer is
always yes, but with a rape exception … </b></i></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Then, some groups
like Ohio Right to Life claimed that the abortion 'only added to the
pain and violence perpetuated against a victim.' This idea is
relatively new … </b></i></span>
</p>
<p>“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>The movement started focusing on the idea
that abortion hurt women more in the ’90s. Early on, in the ’60s,
there was lots of other victim-blaming. Lots of anti-abortion
thinkers would say: </b></i><em><i><b>Well, women are going to just
cry rape. Women are going to have consensual sex, get pregnant, and
invoke a rape exception.</b></i></em><i><b> Henry Hyde [author of the
amendment limiting federal funding of abortion] famously complained
that if women claim rape, no other accountability is asked of them.
They don’t have to prove it. So there is a distrust of women that
runs through a lot of this. And also a sense that if there’s a
contrast between a fetus and a woman as to who’s more innocent and
more deserving, it’s always going to be the fetus.</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Then there was
this conviction, based on an argument going back to the 19th century,
that people couldn’t get pregnant unless the sex was consensual.
They would say that was true even of incest. So as soon as the new
anti-abortion movement exists, there’s very strong opposition to
rape and incest exceptions. Support for these exceptions was a
strategic development that came later.”</b></i></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Mark Joseph Stern.
“The Real Reason Why the GOP Is Rushing to Pass Abortion Bans
Without Exceptions for Rape.”<i>
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/07/10-year-old-girl-rape-ohio-abortion-incest-life-exceptions.html.
Slate.</i> July 19, 2022.)</b></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">After Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme
Court in 2018, you see this explosion of laws without rape or incest
exceptions. At the time, this felt quite sudden to a lot of people.
This generation of laws – the so-called “heartbeat bills” –
ban abortion at six weeks, and most did not have rape or incest
exceptions. Stern says, “I think that’s a direct response to the
changing of the Supreme Court. Previously, Republican legislators had
a sense that pushing too hard on unpopular things like abolishing
rape or incest exceptions could make it harder to reverse <em>Roe</em>.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the face of horror
stories like the 10-year-old girl rape victim in Ohio, the
anti-abortion movement has doubled down. Jim Bopp, general counsel
for the National Right to Life, said that the Ohio girl should have
been forced to carry her rapist’s fetus, telling <i>Politico</i>:
“She would have had the baby, and as many women who have had babies
as a result of rape, we would hope that she would understand the
reason and ultimately the benefit of having the child.” </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Other anti-abortion groups
condemned the girl’s abortion as “violence perpetuated against
her.” And John Seago, the president of Texas Right to Life,
acknowledged that abortion bans may cause doctors to delay care for
miscarriage patients until complications arise.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stern
concludes: </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>The GOP did
change. It became much more beholden to the anti-abortion movement
and much less concerned about competition because of a combination of
political polarization, gerrymandering, limits on access to the vote.
These are essentially one-party states. Republican politicians aren’t
worried these positions will be unpopular with voters because voters
wouldn’t elect Democrats anyway.” </b></i></span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Mark
Joseph Stern. “The Real Reason Why the GOP Is Rushing to Pass
Abortion Bans Without Exceptions for Rape.”<i>
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/07/10-year-old-girl-rape-ohio-abortion-incest-life-exceptions.html.
Slate.</i> July 19, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Choice For Governor</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In Ohio, we will have a
choice. Will voters decide to make abortion the major issue in the
state? Time will tell. We do know that women are sure to be a
powerful voice in the election for governor. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Former Dayton Mayor Nan
Whaley, now the Democratic nominee for governor, said if voters
choose her over DeWine she'll seek to have abortion rights written
into the Ohio Constitution.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Whaley has made this issue
central to her campaign, and she said if she wins she will
immediately start putting together a ballot initiative to codify Roe
into the Ohio constitution. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"This legislation is
further proof that Gov. DeWine and the extremists in the legislature
will stop at nothing until all abortions are illegal in our state,"
Whaley said in a news release.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Ohio women deserve
to be able to make these choices between themselves, their families,
and their doctors – without politicians like Mike DeWine inserting
themselves in the process. Not only does this bill take away a
woman's right to make decisions about her own body and future, but it
will hurt the economic future of our state."</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Jim
Gaines. “Ohio's proposed abortion ban: Chances of passage likened
to previous abortion bills.” <i>Journal-News</i>. Hamilton, Ohio.
July 13, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>the lost women</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Lucille Clifton -
1936-2010 </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>i need to know their
names<br />those women i would have walked with<br />jauntily the way men
go in groups<br />swinging their arms, and the ones<br />those sweating
women whom i would have joined<br />after a hard game to chew the
fat<br />what would we have called each other laughing<br />joking into
our beer? where are my gangs,<br />my teams, my mislaid sisters?<br />all
the women who could have known me,<br />where in the world are their
names?</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>From Next:
New Poems by Lucille Clifton. Copyright © 1989 by Lucille Clifton.
Reprinted with permission of BOA Editions Ltd.. All rights reserved. </b></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<br />Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-77538231045496666272022-07-17T15:12:00.000-07:002022-07-17T15:12:12.549-07:00Blacks And Gun Ownership: The History of White Fear<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Qt14zl_6Bq2pInDUm9ydP7NLItBZ4nSxfQzaQtVtX5IKUMl7L2lYMMir-pMC8skHARP-gpvIhwDWh24t3RRpnrJv_DzV8QNE13yJmvfh3Ze71aP_FiJgJIYi0etNdActytmsnmTkU3Z4sxshbVNiZH8rj-A_DRhD4We8t0hNx3RPdI5qjCiKowoA5Q/s1280/maj-tourepng-f73baea32c60961b.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Qt14zl_6Bq2pInDUm9ydP7NLItBZ4nSxfQzaQtVtX5IKUMl7L2lYMMir-pMC8skHARP-gpvIhwDWh24t3RRpnrJv_DzV8QNE13yJmvfh3Ze71aP_FiJgJIYi0etNdActytmsnmTkU3Z4sxshbVNiZH8rj-A_DRhD4We8t0hNx3RPdI5qjCiKowoA5Q/w200-h200/maj-tourepng-f73baea32c60961b.webp" width="200" /></a></div>
<p></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Guns
are just about as American as apple pie. To many, especially white
folks, they've represented all the highfalutin ideals enshrined in
the Constitution: independence, self-reliance and the ability to live
freely. For Black folks, guns often symbolize all those same things –
but, as we like to say on the show, it's complicated. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Firearms
have always loomed large in Black people's lives – going all the
way back to the days of colonial slavery. Right from the jump, guns
were tied up in America's thorny relationship with race; you can
actually tell the story of how America's racial order takes shape, in
part, by tracing the history of guns in the U.S. and who was allowed
to own them. </b></span></span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>(Gene Demby and Natilie
Escobar. “From Negro Militias To Black Armament.”
<i>https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2020/12/22/949169826/from-negro-militias-to-black-armament.</i>
NPR. December 22, 2020.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To this day, nothing
frightens a White nationalist more than a Black man with a gun. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Am I wrong? I don't think
so. And, I challenge you to prove Blacks have equal access to what
many conservative Whites know as their Second Amendment rights. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do black gun owners have
equal protection under the Second Amendment? In theory, yes. The
Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms. But Blacks have a
complicated history with gun ownership. And, it has absolutely
nothing to do with Critical Race Theory. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">May the story be told.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From the beginning of
European settlement, guns, and the White men wielding them,
controlled indigenous peoples who resisted incursions onto their land
and the enslaved peoples whose labor was essential for Southern
plantations. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gun control may have been
portrayed as a measure to reduce crime, but even in its earliest
forms firearms regulation has been used as a means to control
specific societal groups by keeping them from possessing weapons. Gun
control existed in North America even before the creation of the
United States and was racially motivated in its earliest forms. The
first law in the colony of Virginia that mentioned African-Americans
was a 1664 act that barred free blacks from owning firearms. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gun ownership was not
free-for-all in the colonial period and in the early republic.
Because of the importance of the militias to public safety, gun
registration was mandatory and government officials had the right to
come into your home to inspect your musket. The government had
opinions as to which weapons you should buy and even as to how you
should keep your weapon – mandating, for example, that gunpowder be
stored in a safe manner. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The men who enrolled in
militias in the early days of the nation – and, under the 1792
Militia Act, enrollment was mandatory for all able-bodied <u>free</u>
<u>White</u> <u>men</u> between the ages of 18 and 45 – had six
months to buy themselves “a musket, bayonet, and belt, two spare
flints, a cartridge box with 24 bullets, and a knapsack.” </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Rebecca Onion.
“Automatic for the People.”
<i>https://www.topic.com/automatic-for-the-people</i>. July 2018.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Before the Civil War,
enslaved people could own guns with the approval of their masters,
and freedmen in some states could get approval from local officials
to carry weapons. But, following Nat Turner's slave rebellion,
lawmakers began to curtail the gun-ownership rights of Blacks. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And, even though Black
soldiers took up arms for the Union army and Congress passed a bill
which gave Black soldiers returning from the battlefield the right to
keep their weapons, lawmakers from places like Mississippi and
Florida refused to accept this and passed Black Codes which
restricted freedmen from owning guns or other weapons. Hordes of
white vigilantes actually raided Black homes to confiscate them. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some Southern Blacks
continued to own firearms. During Reconstruction, guns became
important symbols of freedom for ex-slaves. Observers throughout the
post-war South noted how eager freedpeople were to procure “pistols,
old muskets, and shot-guns” in preparation for self-defense, as
possessing a gun sent a clear signal that its owner would not be
intimidated. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anecdotal evidence also
suggests that from time to time, armed freepeople successfully
repelled Klan attacks on their homes. However, they were often
outgunned by these racists. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In addition, states would
not protect Blacks from White violence. In came Jim Crow laws and and
the continued oppression of African Americans. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Segregation measures
continued into the 20<sup>th</sup> century with laws being
disproportionately enforced against Black Americans. Meanwhile as the
KKK continued to gain followers and terrorize Blacks in the South,
many politicians turned a blind eye. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gun control measures
expanded in 1938 making it necessary to have a license to own
firearms. The government could then grant or deny gun permits to
applicants on the basis of suitability. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 1966, members of the
Black Panther Party for Self-Defense was founded in California.
Members began openly carrying weapons in protest of police violence
and in support of Black people's right to bear arms. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On May 2, 1967, members of
the Black Panther Party congregated at the California State Capitol
building carrying guns. They protested police brutality and the
proposal of the Mulford Bill, a strict gun-control measure to to ban
open carry of loaded weapons in the state. Panther leaders Bobby
Seale and Huey Newton argued that the law was intended to disarm
Black Californians. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Despite the protests, the
bill was signed into law by Governor Ronald Reagan and supported by
the National Rifle Association. Black Panther Party members were
arrested for disturbing the peace. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Anyone who would
approve of this kind of demonstration must be out of their minds,"
Reagan said.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Manisha Claire.
“The Unequal History of African American Gun Rights.”
<i>https://www.topic.com/carrying-while-black</i>. 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">The law was part of a
wave of laws that were passed in the late 1960s regulating guns,
especially to target African-Americans,” says Adam Winkler, author
of <i>Gunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms </i><span style="font-style: normal;">(2013).</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Racial History
Continues</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since the election of
Donald Trump, guns sales to Black Americans have quadrupled, and
black gun groups, such as the National African American Gun
Association, report that attendance at their meetings has doubled. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Is it any wonder that
racial minorities are seeking ways to protect themselves, with Trump
having emboldened hate groups who see him as their long-awaited
leader and with incidents of racial harassment and violence having
escalated after his election. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And now, the latest
Supreme Court ruling guarantee’s the Second Amendment right of
people to carry their firearms in public space for “self-defense,”
according to the <i>Los Angeles Times</i>. These new gun laws were
advocated for because white people grew concerned about their gun
rights. And, who is even more concerned than them? Black gun owners. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Consider Amir Locke,
Philando Castile, Atatiana Jefferson – the list of Black licensed
gun owners killed by police for having a gun keeps growing. Kelly
Sampson from gun safety organization Brady told NPR this is precisely
why Black people feel left out from their constitutional protection.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then there's the
perception of a black person carrying a gun. Tamir Rice, John
Crawford and Robert Dentmond were all shot and killed by police
because they were seen with objects that looked like real firearms.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">We live in a society
that codes Black people in general as criminal but especially when we
carry arms,” Sampson said. “So when you strip away all of the
rhetoric around the Second Amendment, you still can’t get away from
the fundamental issue that we live in a country where Black people
are disproportionately dying from gun homicides, and Black people
also are disproportionately impacted by police violence.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Historically, the
government worked to keep guns away from Black people or apply gun
control laws specifically to us. Jabir Asa, minister of social media
for the Cleveland chapter of the Huey P. Newton Gun Club, told NPR
the court’s decision is a way to address the disparity.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Take California’s
Mulford Act of 1967 for example. The National Rifle Association even
backed it, though the bill prohibited the open carry of loaded
weapons, a move directed toward the Black Panther Party.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">We have already seen
historically that when you go on any kind of gun-grabbing campaign,
the only people with guns are the kind of people who would never
worry about the legality of having them in the first place. And then
you find yourself in a position where you’re vulnerable to
fascists,” said Asa, via NPR.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Kalyn Womack. “Black
Gun Owners React to Supreme Court’s Concealed Carry Decision
<i>https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/black-gun-owners-react-supreme-122545424.html.</i>
July 16, 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWCt2uaSUjoXiamC1J7a49UPedvCRGnu4Oo-56fHuJzx-1-vQ186fb-oaHNbwkRucLa5XQrE4tVB55TQc_8oKjV0yxrH2r5ltS0DPV8tnGpf1d7hii7YI1es33RIE1h5K4O76YgBNWGzj6crraHG847ZSb2P4m8XQCZBe63-ehSPSMjyFGhECkf5OlA/s480/4ef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWCt2uaSUjoXiamC1J7a49UPedvCRGnu4Oo-56fHuJzx-1-vQ186fb-oaHNbwkRucLa5XQrE4tVB55TQc_8oKjV0yxrH2r5ltS0DPV8tnGpf1d7hii7YI1es33RIE1h5K4O76YgBNWGzj6crraHG847ZSb2P4m8XQCZBe63-ehSPSMjyFGhECkf5OlA/s320/4ef.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>White Men And Guns</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since the 2008 election of
President Obama, the number of firearms manufactured in the U.S. has
tripled, while imports have doubled. This doesn’t mean more
households have guns than ever before—that percentage has stayed
fairly steady for decades. Rather, more guns are being stockpiled by
a small number of individuals. Three percent of the population now
owns half of the country’s firearms, says a recent, definitive
study from the Injury Control Research Center at Harvard University.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The findings include:</span></p>
<ul><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">An estimated 55
million Americans own guns.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The percentage of the
U.S. population who own guns decreased slightly from 25% in 1994 to
22% last year.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Between 300,000 and
600,000 guns are stolen each year.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gun owners tend to be
white, male, conservative, and live in rural areas.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">25% of gun owners in
America are white or multi-racial, compared with 16% of
Hispanics and 14% of African Americans.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There are an
estimated 111 million handguns nationwide, a 71% increase from the
65 million handguns in 1994.</span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Hepburn,
Lisa; Miller, Matthew; Azrael, Deborah; Hemenway, David</b></span></strong><span style="font-size: small;"><b>.
“The US gun stock: Results from the 2004 national firearms survey.”</b></span><em><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
Injury Prevention</b></span></em><span style="font-size: small;"><b>. 2007; 13:15-19.) </b></span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, who is buying all
these guns – and why?</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The short answer to the
first part of that question is this: men, who on average possess
almost twice the number of guns female owners do. But not all men.
Some groups of men are much more avid gun consumers than others. The
American citizen most likely to own a gun is a white male – but not
just any white guy. According to a growing number of scientific
studies, the kind of man who stockpiles weapons or applies for a
concealed-carry license meets a very specific profile.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The profile: </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These are men who are
anxious about their ability to protect their families, insecure about
their place in the job market, and beset by racial fears. They tend
to be less educated. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For the most part, they
don’t appear to be religious – and, suggests one study, faith
seems to reduce their attachment to guns. In fact, stockpiling guns
seems to be a symptom of a much deeper crisis in meaning and purpose
in their lives. Taken together, these studies describe a population
that is struggling to find a new story – one in which they are once
again the heroes. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When Northland College
sociologist Angela Stroud studied applications for licenses to carry
concealed firearms in Texas, she found that when men became fathers
or got married, they started to feel very vulnerable, like they
couldn’t protect families. She said,“For them, owning a weapon is
part of what it means to be a good husband and a good father.” That
meaning is “rooted in fear and vulnerability – very motivating
emotions.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But Stroud also discovered
another motivation: racial anxiety. “A lot of people talked about
how important Obama was to get a concealed-carry license: ‘He’s
for free health care, he’s for welfare.’ They were asking,
‘Whatever happened to hard work?’” Obama’s presidency, they
feared, would empower minorities to threaten their property and
families.</span></p>
<div dir="LTR" id="dfp-right2-article-2">
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jeremy Adam Smith, editor
of Greater Good and John S. Knight journalism fellow at Stanford
University, reports … </span>
</p>
<div dir="LTR" id="div-gpt-ad-right2-2">
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>The insight
Stroud gained from her interviews is backed up by many, many
studies. A 2013 paper by a team of United Kingdom researchers found
that a one-point jump in the scale they used to measure racism
increased the odds of owning a gun by 50 percent. A 2016 study from
the University of Illinois at Chicago found that racial resentment
among whites fueled opposition to gun control. This drives
political affiliations: A 2017 study in the Social Studies
Quarterly found that gun owners had become 50 percent more likely
to vote Republican since 1972 – and that gun culture had become
strongly associated with explicit racism.</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>For many
conservative men, the gun feels like a force for order in a
chaotic world, suggests a study published in December of last year.
In a series of three experiments, Steven Shepherd and Aaron C. Kay
asked hundreds of liberals and conservatives to imagine holding a
handgun – and found that conservatives felt less risk and greater
personal control than liberal counterparts.</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>This wasn’t
about familiarity with real-world guns – gun ownership and
experience did not affect results. Instead, conservative attachment
to guns was based entirely on ideology and emotions.”</b></i></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Jeremy Adam Smith.
“Why Are White Men Stockpiling Guns?”
<i>https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/why-are-white-men-stockpiling-guns/.
Scientific American.</i> March 14, 2018.)</b></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Smith continues … </span>
</p>
<p>“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>That’s an insight echoed by another
study published last year. Baylor University sociologists Paul
Froese and F. Carson Mencken created a 'gun empowerment scale'
designed to measure how a nationally representative sample of
almost 600 owners felt about their weapons. Their <a href="https://academic.oup.com/socpro/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/socpro/spx040/4643202">study</a>
found that people at the highest level of their scale – the ones
who felt most emotionally and morally attached to their guns –
were 78 percent white and 65 percent male. </b></i></span>
</p>
<p>“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>'We found that white men who have
experienced economic setbacks or worry about their economic futures
are the group of owners most attached to their guns,' says Froese.
'Those with high attachment felt that having a gun made them a
better and more respected member of their communities.'</b></i></span></p>
<p>“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>That wasn’t true for women and
non-whites. In other words, they may have suffered setbacks –
but women and people of color weren’t turning to guns to make
themselves feel better. 'This suggests that these owners have other
sources of meaning and coping when facing hard times,' notes Froese
– often, religion. Indeed, Froese and Mencken found that
religious faith seemed to put the brakes on white men’s
attachment to guns.</b></i></span></p>
<p>“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>For these economically insecure,
irreligious white men, 'the gun is a ubiquitous symbol of power and
independence, two things white males are worried about,' says
Froese. 'Guns, therefore, provide a way to regain their
masculinity, which they perceive has been eroded by increasing
economic impotency.'</b></i></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p>“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Unfortunately, the people most likely to be
killed by the guns of white men aren’t the 'bad guys,' presumably
criminals or terrorists. It’s themselves – and their families.</b></i></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Jeremy Adam Smith.
“Why Are White Men Stockpiling Guns?”
<i>https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/why-are-white-men-stockpiling-guns/.</i>
<i>Scientific American</i>. March 14, 2018.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, White men are also the people
most likely to hurt themselves especially when they’re in some kind
of economic distress. A white man is three times more likely to shoot
himself than a black man – while the chances that a white man will
be killed by a black man are extremely slight. Most murders and
shoot-outs don’t happen between strangers. They unfold within
social networks, among people of the same race.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Smith writes: “In
addition, a gun in the home is far more likely to kill or wound the
people who live there than is a burglar or serial killer. Most of the
time, according to every single study that’s ever been done about
interpersonal gun violence, the dead and wounded know the people who
shot them. A gun in the home makes it five times more likely that a
woman will be killed by her husband.” </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Every week in America, 136
children and teenagers are shot—and more often than not, it’s a
sibling, friend, parent, or relative who holds the gun. For every
homicide deemed justified by the police, guns are used in 78
suicides. A study published in 2018 in <i>JAMA Internal Medicine</i>
once again shows that restrictive gun laws don’t prevent white men
from defending themselves and their families. Instead, those laws
stop them from shooting themselves and each other.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please, read Jeremy Adam
Smith's entire article by clicking here:
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/why-are-white-men-stockpiling-guns/.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion </b></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since the days of early
settlement of America, the propagation of the myth of the predatory
Black man has been used to instill fear in whites and to justify
their brutality and violence against Black individuals and
communities The narrative has been passed down from one generation to
the next and is still used to underwrite injustice against Black
people. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">White America has long
associated black men with criminality and hypersexuality. The ghost
of Nat Turner and his slave rebellion still haunts Whites today. It's
why some social science experiments show that even trained police
officers are biased to see black man as threats. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This fear of black men
doesn’t just spring from racism. It’s also psychological. There
is a body of work in literature and psychology that speaks to a
historical tradition where some White people – White men, in
particular – project the primal aggression that they refuse to see
in themselves onto black people. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is what author James
Baldwin meant when he wrote in a 1962 essay that the racial tensions
menacing America “are involved only symbolically with color.” </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">These tensions are
rooted in the very same depths as those from which love springs, or
murder,” Baldwin wrote. “The white man’s unadmitted – and
apparently, to him, unspeakable – private fears and longings are
projected onto the Negro.” </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(John Blake. “There’s
one epidemic we may never find a vaccine for: fear of black men in
public spaces.” CNN. May 27, 2020.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And, let's face it –
much of America remains segregated. Until something changes, Black
men must learn to live with the fearful white gaze. Blacks with equal
gun possession? Now, if you want to talk about “White fear” –
just read the following:</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>The Afro-American
militant is a 'militant' because he defends himself, his family, his
home, and his dignity. He does not introduce violence into a racist
social system - the violence is already there, and has always been
there. </b></i></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>It is precisely
this unchallenged violence that allows a racist social system to
perpetuate itself. When people say that they are opposed to Negroes
'resorting to violence' what they really mean is that they are
opposed to Negroes defending themselves and challenging the exclusive
monopoly of violence practiced by white racists.” </b></i></span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Robert F. Williams.
<i>Negroes with Guns</i>. 1962)</b></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>White
fear has manifested itself in outright violence post-slavery through
the imposition of Jim Crow segregation. White fear has manifested
itself legislatively via redlining laws and cruel lending practices
barring blacks from owning property in ‘white neighborhoods.’ </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>White
fear has manifested itself in so many structural ways that it has
become part and parcel with the fundamental functions of every
private and governmental institution in this country … </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>White
fear is killing us … </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It is
criminalizing black bodies. It is incarcerating black identities. It
is limiting black potential … </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And, it
is shooting black boys in the streets of their own neighborhoods.
White fear is the single greatest cause of death for black people
today and has been so since this country’s inception.”</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>(Jenn M. Jackson.
“White Fear: The Single Greatest Killer of Black People in the US.”
<i>Water Cooler Convos</i>. 2014. Accessed April 19, 2015.)</b></span></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0Jxg-2QX_iEQampxxOOGeM1_Tt3Hx9QzYpU1GEBZtXiISsZ63beZawpFu_f7i6g4I-teq7hwdv5TBKdAIkxehYTn6L93t4QYm8-K0PGLgWPAvO1FfKImw3mnTVxwvpKCNHG2X8QizMBAb1IBDHI-Blom2HOoA4XXoC1JT8A5mpO5zI05PDbE52VTwA/s275/Man%20with%20Gun.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0Jxg-2QX_iEQampxxOOGeM1_Tt3Hx9QzYpU1GEBZtXiISsZ63beZawpFu_f7i6g4I-teq7hwdv5TBKdAIkxehYTn6L93t4QYm8-K0PGLgWPAvO1FfKImw3mnTVxwvpKCNHG2X8QizMBAb1IBDHI-Blom2HOoA4XXoC1JT8A5mpO5zI05PDbE52VTwA/w320-h213/Man%20with%20Gun.jpeg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-70267153335015106422022-07-16T07:07:00.000-07:002022-07-16T07:07:20.936-07:00Scioto Commissioners Reaffirm "Second Amendment Sanctuary" How About Ross?<p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm35QPxrKx0x3LwJrjYXIKz5ZmnCC843isDe_2y1R91iIYIEG0yYOO9tdvzRrBmqRNDK1PMOtOKYWMGfY3-xPQt0McTwhDI9yqTEYI_NTlPM2-DGObM0RgL460IF8wgw7dElqh_1hKVUaru4OFaDf1kzjvl0aGs_UaunHusk9jRIYYEhgoZ-Kuh4CsWw/s640/web1_COMMIS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm35QPxrKx0x3LwJrjYXIKz5ZmnCC843isDe_2y1R91iIYIEG0yYOO9tdvzRrBmqRNDK1PMOtOKYWMGfY3-xPQt0McTwhDI9yqTEYI_NTlPM2-DGObM0RgL460IF8wgw7dElqh_1hKVUaru4OFaDf1kzjvl0aGs_UaunHusk9jRIYYEhgoZ-Kuh4CsWw/w400-h300/web1_COMMIS.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Sheriff Candidate David Thoroughman was the only citizen present to
address Commissioners in regards to the proposed 2A resolution. (<i>Portsmouth Daily Times</i>. January 16, 2020)</b>
</p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>When we
become an elected official we take an oath to uphold the law, so any
suggestion that we do not follow any laws, whether they’re laws we
like or dislike, it’s problematic to me,” said the man who
controls the county’s checkbook. “I have an issue with the County
Commissioners making a statement that they’re not going to follow
certain laws. “</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">– <b>Ross
County Ohio Auditor Tom Spetnagel (“Ross County shoots down Second
Amendment Sanctuary.” <i>The Guardian</i>. March 12, 2020.)</b></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I asked the following
question of the Scioto County commissioners during their July 14,
2022 meeting: “<span lang="en">Any news on rescinding the Second
Amendment Sanctuary? Do you still feel red flag laws are worthless?”</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en">My
question was a followup to the commissioners' comments during their
previous meeting when I asked about the possibility of rescinding the
designation. Commisioner Bryan Davis said then that red flag laws do
not work and that he still strongly supported the Scioto Second
Amendment Sanctuary. Commissioner Scottie Powell echoed Davis's
beliefs. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="en">The
July 14 Meeting</span></b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en"><b>Commissioner
Scottie Powell</b></span><span lang="en">: I think we covered this
during our last meeting. Nothing's changed since then. I would
encourage you to reach out to your state legislators. They have the
ability to change the laws in the way you would hope to see them
move. We don't create the laws here in this room. So, I would
encourage you to reach out to Representative Baldridge or Senator
Johnson or the governor's office if you would like to see something
change in terms of how the gun laws are handled in the State of Ohio.
</span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en"><b>Commissioner
Bryan Davis</b></span><span lang="en">: I'll add to that. If we were
to vote to rescind our Second Amendment Sanctuary in the county, I
would vote “no” to rescind. I don't know if that is something we
would like to visit at a later meeting ... My opinion on red flag
laws has not changed. It's a matter of the heart. It's a matter of
mental health ... The carnage that's being caused is by individuals
that are mentally ill, do need mental health services, and/or are
just evil people ... At the core of it all is sin. Period ... When
there are politicians making comments on national news to get in
people's faces to stand and fight and to do things like that, causing
hysteria, causing people who are just waiting for marching orders to
do some of the things that they're doing, that's part of the problem.
Everybody needs to see it for what it truly is, quit blaming the
inanimate object ... for what an animate object, being a person with
ill intent is causing. I'll leave it at that.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en">Powell: To
insure there is no question on where this board stands, would you
like to make a motion on not rescinding it (Second Amendment
Sanctuary)? </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en"><b>Davis</b></span><span lang="en">:
Sure. I'll make that motion. I would rather to vote to reaffirm. I
would make a motion to reaffirm our stance as a Second Amendment
Sanctuary county. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en"><b>Commissioner
Cathy Coleman</b></span><span lang="en">: I'll second. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en">All three
commissioners voted in favor.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en"><b>Powell</b></span><span lang="en">:
So now there is no questions. We know where we currently stand,
Frank. By all means contact some other representatives regarding your
concerns. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ross County, 2020</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You may be interested in
what happened when Ross County commissioners attempted to pass a
Second Amendment Sanctuary designation. </span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">When the Ross County Commissioners shot down a
resolution in March 2020 that would turn the county into a
self-described sanctuary county, the sole-Republican commissioner,
Dwight Garrett made the motion in a packed room of supporters and
opponents. After doing so, neither one of the democratic
commissioners, Steve Neal, Sr., or Doug Corcoran would second the
motion. </span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Corcoran told the crowd that the reason he would not
support the measure is because county commissioners are not law
makers. He said even if they passed such an opinionated-measure, the
state could overturn it. He added, however, that he supports the
Second Amendment. </span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Passing a measure does not “protect” or change
the law. Had the legislation passed, the resolution does nothing more
but state an opinion by three men. </span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another group, Moms Demand Action, which is a local
chapter of a national organization, opposed the passage. Many of
their supporters wore shirts and said that they desire “common
sense” gun reform. </span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">As previously reported by the <i>Guardian</i>, the
county held meetings to consider the measures. Those meetings, like
the one on Monday, were filled with passionate opinions. </span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Retired teacher Kathleen Burgess pointed out that
some regulation is good for the betterment of society’s overall
safety.</span></p>
<p>“<span style="font-size: medium;">In order to vote, citizens must prove our age and
residence. In order to drive a car, we must prove age, residence, and
demonstrate an understanding of traffic laws and driving
competencies,” she told the three commissioners. “We have freedom
of speech, but we cannot legally threaten others with harm or shout
fire in a crowded theater. Likewise, the Second Amendment requires
sensible regulation in order to preserve our right to life. It would
be irresponsible to declare we are not bound by laws of this state
and nation….Ross County officials must continue to foster respect
for law and order….do not endorse that we believe we are above the
law.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Staff. “Ross County
shoots down Second Amendment Sanctuary.”
</b><i><b>https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/2020/03/02/ross-county-shoots-down-second-amendment-sanctuary/.
The Guardian</b></i><b>. March 12, 2020.) </b>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Take</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First of all, the Scioto
commissioners – all Republicans – assume they speak for the
citizens of the county about what is clearly a political issue.
Commissioner Davis even calls it their “stance” on legislation to
fight gun violence. No public meeting in Scioto was scheduled to
address the matter of the designation … ever. Since their
declaration in 2020 and now in 2022, the commissioners have taken it
upon themselves to issue the sanctuary decree on behalf of the people
in the county.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Second, what exactly is
the Second Amendment Sanctuary as it relates to the county? I have
never seen the actual designation. A broad statement was issued by
the commissioners and now reaffirmed, but what does it actually say?
No one knows. What does it attempt to do? </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They claim the designation
has no legal authority and is not law, yet such a defiant political
statement should be clearly issued, debated, and understood before
passage and affirmation. This rush to judgment was spurred by fears of Gov. DeWine's proposed reforms. Tell me it's not political, and I fear you may have a bridge across the Ohio into South Shore you are interested in selling.</span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One thing we do know is
that Davis has strong beliefs about “politicians getting in
people's faces” and “doing things that cause hysteria.” I
cannot help but wonder what politicians he refers to who are giving
others “marching orders”? The only such orders I am aware of were
given by Trump to take the Capitol on January 6. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="cite_ref-BBC_16-0"></a><span style="font-size: medium;">I
wonder what Davis believes are the “</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en">marching
orders to do some of the things that they're doing.” How does he
see this “hysteria”? What politicians cause what hysteria? He
clearly states the “inanimate object, the gun, has nothing to do
with the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. He blames it
all on evil and sin. This is a broad statement that I assume he
believes includes all deaths and destruction resulting from a
firearm, including suicides, homicides, and accidents. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en">Finally,
Commissioner Powell wants me to take my concerns for their actions to
“other representatives.” The Scioto commissioners chose to pass
this designation, and that is my chief concern as a lifelong citizen
of the county. Why pass the buck and why <span style="font-family: inherit;">brazenly</span> reaffirm their
sanctuary only to deny any responsibility for its sacred place in
Scioto County? They say they support all amendments to the
Constitution, yet they choose to pass opinion on the hotly debated
issue of gun measures. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en">The
hypocrisy is evident: the commissioners want to make policy
statements that reflect their personal, political stances as
officials who were supposedly elected to control budgets; approve
zoning; approve annexations to cities and villages; and set overall
commissioning policy. How can three such officials overstep and use
their offices to influence matters such as their stance to underscore
resistance to much-needed reform? I believe I know -- because in
total control, they enjoy power without question or without
significant checks and balances of their party views. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en">Even
though many people in Ross County believed a need for the sanctuary
proposal was a way to protect their right to bear arms, t</span>hose
opposed to the resolution responded to accusations from some pro-gun
speakers claiming that they are unAmerican, socialists, or against
the Constitution. The opponents also took the time to elaborate on
the role of the commissioners as a local body rather than a state
entity.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I am a person for
the law," said League of Women Voters President Bart Henshaw.
"Those of us who are opposed to this do not come here with
threats. We came here to ask you to do what's right."</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span lang="en">(Toria
Barnhart. “Ross County drops 2nd Amendment sanctuary plan.”
</span><i>Chillicothe Gazette.</i> USA TODAY NETWORK. March 03,
2020.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en">I close by
asking which county is more responsive to its citizens and is more
concerned about the real message that a Second Amendment Sanctuary
designation sends. Scioto or Ross? Also, which county accepts
ownership of its message and does not tell those opposed to look
elsewhere for redress? What buck? Where does it stop? I think you know. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-37542201865556414242022-07-15T08:30:00.000-07:002022-07-15T08:30:41.099-07:00Ohio Attorney General Yost: Doubts 10-Year-Old Is Victim of Rape<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhQwonPQOkM-75adar4sRzaHwHepWfTbo6wY1cVdJSxHhPINYdLctPPV-qdgtWkcmSV1QZX8HvsFePW0AEfzL74M7m05OWtINMFO1fP4T7FR1H9OSGD-t4J3kBi0HeAtLis6msbhyPR6TV6iJWV8HXO3pzZtCmybI7x-_xWx2a8Y3V2_f3DPQqdo2rQ/s704/e36bef1413a938d8578dfd99432832d3.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="704" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhQwonPQOkM-75adar4sRzaHwHepWfTbo6wY1cVdJSxHhPINYdLctPPV-qdgtWkcmSV1QZX8HvsFePW0AEfzL74M7m05OWtINMFO1fP4T7FR1H9OSGD-t4J3kBi0HeAtLis6msbhyPR6TV6iJWV8HXO3pzZtCmybI7x-_xWx2a8Y3V2_f3DPQqdo2rQ/s320/e36bef1413a938d8578dfd99432832d3.webp" width="320" /></a></div><b> Dave Yost, 51st Attorney General Ohio</b><br />
<p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>There are
few things viler and more sensitive than a criminal investigation
involving a child rape victim.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ohio
Attorney General Dave Yost appeared on Fox News this week, casting
doubt on the veracity of Dr. Caitlin Bernard's account that a
10-year-old Ohio rape victim needed to travel to Indiana for an
abortion.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Yost, a
Republican, doubled down on that in an interview with the <i>USA
TODAY</i> Network Ohio bureau on Tuesday.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>"Every
day that goes by the more likely that this is a fabrication. I know
the cops and prosecutors in this state. There's not one of them that
wouldn't be turning over every rock, looking for this guy and they
would have charged him," he said. "I'm not saying it could
not have happened. What I'm saying to you is there is not a damn
scintilla of evidence. And shame on the Indianapolis paper that ran
this thing on a single source who has an obvious axe to grind.""</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>After news
broke Wednesday of an arrest in the case, Yost issued a single
sentence statement: "We rejoice anytime a child rapist is taken
off the streets."</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Yost is
endorsed by the Ohio Right to Life PAC. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>(Laura A. Bischoff.
“Ohio AG Dave Yost cast doubt on 10-year-old rape victim case, now
'rejoices' at arrest.”<i> The Columbus Dispatch</i>. July 13,
2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Amelia Robinson of the
<i>Columbus Dispatch</i> says, “One can only speculate why Yost –
armed with clearly inaccurate information – jumped in the mud with
political hacks, fame-seeking trolls and Fox "news" fakers
casting doubt on a case that has always been in the regime of
possibility.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"We warned
legislators that this would happen. Anti-choice legislators proceeded
with all of these bans anyway," Kellie Copeland, executive
director of Pro-Choice Ohio, said during a recent Dispatch Columbus
Conversation Robinson hosted on the future of abortion there. "This
is the agenda that they passed and these are the results of that
agenda."</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Amelia Robinson.
“Shameful Dave Yost jumped in mud to doubt case of 10-year-old who
got abortion.” <i>The Columbus Dispatch</i>. July 14, 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A <i>Columbus Dispatch</i>
analysis of Columbus police reports alone found 50 reports of rape or
sexual abuse involving girls age 15 years or younger since May 9.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There were another 16
involving boys.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">According to the Ohio
Department of Health, 52 children under the age of 15 received
abortions in Ohio in 2020. That's on top of the 469 people ages 15 to
17 who had abortions.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is down from the
1,682 abortions provided to Ohio minors in 2010.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Robinson reports … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Sexual violence
is among the attorney general's stated areas of concern.</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>"'Standing up
for victims of human trafficking' and 'solving cold-case homicides
and sexual assaults' are among the things touted as major focuses on
his biography page on the Ohio Attorney General's Office's official
website. </b></i></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Yost – a former
Columbus Citizen Journal reporter – undoubtedly knows some of the
girls who are sexually abused became pregnant and some of those girls
have abortions.</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>He also must know
thousands of Ohio girls are sexually violated each year. Many go
unreported … </b></i></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>There is nothing
wrong with questioning the media – it is to be expected – but
have your facts right before you do – particularly if you are
Ohio's top prosecutor and know intimately how complex and vile child
sex abuse cases are.</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Dave Yost should
be above backstroking in the sickening layer of mud far too many
willingly create.</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>You don't have to
be a prosecutor or detective to expect as much.”</b></i></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Amelia
Robinson. “Shameful Dave Yost jumped in mud to doubt case of
10-year-old who got abortion.” <i>The Columbus Dispatch</i>. July
14, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As the so-called
“heartbeat law” became law in Ohio after Roe v. Wade was
overturned, Gerson Fuentes, a 27-year-old from Columbus, was charged
with raping the 10-year-old. Police say he confessed to attacking the
little girl on at least two occasions.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Police learned of the
girl's pregnancy through a referral June 22. She underwent a medical
abortion in Indianapolis June 30.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dave Yost is the Attorney
General of Ohio. He should stay informed of such terrible acts of
violent crime and defend victims, especially those too young to fight
injustice. The issue of abortion is so sensitive, yet Yost took it
upon himself to allow his own personal and political views to dictate
his intrusive actions. In doing so, he betrayed his office, and, in
this case, served to spread falsehoods about the reality of rape and
child abuse in the State of Ohio. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Shame on Dave Yost,
indeed. In their culture war, the Ohio GOP is passing legislation
that oppresses women and obliterates their right to choose. In doing
so, Republicans ignore circumstances such as these – despicable,
real-life crimes against children. </span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ohio outlawed abortion just weeks after the Supreme
Court overturned Roe v. Wade. And, meanwhile, physicians in
neighboring Indiana described an influx of out-of-state patients
seeking care. Among them: this pregnant 10-year-old.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dr. Caitlin Bernard, an
Indianapolis obstetrician-gynecologist, told the</span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Indianapolis
Star </i></span><span style="font-size: medium;">that just three days after the federal
right to an abortion was reversed she received a call from a
colleague, a child abuse doctor in Ohio, who needed her help. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The physician had a
pregnant patient – a 10-year-old who got pregnant after getting
raped – who could no longer legally undergo the procedure in her
home state. The girl was six weeks and three days pregnant when Dr.
Bernard was contacted, the</span><em> </em><em><span style="font-size: medium;">Indianapolis
Star</span></em><span style="font-size: medium;">, reported. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In God's name, what
political force demands such an innocent victim must carry that
fetus to term? And, where is the concern for the young girl when the
state attorney general uses his platform to further his party's
beliefs about abortion, raises doubts about the crime, and eventually
discovers his grievous error? </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then, he merely issues
this statement: "We rejoice anytime a child rapist is taken off
the streets”? The response is both hypocritical and a further
example of denial of his culpability in spreading sickening,
dangerous lies. Fox News, Ohio GOP – this is politics at their
worst: compassion is totally lacking and it's full-speed ahead in the
continuing efforts to destroy women's rights. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Michael Daly, special
correspondent with </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Daily Beast,</i></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
staff writer with </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>New York </i></span><span style="font-size: medium;">magazine,
and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2002, says … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Neither Yost nor
the various right-wing pundits and politicians who joined him in
suggesting the crime never happened offered an apology for having
further victimized the family of a 10-year-old who had been
impregnated while being repeatedly raped. They also expressed no
regrets for having questioned the integrity of a dedicated physician
who is also known for her work on reproductive health and HIV in
Kenya.</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Like Yost, Dr.
Caitlin Bernard spoke of her heart. But she is somebody who actually
has one.”</b></i></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Michael Daley.
“Heartless Ohio AG’s Biggest Failure in the 10-Year-Old’s Rape
Case.”
<i>https://news.yahoo.com/heartless-ohio-ag-biggest-failure-235427052.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall</i>.
July 14, 2022.)</b></p>
<p>
</p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Postscript</b></span></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Still
doubt Ohio GOP heartless lies and heinous reactions?</span></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ohio
Republican Representative Jim Jordan was confronted on Thursday after
he deleted a tweet in response to a report about a 10-year-old rape
victim in Ohio that crossed state lines to receive an abortion. </span>
</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Shortly
after Yost's remarks, Jordan responded on Twitter in a since-deleted
tweet that said, "Another lie. Anyone surprised?" </span>
</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Following
the deletion of his tweet, Jordan was confronted by CNN's Manu Raju
on Thursday – July 14 – and was asked why he decided to delete
it.</span></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Well,
because we learned that this illegal alien did this heinous crime. So
we deleted the tweet," Jordan said.</span></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Raju
then asked Jordan if he wanted to apologize for the tweet and in
response, the Ohio Rep. said, "I never doubted the child. I was
responding to a headline…doubting Joe Biden, which is usually a
smart thing to do."</span></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As
Jordan mentioned in his remarks, Biden previously spoke about the
incident involving the 10-year-old, and criticized the Supreme
Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, leaving abortion laws up to
states.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Matthew Impelli. “Jim
Jordan Confronted Over 10-Year-Old-Rape-Victim Tweet.” <i>Newsweek</i>.
July 14, 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xQyvRcSOKjzJ5FEBbIbY6lwSpzomHU_PhazqRvBHfieiYePxwcVlimQSlZKbh0901tYWzV78ZJHD2OR0H0YHPuc0bgOJ5y1Scb0BTDJfXHirMcITTFF4lfj92gc7XW9Qk7sXo8Tt-hleHr7QATrZ45nLFXRB_hxhDm0egKEgIdou1nKol_uzwB0Sbw/s768/protesters-defended-abortion-rights-for-a-second-day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="768" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xQyvRcSOKjzJ5FEBbIbY6lwSpzomHU_PhazqRvBHfieiYePxwcVlimQSlZKbh0901tYWzV78ZJHD2OR0H0YHPuc0bgOJ5y1Scb0BTDJfXHirMcITTFF4lfj92gc7XW9Qk7sXo8Tt-hleHr7QATrZ45nLFXRB_hxhDm0egKEgIdou1nKol_uzwB0Sbw/w400-h266/protesters-defended-abortion-rights-for-a-second-day.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>
</p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-1382349692735123882022-07-13T06:56:00.000-07:002022-07-13T06:56:09.425-07:00New Ohio House Bill 704 -- Moving To Ban Birth Control And In Vitro Fertilization?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW9e0cSQYpaIDM_-4Huamwdxfw9dCr456JKDvCsy1EHw4_nj3ZLYuc90q4rbnXba6ocqGpvNFTmw1rAiw59WZmUoOMaCNFC96Gr5WJhCFkjMHZCNp58h66oLsIxe9p5LCoYS6LQHf-vtUOt-QlvXCRen5Ah6HzLD1THyjcr7PaFbVB7lnY9G6PlET3g/s1146/xxLImTwK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="1146" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW9e0cSQYpaIDM_-4Huamwdxfw9dCr456JKDvCsy1EHw4_nj3ZLYuc90q4rbnXba6ocqGpvNFTmw1rAiw59WZmUoOMaCNFC96Gr5WJhCFkjMHZCNp58h66oLsIxe9p5LCoYS6LQHf-vtUOt-QlvXCRen5Ah6HzLD1THyjcr7PaFbVB7lnY9G6PlET3g/s320/xxLImTwK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ohio
lawmakers introduced a bill Monday, July 11, 2022, that would
effectively ban all abortions, except to save the life of a mother.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>State Rep.
Gary Click, R-Vickery, introduced House Bill 704 which states that
Ohio must "recognize the personhood, and protect the
constitutional rights, of all unborn human individuals from the
moment of conception."</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Click's
bill, which is being co-sponsored by seven other lawmakers, could
also potentially ban other forms of birth control such as certain
intrauterine devices (or IUDs) that interfere with an already
fertilized ova.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>There are
also a host of other questions raised with other medical procedures
handling fertilized embryos, such as in vitro fertilizations. IVFs
occur when fertilization happens in a lab, and the embryo can be
later implanted into a uterus.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It's
common practice for IVF labs to freeze embryos for future use or
discarded and donate unused ones.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>"We
may be out of business because of the potential of what happens if
the embryo doesn’t make it to viability," said Dr. Thomas
Burwinkel, an IVF specialist from Cincinnati, to the <i>Toledo Blade</i>.
"Will they say we caused this unborn child not to make it to the
point of transfer?” </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>(Titus Wu. “Ohio
lawmakers introduce bill banning abortion at conception unless
mother's life at risk.” <i>The Columbus Dispatch</i>. July 12,
2022.)</b></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Supreme Court
overturns Roe v. Wade, and quickly GOP lawmakers in Ohio made
abortion illegal if fetal cardiac activity is detected, which is
around six weeks of gestation, though most people usually do not know
if they are pregnant by then. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It doesn't stop there –
Republican leaders who control Ohio government have signaled they
would pursue a full abortion ban with exception to save the mother's
life. An exception for victims of rape and incest is not expected. If
that's the case, such a ban could be in effect in Ohio as early as
2023.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Other bills restricting
abortion are pending in the Ohio legislature. Senate Bill 123 and
House Bill 598 would be "trigger bans,” banning abortion only
when Roe v. Wade is overturned. House Bill 480 would allow for
lawsuits from private citizens against those committing abortion but
prohibits the government from enforcing it.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Titus Wu. “Ohio
lawmakers introduce bill banning abortion at conception unless
mother's life at risk.” <i>The Columbus Dispatch</i>. July 12,
2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Doctors like Thomas
Burwinkel MD work so hard to bring the joy of parenthood to hopeful
parents through innovative science. Burwinkel is a board certified in
Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Reproductive Endocrinology and
Infertility. He once served as the medical director of the in vitro
fertilization (IVF) program at Kettering Medical Center in Dayton,
Ohio. </span>
</p>
<h2 class="western"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dr. Burwinkel describes his mission …
</span></span></span></h2>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Ovation Fertility
brings hope to families by applying the latest advances in
reproductive science through a unique collaboration of compassionate
clinicians and scientists who are driven to exceed patients'
expectations of outcomes.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">What stands between you
and a baby? Our life’s work is dedicated to discovering the reasons
and removing the obstacles that prevent conception. The research our
partner physicians and scientists have published over the past 35
years explores the causes of infertility — female infertility, male
infertility, combined, unknown or situational factors — and has led
to breakthrough treatments that open doors to families. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Ovation® Fertility is
a national network of IVF labs, genetics labs and partner physician
practices committed to applying leading-edge treatment through the
hands and minds of the world’s foremost experts.</span></p>
<p>“<span style="font-size: medium;">Ovation is a result of an unprecedented
collaboration among more than 70 of the brightest minds in
reproductive medicine who share a strong common bond, having
dedicated their lives to resolving infertility-related challenges. We
have worked side-by-side for decades to establish U.S. industry
standards and contribute to worldwide fertility research. It was only
natural to forge a meaningful partnership among our peers to build
one of the country’s most effective integrated healthcare delivery
platforms specializing in infertility.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<div dir="LTR" id="mast-int-container">
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Thomas Burwinkel, MD.
Ovation Fertility. 2022.)</b></p>
</div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Sad Reality</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Approximately 1 in 8
couples is affected by infertility in the United States. IVF – in
vitro fertilization – has been around since the late 1970s, and it
has allowed hundreds of thousands of heterosexual couples struggling
to conceive, as well as same-sex couples and those who are single but
want children, to build their families. According to CDC data, about
2 in every 100 children born in the United States every year are
conceived through IVF. </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong>(“National
Survey of Family Growth, 2006-2010.” Centers For Disease Control)</strong>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While the main target of
these bans is to restrict abortion care, fertility and legal experts
say that without the protection of Roe v. Wade, state lawmakers could
introduce abortion legislation that could potentially threaten access
to family-building treatments such as IVF. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">IVF is part of a family of
fertility treatments known as assisted reproductive technology, in
which eggs are retrieved from a woman’s ovaries and are combined
with sperm in a laboratory. Once fertilized, some develop into
embryos that can then be transferred to a woman’s uterus, where if
successfully implanted, can result in a pregnancy. However, not all
eggs that are retrieved always fertilize normally. This is why during
a cycle of IVF, multiple embryos are typically created in order to
have a pool of healthy embryos to choose from. Doctors generally
implant only one or two embryos in the uterus at once. </span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Advocacy groups, doctors and legal experts worry that
many states are looking to ban abortions starting from conception or
when the egg is fertilized, without explicitly making a distinction
between fertilization that occurs inside a woman’s uterus vs. in a
lab, as is the case with IVF. This could by default restrict or end
IVF in some states, they say.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Jody Madeira – the co-director for the Center for
Law, Society & Culture at Indiana University’s law school and
an expert on IVF and law – explains … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">I think what we’re
going to see are a lot more states who say life begins at
fertilization, life begins at conception. From the moment of
fertilization or conception, that particular embryo, if it doesn’t
state otherwise – whether or not conceived in vivo, [meaning]
inside the uterus, or ex vivo, [meaning] outside the uterus – is
actually a human being. You would specifically have to exempt IVF in
order to keep this procedure safe. Legally, doctors will, I think,
really pull back if these clarifications are not made.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Laura Ramirez-Feldman.
“Abortion bans could impact access to IVF after Roe v. Wade
overturned, experts say.”
<i>https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/abortion-bans-could-impact-access-to-ivf-after-roe-v-wade-overturned-experts-say/ar-AAZk1z9</i>.
MSN. July 07, 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Taking
away a woman's right to choose leads to devastating consequences. It
is apparent many ultra-conservative Ohio Republicans want to ban all
abortions. Their laws threaten IVF labs and their ability to help
parents conceive. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Local anti-abortion groups
in Illinois have taken on fertility clinics and other medical
facilities over discarded or donated embryos left over from the
process of in vitro fertilization.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">According to a report from
<i>The Chicago Tribune</i>, abortion opponents gathered outside a
fertility clinic in Naperville in late September 2019 to fight for
the future of the frozen embryos that are not used in IVF. The
protest was part of the city's annual "Bike for Life"
fundraiser.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some organizations are
increasingly tacking the matter as part of the reproductive rights
debate. Students for Life of America, a nonprofit whose goal is to
mobilize younger generations to abolish abortion, recently issued a
statement on the issue of IVF. The group claimed that the medical
procedure, while "life-changing for many families," wasn't
"perfect."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"A consistent,
intellectually-honest stance holds that human life begins at
conception/fertilization, which means that destroying embryos is
killing human beings at our very earliest phase," the group
asserted.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Personhood Alliance, a
group of Christian pro-life organizations who will soon be launching
an affiliate branch in Illinois, is also a defender of embryo rights
under "equal protection of all human beings."</span></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Alexandra Hutzler.
“Anti-Abortion Groups Take On IVF, Fertility Clinics Over Unused
Embryos: 'They Are Still Alive.'”<i> Newsweek</i>. October 08,
2019.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Is it just fringe groups
that believe embryos have rights? This view is more established than
many think. For instance, take the Catholic Church – it forbids IVF
on the grounds that it's morally unacceptable. (That's also the basis
for Personhood bills around the country, which grant rights to
fertilized eggs.)</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Catholicism takes a pretty
strong stance against IVF. The church prohibits any type of
conception that takes place outside of “marital union,” which
rules out the use of assisted reproductive technology. Another issue
is cryopreservation of embryos, which presents numerous moral
conundrums for Catholics. The church views embryos as human life, so
discarding or donating “leftover” embryos is strictly forbidden.
Even freezing embryos for future transfer is frowned upon since not
all embryos survive the thaw. </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Jen Jones Donatelli.
<i>https://helloflo.com/im-catholic-did-ivf-anyway/#:~:text=Indeed%2C%20Catholicism%20takes%20a%20pretty%20strong%20stance%20against,embryos%2C%20which%20presents%20numerous%20moral%20conundrums%20for%20Catholics.Hello
Flo.</i> September 29, 2017.) </b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Is anti-abortion activism
driven by men's “desire to control women”?</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I certainly believe some
of this desire for control is undeniable. Many women desperately want to have children and seek medical help to do so. Isn't this their right? And, aren't these procedures gifts from God? <br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And, one thing I do understand about all of this control is also very ironic:
women who undergo IVF are trying to become mothers and, many conservatives believe, fulfilling the
role patriarchy wants of them. Miscarriage is usually unwanted; women
who have miscarriages are likely trying to have children; they are
also fulfilling their proper role under patriarchy. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wherein lies the path for equality? <br /></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I believe we must defend an individual <u>woman's</u> right to choose. The pro-life movement seems to
be more about making public declarations of pious conservatism than
advocating for life. It is a religious movement: this explains the
absence of contraception and sex education from the platform. It is
also a politically conservative movement, which values small
government more than the souls of unborn children and seeks to do
little for them once they are born.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the (viral) words of
Sister Joan Chittister – American Benedictine nun, theologian,
author, and speaker who has served as Benedictine prioress and
Benedictine federation president, president of the Leadership
Conference of Women Religious, and co-chair of the Global Peace
Initiative of Women … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">I do not believe that
just because you’re opposed to abortion, that that makes you
pro-life. In fact, I think in many cases, your morality is deeply
lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed, not a
child educated, not a child housed. And why would I think that you
don’t? Because you don’t want any tax money to go there. That’s
not pro-life. That’s pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation
on what the morality of pro-life is.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Heidi
Schlumpf. “Sr. Joan Chittister's 2004 quote on 'pro-life' versus
'pro-birth' goes viral.” <i>National Catholic Reporter.</i> May 23,
2019.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anti-abortion activists
are "absolutizing" the debate by "allowing no
distinctions whatsoever" in laws that have no exceptions for
rape or incest, for example, she said.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"It's hard to believe
that there is never any medical reason whatsoever – ectopic
pregnancies, for instance – that would not indicate that there are
some moments when the moral nature of the act at least fits,"
Chittister said.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Such "absolutizing"
seems only to apply to policies that affect women, Chittister said.
"I frankly cannot understand why women's health issues or
abortion is absolutely the only life issue that the church has not
nuanced.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"We nuance that men
can kill for all sorts of reasons. Men can kill to defend themselves.
They can kill to defend the state. They can punish by killing in the
name of the state," Chittister said. "But women, never –
not even to save their own pregnant life. It seems to me to be
morally confused. Certainly, it's morally inconsistent."</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Heidi Schlumpf. “Sr.
Joan Chittister's 2004 quote on 'pro-life' versus 'pro-birth' goes
viral.” <i>National Catholic Reporter.</i> May 23, 2019.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-85152512395337212002022-07-12T06:00:00.000-07:002022-07-12T06:00:22.108-07:00Camp Molly Lauman COVID Outbreak<p>
</p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZH_4jD9sPbpW_O5hEESP4ZOzj3kn9vUpIcbhKScRWlcrBToSlnF66OYIFLFDckKFzBHd7OUqcqV_ls75BPfTbwzBk1AUz5hYwwW6fVBs0ZNh9Gx4npzzEPXUoELX4dcPh-03ItlzNuK7MLwU2Zw8Ak9TcBQQbZWsyU9n2fNUGF0snxraz4gU3_dmQA/s1125/12370900_10153942539479155_2048251117932544371_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1125" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZH_4jD9sPbpW_O5hEESP4ZOzj3kn9vUpIcbhKScRWlcrBToSlnF66OYIFLFDckKFzBHd7OUqcqV_ls75BPfTbwzBk1AUz5hYwwW6fVBs0ZNh9Gx4npzzEPXUoELX4dcPh-03ItlzNuK7MLwU2Zw8Ak9TcBQQbZWsyU9n2fNUGF0snxraz4gU3_dmQA/w200-h190/12370900_10153942539479155_2048251117932544371_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A
spokesperson for the Camp Molly Lauman sent 10TV the following
statement:</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>"The
Ohio Department of Health is reporting a rise in COVID cases
statewide, and Camp Molly Lauman unfortunately has been affected.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In an
effort to keep campers and staff safe, we have been COVID testing our
staff each Sunday prior to new campers arriving. As of 7/10/2022 we
had a total of 9 staff members that had tested positive between July
3 and July 10. Following our COVID safety protocols, staff who tested
positive quarantined based on CDC recommendations. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In
order to ensure the safety of everyone at camp, we made the difficult
decision to close Camp Molly Lauman for the week of July 10-July 16.
The closure was out of extreme caution and Camp Molly Lauman will
reopen on July 17 with a new week of campers. We will continue to
test staff and monitor for symptoms to keep everyone healthy.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We
encourage our campers to protect themselves, test when possible
before attending any event with large groups, and to stay home if
they are experiencing COVID symptoms."</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><em><span style="font-style: normal;">(Lindsey
Mills. “COVID-19 outbreak reported at summer camp in southern Ohio,
2 months after norovirus outbreak.”
</span></em><em><i>https://www.10tv.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/covid-19-outbreak-reported-summer-camp-southern-ohio-2-months-norovirus-outbreak/530-5b6710f7-bb07-44bb-b76e-f09ffb44c3f5.</i></em><em><span style="font-style: normal;">
10 WBNS. July 11, 2022.)</span></em></b></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Scioto County Health
Department confirmed a COVID-19 outbreak at Camp Molly Lauman in
Lucasville. They say there have been nine confirmed cases at the
camp. It's the same camp that had a Norovirus outbreak in May.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Note: </b></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>In May of this year,
more than 100 people who attended or lived with someone who attended
the Camporee Camp Molly Lauman became ill with what health officials
confirmed to be Norovirus. While health experts did not find a source
of the Norovirus at that time, the camp did undergo cleaning after
the event. </b></span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Jessica
Patterson. “Camp Molly Lauman temporarily closed due to COVID-19.”
<i>https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/camp-molly-lauman-temporarily-closed-due-to-covid-19/ar-AAZsGL6.
</i>WOWK Charleston. July 11, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Molly Dargaville, the
regional epidemiologist for Lawrence and Scioto Counties, shares this
message for parents who have plans to send their kids to camp … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">If your child is old
enough to go to summer camp they can get a COVID vaccine – and they
should.”</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dargaville explained
how her health departments are working with summer camps to minimize
the spread of the virus, especially with a new omicron variant
driving up cases across the country.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I have a kid myself,
she's only six I know how difficult it can be to get a child to wear
a mask consistently,” Dargaville said. “So the best thing really
you can do is get that vaccination for them."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dargaville said measures
like mask-wearing during times of high transmission and vaccinations
are still recommended. However, the responsibility has moved from the
health departments and the government to personal responsibility.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">And that's the big
difference,” she said.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She said it's now up to
facilities and programs like summer camps to report positive cases to
the health department.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Up until recently, we
won't be alerted to a facility having an outbreak unless we get a
complaint or the facility themselves calls and lets us know,
generally, our facilities in Scioto County do a really good job of
reporting outbreaks to us.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She said they received a
complaint about Camp Molly Lauman and said they confirmed with the
camp's director that there were nine positive cases.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Now it's on a case by
case basis, if we have a facility, or we have a summer camp reach out
to us if they have COVID-19 concerns or if they do have an outbreak
of cases, then we're giving them more personalized recommendations
and talking them through the process in more detail,” she said.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Lindsey Mills.
“COVID-19 outbreak reported at summer camp in southern Ohio, 2
months after norovirus outbreak.”
<i>https://www.10tv.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/covid-19-outbreak-reported-summer-camp-southern-ohio-2-months-norovirus-outbreak/530-5b6710f7-bb07-44bb-b76e-f09ffb44c3f5.</i>
10 WBNS. July 11, 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As part of the camp’s
protocols, officials say they have been testing staff for COVID-19
each Sunday before new campers arrive. They say they will continue
testing staff and monitoring any symptoms of the virus. A
spokesperson for the Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland says the camp
is following CDC guidelines and working with the Scioto County and
Portsmouth City departments.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Jessica Patterson.
“Camp Molly Lauman temporarily closed due to COVID-19.”
<i>https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/camp-molly-lauman-temporarily-closed-due-to-covid-19/ar-AAZsGL6.
</i>WOWK Charleston. July 11, 2022.)</b></p>
<p> </p>Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-61970037925026327362022-07-11T07:52:00.002-07:002022-07-12T05:23:38.398-07:00Guns and Scioto County Commissioners -- Bigger Guns To Combat Sin<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> <br /></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5Qp2krk8e6DMs2tKEVYL0MhwlQsZfxhKaMitOB1ZTnezCkT8FZphv-t-8jkMn0aKXz3GQUiQIdGZoqTxbDJNVWttgzZ8rE75Z1YVXbn0Xs-7ECT5G7cqUPEUVH6Z9ljMv5rxKI10bUWJkIABAlmp1QFxJPw4NeZyDWdxW6-x8UdILr9zUzdkDzqp4A/s329/thrja.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="329" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5Qp2krk8e6DMs2tKEVYL0MhwlQsZfxhKaMitOB1ZTnezCkT8FZphv-t-8jkMn0aKXz3GQUiQIdGZoqTxbDJNVWttgzZ8rE75Z1YVXbn0Xs-7ECT5G7cqUPEUVH6Z9ljMv5rxKI10bUWJkIABAlmp1QFxJPw4NeZyDWdxW6-x8UdILr9zUzdkDzqp4A/s320/thrja.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Kimberly
Rubio broke down in tears as she described her 10-year-old daughter
Lexi to a room full of lawmakers weighing tighter gun laws following
the massacre in Uvalde, Texas, that took Lexi’s life along with 18
of her classmates and two teachers.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We
don’t want you to think of Lexi as just a number. She was
intelligent, compassionate and athletic. She was quiet, shy unless
she had a point to make,” Rubio said, crying next to her husband
Felix at a hearing before the House Oversight and Reform Committee in
June 2022.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Parents,
law enforcement and one of Lexi’s classmates who survived that May
24 mass shooting testified before Congress about the Texas massacre
as well as one in Buffalo, New York, last month that left a combined
31 Americans dead and horrified the nation as the latest examples of
mass shootings carried out by lone teenage gunmen.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We
understand that for some reason, to some people – to people with
money, to people who fund political campaigns – that guns are more
important than children,” Rubio continued. </b></span></span></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>“Somewhere out there,
there is a mom listening to our testimony thinking, ‘I can’t even
imagine their pain,’ not knowing that our reality will someday be
hers. Unless we act now.”</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Thomas
Franck. “Parents of Uvalde, Buffalo shooting victims ask Congress
for tighter gun laws ahead of key votes.” CNBC. June 08, 2022.)</b></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">During this same committee
meeting, Zeneta Everhart, mother of 20-year-old survivor Zaire
Goodman, detailed the injuries suffered by her son on May 14, when an
18-year-old gunman carried out a racist rampage at a supermarket in
Buffalo.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">To the lawmakers who
feel that we do not need stricter gun laws: Let me paint a picture
for you,” Everhart said in her testimony. “My son Zaire has a
hole in the right side of his neck, two on his back and another on
his left leg caused by an exploding bullet” from an AR-15 assault
rifle.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">I want you to picture
that exact scenario for one of your children,” she continued. “This
should not be your story or mine.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Other witnesses included
Uvalde pediatrician Dr. Roy Guerrero, New York City Mayor Eric Adams,
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia and Amy Swearer of The
Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gramaglia praised retired
Buffalo police officer Aaron Salter Jr., who shot – but was unable
to stop – the 18-year-old gunman who used an AR-15 to kill 10
people in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Buffalo. Salter was
among those shot to death.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">It is often said that a
good guy with a gun will stop a bad guy with a gun. Aaron was the
good guy and was no match for what he went up against: A legal AR-15
with multiple high-capacity magazines” the Buffalo police
commissioner told lawmakers.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Assault weapons like
the AR-15 are known for three things,” he continued, “how many
rounds they fire, the speed at which they fire those rounds and body
counts.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Thomas
Franck. “Parents of Uvalde, Buffalo shooting victims ask Congress
for tighter gun laws ahead of key votes.” CNBC. June 08, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In Uvalde, more than a
month after the massacre, marchers in the Unheard Voices March and
Rally braved the sweltering weather, carrying signs that read
“Remember Their Names” and chanting “Save Our Kids!”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Many of those who marched
also want more than justice. Some families are pushing for stricter
gun laws and background checks. But in a mostly rural and socially
conservative county where gun culture is threaded into everyday life,
and where many own guns for protection and hunting, gun control may
prove an elusive goal, Mr. Cazares and others said.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Javier Cazares, whose
9-year-year-old daughter, Jackie, was killed in the shooting, said
the seed for the rally was planted the day he stood over her body and
made a vow that her death would not be in vain. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A U.S. veteran and
longtime gun owner, Cazares once considered himself a staunch
supporter of gun rights. But something in him changed since the
tragedy, he said in an interview.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mr. Cazares recalled in
painful detail how he forgot his gun in his truck as he rushed to his
daughter’s school the moment he heard there was a gunman inside.
Once there, he said, he pleaded with armed officers to burst in and
take on the gunman. He later learned that his daughter lay dead in a
nearby hospital.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A preliminary law
enforcement report suggested responding officers waited some 78
minutes to enter the classrooms where the gunman was terrorizing a
teacher and children. Mr. Cazares said the memory of Jackie, whom he
described as a “firecracker” who dreamed of one day visiting
Paris, was what kept him motivated to get a full accounting and
demand that the Uvalde school district bolster its security measures
before the coming school year. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">I’m not afraid to
speak my mind and will continue to do so, so these families know that
they are not alone,” he said. </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="link-3a0ee286"></a>
<b>(Edgar Sandoval. “For Uvalde Families, a Call for Answers Grows
Louder.” <i>The New York Times. </i>July 11, 2022.)</b></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxmVBgyNBlmqE7dkMbmcjN1f1IOSISeMh2A4s1F8J7LOcOvRa4Lxz8YU4W6jfVCpABx3ifZDmw82P__2OfV4P79wZ6T2lYYC_RT2hIIptM5hTpq8T5Y7j22JSeeWSfia0xHX3YhJCYpPnbEeg3PIBKoW-HyZyWaAywg1xaX_MoAme2pfsjIp_JKyAoA/s640/web1_Commissioners34.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxmVBgyNBlmqE7dkMbmcjN1f1IOSISeMh2A4s1F8J7LOcOvRa4Lxz8YU4W6jfVCpABx3ifZDmw82P__2OfV4P79wZ6T2lYYC_RT2hIIptM5hTpq8T5Y7j22JSeeWSfia0xHX3YhJCYpPnbEeg3PIBKoW-HyZyWaAywg1xaX_MoAme2pfsjIp_JKyAoA/w400-h150/web1_Commissioners34.jpg" width="400" /></a><b> <br /></b></b></div><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bringing the View Back
Home</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The horror of these mass
shootings and the need to address the epidemic of gun violence in the
United States – it seems so clear … but not to those who resist
much-needed reforms in the name of what they consider an infrangible
Second Amendment. Our own Scioto County Commissioners have chosen to
announce publicly such a dangerous political view during a meeting in
July 2022. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Commissioner Bryan Davis
recently stated … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">And what we need to do
is make sure that if there is an armed assailant out there and he has
a gun … you know what, it's all right to have one that's bigger
than what he's got. And, you know what? It goes back to the founding
of our country. The Founding Fathers showed great wisdom in the fact
that the right to bears arms shall not be infringed. And that means
no way, no how.” </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Facebook live cast. Scioto County
Commissioners Meeting. July 7, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Davis chooses to
oversimplify the issue of gun violence by declaring “gun, rock,
knife, whatever it is” – “if you really want to zero in on the
big issue, it's sin. It's sin in the hearts of man. That's period.
That's it. That's where it all goes.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Facebook live cast. Scioto County
Commissioners Meeting. July 7, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But how about “zeroing
in” on the children that might be saved from these sins that dwell
in the hearts of evil men? How about an 18-year-old's ability to
purchase assault rifles or how about a mentally disturbed person's
unlimited access to deadly firearms. Should we dismiss efforts to
stop gun violence by simply resigning them to transgressions against
divine law? Should we continue to ignore pleas to study
research-based solutions simply because of some long-dried-out ink
stains on a piece of parchment?</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let's study the tragedy of
guns and children. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The U.S. stands out among
high-income countries: Over 90% of all the firearm deaths among
children and adolescents that occur in industrialized nations occur
in this country. </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(David Hemenway, PhD
and Erin Grinshteyn. Violent Death Rates: The US Compared with Other
High-income OECD Countries, 2010.” <i>American Journal of Medicine.</i>
Volume 129, ISSUE 3, P266-273, March 01, 2016.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rates of death from
firearms among ages 14 to 17 are now 22.5% higher than motor
vehicle-related death rates. In the U.S., middle and high school age
children are now more likely to die as the result of a firearm injury
than from any other single cause of death. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For Americans between the
ages of 1 and 19, a little over half of 2017 firearm-related deaths
are homicides. Another 38% of firearm-related deaths in this age
group are suicides, while the rest result from unintentional injuries
or undetermined causes. </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(“About Underlying
Cause of Death, 1999-2020.” Centers For Disease Control and
Prevention. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A February 2018 study
published in the journal <i>Pediatrics</i> found that as many as 44
percent of homes with children also had firearms. In those homes with
guns, only 35 percent of parents or caretakers stored the weapons
according to American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations that they
be unloaded and locked in a safe. The gun storage responses were
similar, regardless of whether a child in the home had a mental
illness, such as depression, which is a risk factor for suicide. </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(John Scott, BS;
Deborah Azrael, PhD; Matthew Miller, MD. “Firearm Storage in Homes
With Children With Self-Harm Risk Factors.” <i>Pediatrics</i>.
Volume 141, Issue 3. March 2018.) </b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">89 percent of
unintentional shooting deaths of children take place in the home,
when children are playing with a loaded gun while their parents are
out. American children are 9 times more likely to be killed by a gun
than are kids in other developed nations.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A RAND Corporation study
showed that about 1.4 million households (with an estimated 2.6
million children) had firearms stored unlocked and either loaded or
with ammunition nearby. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dr. Rebecca Cunningham,
Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical
School and lead author of a study on death among young people
featured in the </span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">New England Journal of
Medicine</span></i><span style="font-size: medium;"> told </span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Newsweek
(</span></i><span style="font-size: medium;">2017) … </span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Firearm deaths are preventable deaths. They are
not 'too complex,' and the problem is not too difficult to tackle,"
she argued. "Scientists have tackled problems as or more complex
for ages." This can be achieved by "respecting the rights
and culture of our U.S. citizens," she said.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"This is not a topic
that we in medicine or emergency medicine can simply look away and
not see because it is so uncomfortable or political. It is there
every day in hospitals across the country," she said.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In an article accompanying
the study, Dr. Edward W. Campion, the online editor of the <i>New
England Journal of Medicine</i> and former Chief of the Geriatrics
Unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Spaulding
Rehabilitation Hospital, wrote: </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Children in America
are dying or being killed at rates that are shameful. The sad fact is
that a child or adolescent in the United States is 57 percent more
likely to die by the age of 19 years than those in other wealthy
nations.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Car crashes and
lethal gunshots are not random results of fate," he continued.
"Both individuals and the larger society need to understand that
there is much that can be done to reduce the rate of fatal trauma."</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Kashmira Gander. “U.S.
Child Gun Deaths: Firearms Are Second Biggest Killer in America.”
<i>Newsweek</i>. December 19, 2018.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What difference can we
make in stopping gun violence when local leaders refuse to accept
facts and address real reasons for the death of our children by the
gun? Not only mass shootings but also many other firearm tragedies
are preventable – but only in the eyes of those open to Second
Amendment reform. Children die every day. Accidental shootings and
suicides are alarmingly common – and both are part of the gun
violence epidemic we must address. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No one should have the
right to usurp the loss of Zeneta Everhart or Javier Cazares by
simply stating “the Second Amendment must not be infringed.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illegal guns should be
America’s No. 1 public-safety concern, and new laws are badly
needed to eventually curb the violence they allow. But it is
unacceptable that legal guns continue to be nearly as deadly as
illegal guns when responsible firearm ownership is what is needed to
prevent many of those deaths. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And, the really sad
reality is that many local FOP members, armed services veterans, and
liberal politicians now trapped in a disadvantageous minority status
– all of whom know better – have succumbed to indifference. The
gun culture and its subsequent gun worship in Scioto County offers
blanket protection for any and everybody to keep and bear arms. They
know better but dare not offer solutions of reform. Money, power, and
politics? The malignancy spreads through very questionable means. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For God's sake, if you
truly believe it is the evil in the hearts of men that causes all of
the gun death and destruction, you must be comfortable in ignoring
the slaughter of the very young, and accepting their tragic deaths as
expendable casualties in a violent conflict over gun rights. So very
often the readily available firearm – in its many deadly forms –
is the means to both evil <u>and</u> accident, innocent victims …
children … lay in the wake. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm sure by now the
country commissioners are tired of my so-called “fodder” on this
blog. They are ready to move along, denounce my views, and let time
and fate determine the future of their proud Second Amendment
Sanctuary. Wrapping themselves in Founding Fathers and religion, they
believe in their unassailable, God-given right to firearms. They
remain in office and thus in power – a fact proudly professed by
Mr. Davis when denigrating our petition to rescind the sanctuary
designation in light of mental health and substance abuse problems in
the area. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My message to the reader
is this: denial and simple relegation of cause and effect will not
solve this complex problem of gun violence. If you dare to tell the
parents in Uvalde or in Buffalo this, you will likely be met with the
all-very-true stiff opposition of firsthand experience. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>How Dare You?</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>How dare you</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Take my simple question
</b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And use it </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To make me … </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The foolish instigator</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The slippery slope</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Godless voice</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The sower of evil</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My fingers are not … </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Wrapped around the
trigger of an AR-15</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Or holding onto a
senseless declaration</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Or pointing out
political power and reckless resistance</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My heart and mind are
not … </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Full of judgment and
contempt</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Narrow to a fault</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And closed to
understanding</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My eyes are not … </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Clouded by
nationalistic fears</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Smarting from
indecision</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Or closed to the
continuing bloodshed </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Instead, my pen will
continue …</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To beg for answers</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To offer you a
conscience</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And, to speak for </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Victims of the 314 mass
shootings </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In the U.S. so far in
2022. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Meanwhile, you will sit and
continue … </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To Laugh</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And to make </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ignorant comparisons </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To deaths by baseball
bats </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I now ask … </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Where Is</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Evil</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In the Hearts</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Of What “Good Men”?</b></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVQioFojXLzCK5QltzMG5hqChavT194yILbbaPyHyLqjjBjHcIqjmNu9RD_zveViu3zRuRO09zhsUoDzpuB2RMOKzH39F9lEcGTR2xE2tZhmQG3FGxZklQ5OXbbuYdlaJbczQJCDr_J8PW_7EsDBOkR-6DFwJLgFcCHqwC5KyLwRcpbmlzjIkgCaBGQ/s712/2014-2020%20SUMMARY%202020%20GRAPHIC%20with%202019%20CDC.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="712" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVQioFojXLzCK5QltzMG5hqChavT194yILbbaPyHyLqjjBjHcIqjmNu9RD_zveViu3zRuRO09zhsUoDzpuB2RMOKzH39F9lEcGTR2xE2tZhmQG3FGxZklQ5OXbbuYdlaJbczQJCDr_J8PW_7EsDBOkR-6DFwJLgFcCHqwC5KyLwRcpbmlzjIkgCaBGQ/w640-h413/2014-2020%20SUMMARY%202020%20GRAPHIC%20with%202019%20CDC.webp" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-19848236973744416962022-07-10T07:43:00.001-07:002022-07-10T07:43:45.774-07:00Commissioner Davis And Sin In the Hearts of Man -- "Damn the Red Flags And Full Speed Ahead"<p>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtm-lM7BJWfXYi1FPicCU-7cHF_69XWv_yYuZD6MwXyoaA7tiLul3zHHtnO5gasbTQ4m80Np3GdqlHyW9uPCyYHDx0rTcOKntJrwBozrRBPODzGvIQQlOWDGvtdW7Li2zZg5DUefevHfXWV6LCRsvhORjxnEnSzP1y7tyT6uZxpYYlVE9IyBQCcHJxRQ/s1180/1760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1180" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtm-lM7BJWfXYi1FPicCU-7cHF_69XWv_yYuZD6MwXyoaA7tiLul3zHHtnO5gasbTQ4m80Np3GdqlHyW9uPCyYHDx0rTcOKntJrwBozrRBPODzGvIQQlOWDGvtdW7Li2zZg5DUefevHfXWV6LCRsvhORjxnEnSzP1y7tyT6uZxpYYlVE9IyBQCcHJxRQ/s320/1760.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Scioto County Commissioner Bryan
Davis does not believe in gun reform. He has stated this position
during commissioners meetings like the one on July 7, 2022. He
espouses the view that prevention efforts to ease gun violence like
“red flag laws do nothing to stop someone from going out, getting a
gun, and shooting some place up.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He surprisingly
contradicts himself by also stating he believes “the core of the
issue is mental health,” yet he opposes efforts to keep guns from
those who are deemed to be a danger. Such a red flag bill – Ohio
Senate Bill 351 – is currently being co-sponsored by all Senate
Democrats and supported by Moms Demand Action Ohio, part of Everytown
for Gun Safety’s grassroots network.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The red flag law process
in Bill 351 begins with a petition from law enforcement, family
member or household member to a state court demanding temporary
removal of firearms from someone deemed to be a danger. After the
petition is filed, the court will then hold a hearing with the
concerned parties. If clear and convincing evidence is found, the
order is granted to confiscate weapons, sometimes without any prior
notice to the person in question.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">David opposes the red flag
and contends it is a threat to all gun owners. He says that “if </span><span style="font-size: medium;">you
</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>really</u></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> want to zero in
on the </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>big</u></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> issue, it's
sin. It's sin in the hearts of man. That's period. That's it. That's
where it all goes.” To emphasize his position, Davis adamantly raps
on the table and states: “By goodness, I'll stand for the citizens
of Scioto County and these United States and we shall not … the
rights of a citizen to bear arms will not be infringed as long as I'm
commissioner of this county.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Of course, a person who
commits murder with a firearm or a person with a gun intent on
causing bodily harm to innocent victims is a sinner. I understand
that. I feel few would deny this obvious outcome – someone who does
this makes a transgression against divine law. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yet, what obligation does
a person have to stop gun violence as a moral problem? Rabbi Menachem
Creditor – spiritual leader of Congregation Netivot Shalom in
Berkeley, California, and the founder and co-chair of Rabbis Against
Gun Violence – addresses this dilemma. Creditor, named by </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Newsweek
</i></span><span style="font-size: medium;">as one of the 50 most influential rabbis in
America, explains … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">As a rabbi, I cry at
the erasure of so much life. I have organized for, marched with, and
amplified Everytown for Gun Safety, the Coalition to Stop Gun
Violence, Americans for Responsible Solutions, and the Brady Campaign
to Prevent Gun Violence. And yet, as a rabbi, I am enraged not at
guns but at the casual violence afflicting our country, and the way
we have grown immune to it. I do not accept the NRA's claim that
"guns are not the problem," but I do agree that guns are
not the main problem. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Legislators seem
incapable of compromise, and the frontlines of the culture war are
bombarded by extremists who alternatively demonize gun owners and gun
reform advocates alike.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Is there anything to be
done? Is there no way to make any change in a system of sustained
violence that costs upwards of 30,000 lives every year? </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">My claim is that my
fellow faith leaders can bridge the divide between gun owners and gun
reform advocates. This is a moral crisis, and it requires a moral
response. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Whereas elected
officials and those employed to sway their decisions are driven by
the market, faith communities of all stripes are driven to maintain
the dignity of the Divine Image in every human life. Faith reminds us
of our common humanity, can provoke that most human of responses to
the needless deaths of our fellow citizens: compassion. Americans of
all political leanings – gun owners, gun law reformers, mental
health advocates – wish for the fulfillment of American Scripture,
which includes in its promises a basic right: life.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Menachem Creditor.
“Gun Violence Is a Moral Problem.” <i>HuffPost.</i> April 20,
2015.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rabbi Creditor goes on to
speak of the great civil rights activist Rabbi Abraham Joshua
Heschel, who once claimed that, when confronting great societal
rupture, there is "no time for neutrality," that:</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">... one of the lessons
we have derived from the events of our time is that we cannot dwell
at ease under the sun of our civilization, that man is the least
harmless of beings.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The very basic societal
value of mutual obligation is our motivation to fight gun violence.
And, Creditor says, “If we need more motivation than our national
prophetic values, we might do well to consider the statistical
reality – if we do nothing – that our streets, our churches, our
children are all on the line. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Menachem Creditor
concludes … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">My faith tradition
promises that, one day, there will be a day on which "you shall
lie down and no one shall terrify you." (Leviticus 26:6) That
day feels woefully far from now. The only way forward, out of the
sinful trap of passive acceptance, is a basic tenet of our common
faith: the mandate to serve as our brothers' and sisters' keepers.
The way forward is faith's call to remember that we are each other's
best hope.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Menachem Creditor.
“Gun Violence Is a Moral Problem.” <i>HuffPost.</i> April 20,
2015.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bryan Davis considers my
blog “fodder” for misguided souls. He has denigrated my words as
worthless diatribe unworthy of consideration by those in control of
local politics. Yet, in doing so, he surely admits to reading it
himself as he passes judgment on sinful behaviors and what he deems
to be proper legislation. He will probably read this blog entry, and
I hope he considers “sin in the hearts of man” as part of his own
human condition. Let me explain. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Davis's very faith should
motivate him to find compassion and the need to address the national
epidemic of gun violence, not to offhandedly excuse the gun from the
deadly equation and claim clubs and knives are just as deadly as
AR-15s. Such firearms have no place in the hands of those whose
mental capabilities, mature judgment, and … yes, Godliness … are
lacking. To suggest that Democrats or liberals or whoever else is
going to confiscate guns from anyone “they don't like” – and,
he did say that – is ludicrous. Telling such a politically
motivated lie is a sin in itself. He knows better. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To close, I support Bryan
Davis's right to preach and believe what he wants. He most certainly
does good both as a pastor and as an elected official. However, when
he brings his views to the public square and clearly defends the
Second Amendment with both religious fervor and nationalistic
aggressiveness, he should reexamine his own definition of “sin”
be that the wrongdoing “in the hearts of man” or in his own
stubborn mind's refusal to acknowledge the worth of an alternate
point of view. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My understanding is that
the Bible never forbids a Christian from owning a weapon, but it does
offer some principles to consider. First, Christians are called to be
peacemakers </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Second, a Christian should
only own a weapon for a purpose that would honor God (1 Corinthians
10:23). That suggests each person should reflect on his or her
motives for owning a particular weapon.<br /><br />Third, a Christian
should abide by local laws, including gun laws. Romans 13 is clear
that governing authorities are from God and are to be obeyed.
Christians should carefully consider their motive and purpose in
owning a weapon, and local ordinances should be followed – I would
assume that means no resistance against reforms and clarifications to
the Second Amendment. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Rev. James Martin,
Jesuit Priest and Editor at Large at <i>America, The Jesuit Review</i>
says … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Simply praying, 'God,
never let this happen again' is insufficient for the person who
believes that God gave us the intelligence to bring about lasting
change. It would be as if one passed a homeless person and said to
oneself, 'God, please help that poor man,' when all along you could
have helped him yourself. </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(James Martin. “Why
Gun Control is a Religious Issue.” <i>America</i>. July 22, 2012.)</b></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b> </b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyABgqP7YYokea3-7SojFrGsfLv11At_u25w-yJcWajG8Ju8QtyGId_HxMFhMP_QMdVm4SAwzSA2m3RDqOuj9UmjLlm23C09qBEueIN1Lggfge2gZfnmDDUWwdldPSKw-A1fbe9I1hxLhKuF7UwgtTYl0kaq1oz6rjKeiCapk-xZcJGfn47cwqd2sEdw/s800/red-flag-laws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyABgqP7YYokea3-7SojFrGsfLv11At_u25w-yJcWajG8Ju8QtyGId_HxMFhMP_QMdVm4SAwzSA2m3RDqOuj9UmjLlm23C09qBEueIN1Lggfge2gZfnmDDUWwdldPSKw-A1fbe9I1hxLhKuF7UwgtTYl0kaq1oz6rjKeiCapk-xZcJGfn47cwqd2sEdw/w640-h480/red-flag-laws.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-68798340378890124062022-07-09T07:06:00.000-07:002022-07-09T07:06:10.337-07:00Scioto Commissioner Davis Denounces Ohio Red Flag Laws -- Laughing About Gun Violence<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> <br /></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-nQNAQi6q9DDyGNe51pmosgeKHXXq0VPy7II_YJzWu53C3QLpoucMz_LX_YJQqhD0NmHTy5aN9Upwny0YuRtW2i7EXrTo-6coC-EkFembAtj5gv7HUZ51zVjTjfePYU4ZCvoyFBMGixNkdVsDPoYzxo2Kx5YcPLd9ry9zc-vhX3GrGeQtFdRhrhVOw/s2160/FV39rRVUEAEsQMd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-nQNAQi6q9DDyGNe51pmosgeKHXXq0VPy7II_YJzWu53C3QLpoucMz_LX_YJQqhD0NmHTy5aN9Upwny0YuRtW2i7EXrTo-6coC-EkFembAtj5gv7HUZ51zVjTjfePYU4ZCvoyFBMGixNkdVsDPoYzxo2Kx5YcPLd9ry9zc-vhX3GrGeQtFdRhrhVOw/w400-h400/FV39rRVUEAEsQMd.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Defend
Our Children Act, Senate Bill 351 would increase the age at which
Ohioans can buy a firearm, but it would also adopt the state’s
first “red flag law.”</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Senate
Bill 351 is co-sponsored by all Senate Democrats and supported by
Moms Demand Action Ohio, part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s
grassroots network that fights for public safety measures that can
protect people from gun violence. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The red
flag law process begins with a petition from law enforcement, family
member or household member to a state court demanding temporary
removal of firearms from someone deemed to be a danger. After the
petition is filed, the court will then hold a hearing with the
concerned parties. If clear and convincing evidence is found, the
order is granted to confiscate weapons, sometimes without any prior
notice to the person in question.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Caroline
Morse. “Ohio’s proposed ‘red flag’ gun law under scrutiny
after other states revise regulations.” WDTN 2 News. Dayton. July
06, 2022.)</b></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the senators that
introduced the bill, Sen. Cecil Thomas, believes red flag laws
operate the same way as search or arrest warrants, allowing judges to
make decisions prior to having a hearing.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Common sense policies
such as universal background checks and a red flag law will help keep
deadly weapons out of the hands of dangerous people,” said Sen.
Thomas. “We can’t stop working to address gun violence.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Senate Bill 351 combines
several gun reform proposals previously introduced by Senate
Democrats and will:</span></p>
<ul><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">require background
checks for all firearm transfers (currently Senate Bill 73 –
Thomas);</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">raise the minimum age
to purchase a firearm to 21 (currently S. B. 74 – Thomas);</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">enact a Red Flag Law
to allow the courts to temporarily confiscate firearms from people
considered at risk for themselves or others (currently S. B. 138 –
Williams);</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">prohibit negligent
storage of firearms and authorize an income tax credit for the
purchase of firearms safety storage units (S. B. 279 of the 132nd
General Assembly – Sykes and Tavares);</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">add a mandatory
three-day waiting period for all gun purchases;</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">increase funding for
Ohio Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports grants and
expand the program to include all grades.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZD_H5XkrM1xXkp-3B91747v3H_uVMk59Ww7NU8oX1xz29cbSylXiiVuexCdnLB5j2jLP54suZdddWd47C6GqAXjt0I-I4127s_h_EGeWKBulqmTTaqGTuaAMWEop11DVqefzHeo2gBoY_N8Bw1WcnkxlTC8KQuc3df02WCI2fSfTPeay8kSO4Hm8Mw/s2016/moms_demand_action_group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="2016" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZD_H5XkrM1xXkp-3B91747v3H_uVMk59Ww7NU8oX1xz29cbSylXiiVuexCdnLB5j2jLP54suZdddWd47C6GqAXjt0I-I4127s_h_EGeWKBulqmTTaqGTuaAMWEop11DVqefzHeo2gBoY_N8Bw1WcnkxlTC8KQuc3df02WCI2fSfTPeay8kSO4Hm8Mw/w400-h286/moms_demand_action_group.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
</li></ul>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Moms Demand Action Ohio
released the statement:</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">These laws can help
prevent suicides, mass shootings and domestic violence gun deaths,
and the just-passed Federal Bipartisan Safer Communities Act provides
$750 million in much-needed funding over the next five years to
support crisis intervention services, including the implementation of
state Red Flag laws. The bill will also unlock a well-established
existing funding stream to support the implementation of Red Flag
laws.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Kristine
Woodworth, Ohio chapter leader.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Senate Bill 351 is
currently sitting in the Senate’s Rules and Reference. It has not
been referred to a committee. If approved, Ohio would join 19 other
states and D.C. that enforce red flag laws.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Local Reaction</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In a recent commissioners
meeting on July 7, 2022, Scioto Commissioner Bryan Davis stated the
following … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">The bottom line is …
I have said multiple times, and we have seen it this week, red flag
laws do nothing … nothing to prevent someone from going out and get
a gun and going out and shoot some place up. Period! It does
nothing.” </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="en">(Facebook
address:
</span><i>https://www.facebook.com/sciotocountycommissioners/videos/702887844141102</i>.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Although the Scioto
commissioners would likely deny Davis's comments are politically
motivated, the proof is in the setting and in their obvious stubborn
resistance to measures to check gun violence. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">During the meeting on July
7, Davis said to those in attendance and those watching live on
Facebook … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">But red flag laws where
you have people making determinations that this person is mentally
ill, and this person's a threat, and this person's 'that.' And
there's no real good determination or good way to do that, I think is
a dangerous, slippery slope for this country to move down because at
that point, you </span><span style="font-size: medium;">know anybody could look at any of
you (referring to attendees at the meeting) and say 'I don't like
you. I think you're mentally ill. And you can no longer possess a
firearm.' That is a dangerous precedent to set in this country.” </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, Davis takes it upon
himself to speak as a representative of the county and say our
commissioners oppose bills like Senate Bill 351. All of this he does
in response to a simple question of mine: </span><span style="font-size: medium;">“</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en">Will
the commissioners address rescinding the Second Amendment Sanctuary
designation (of 2020) in light of gun violence?”</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The discussion at the
commissioners meeting quickly turned to laments of prayers and ten
commandments being taken from public schools, the public “reaping
what they sow,” and the proverbial “they” wanting next to take
baseball bats away from “us” – all of which was met with
guffaws and outright laughter from those chosen to fairly represent
the people of Scioto County. I was offended. It was obvious that my
citizenship has been deemed “politically radical” and
pigeonholded as “second-class liberal.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I ask you, the reader –
Is this the place to debate these views and to pass resolutions and
judgments of a purely political nature? I think not, but then again,
I watched the Facebook live feed of the meeting, and I felt as if I
had entered a private, expedient conversation or as if I had wandered
upon a breakfast table of folks espousing ethical opinions. Davis
judged my views as simply “fodder” and this blog I write as the
home of outlandish opposition. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In addition, Davis
belittled my attempts to rescind the Second Amendment Sanctuary
designation even though Scioto is beleaguered with people suffering
from health concerns, many at risk with co-occurring mental health
and substance abuse problems. He dismissed my petition to rescind the
designation by saying … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">90 people signed his
petition out of 74,000, so I mean, I think the people of Scioto
County spoke and I think the people of Scioto County support the
Second Amendment as well as all 27 amendments to our Constitution.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The false assumption is
that all 74,000 residents of Scioto read my petition and that only a
small percentage signed it because the vast majority “favored”
the sanctuary designation. No such conclusions can be drawn from the
online petition. Talk about false conclusions and slippery slopes! If
anything, Davis just dismissed the view of myself and many other
people opposed to the sanctuary designation as “meaningless.” By the way,
the sanctuary statement has absolutely nothing to do with “supporting
all 27 amendments” of the Constitution as Davis infers. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I asked a question only to
find out that local politics turned the commissioners disgust for the
topic into a sermon on the worthlessness of red flag laws, and then
ended by effectively laughing such an unimportant minority view right
out of the room. Instead of fielding the question with evidence-based
reasoning and inviting debate, the commissioners chose to make
ridiculous claims to energize emotional, conservative resistance to
change. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the state of the
progressive movement in Scioto County. Officeholders and officials of
one stripe dominate local views. Their politics play out despite any
critical opposition, and, in fact, any different idea here is often
judged un-Christian and un-American by that majority. The truth is
that many now are indifferent, and some are afraid to express their
views in fear of retaliation. I might call your attention to recent
attempts to limit drug rehabs and to limit library resources. High
emotions, false conjectures, and unwarranted accusations all ran high
… as they still evidently do. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I will end with a gentle
reminder. The common good may suffer greatly from stubborn,
unsupported resistance. The community should understand that what one
group deems “sacred” may need to be questioned, may need to be
studied, and may need to be changed. Recognizing alternatives and
giving concessions leads to equality and justice. Turning a public
meeting into a kangaroo court or into a holy ghost revival serves
some, not all. That is the current state of affairs. </span>
</p>
<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1S_yHruhxLsb8bKGi2cGITJlV-MjhC2cfbOJi6HJ4v8StXWeC4Hstkp0JC_wsW3tOYCKOtZ7tjEEChyzwuUbArHnrG8hIvdKsZLP9G-Lz3ZxiO_wdlk_VqVzKPJRHypMMzYEIaOmyaa1ZrCYx6zYQcdoiV5P1pG_uHGUJE5WCpjb5iqbV17tiFWcdA/s284/thrthaq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="284" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1S_yHruhxLsb8bKGi2cGITJlV-MjhC2cfbOJi6HJ4v8StXWeC4Hstkp0JC_wsW3tOYCKOtZ7tjEEChyzwuUbArHnrG8hIvdKsZLP9G-Lz3ZxiO_wdlk_VqVzKPJRHypMMzYEIaOmyaa1ZrCYx6zYQcdoiV5P1pG_uHGUJE5WCpjb5iqbV17tiFWcdA/w400-h225/thrthaq.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-70035415546026868792022-07-08T06:37:00.000-07:002022-07-08T06:37:25.412-07:00Question About the Second Amendment Sanctuary of Scioto County: Answered At the July 7 County Commissioners Meeting<p>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rBKzOfie2tC3GfpM6GRv0jeI9VvYxICEf-zyNJU1VYi2pr9F24h6DPRODq1Enydc45RPwJbaDjsA9TmcWuL8E846zoxHDErpzTrkMHwpy7ghTDRttnxBG31Jzfo0f_Y9k8rPRXHqWYnsKAG_B-4AIZ-6rQg8tAefOZ1qVBMf8YzNmsb2W2woISobQQ/s750/Davis-official-750x536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="750" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rBKzOfie2tC3GfpM6GRv0jeI9VvYxICEf-zyNJU1VYi2pr9F24h6DPRODq1Enydc45RPwJbaDjsA9TmcWuL8E846zoxHDErpzTrkMHwpy7ghTDRttnxBG31Jzfo0f_Y9k8rPRXHqWYnsKAG_B-4AIZ-6rQg8tAefOZ1qVBMf8YzNmsb2W2woISobQQ/w200-h143/Davis-official-750x536.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIk7d4wt9YreSnSExCEhR0CICjWcLlx7CEY97AWPnSlVJTb00bxJCMtSCs3JWXSvUobi1uKFejNqKYUhthJ4YH2Kc5yOezxMcWqvW2BcrQYJ7LiHINJYtbdHaRf9edmYMHI7PCzDUNjVPu58g9SN-pZbn2MpkN-ulLIQlqXy-RJxI3Iit1gjxG0djSRg/s183/th%20apgm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="183" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIk7d4wt9YreSnSExCEhR0CICjWcLlx7CEY97AWPnSlVJTb00bxJCMtSCs3JWXSvUobi1uKFejNqKYUhthJ4YH2Kc5yOezxMcWqvW2BcrQYJ7LiHINJYtbdHaRf9edmYMHI7PCzDUNjVPu58g9SN-pZbn2MpkN-ulLIQlqXy-RJxI3Iit1gjxG0djSRg/s1600/th%20apgm.jpg" width="183" /></a></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en">The Scioto
County Commissioners – Bryan Davis and Scottie Powell – finally
fielded my question about the declaration of the Second Amendment
Sanctuary in 2022.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></span>
</p>
<p lang="en" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
transcribed the following from the Facebook video of their meeting on
July 7, 2022. You may view their reply from the video at the
following Facebook address (simply click here):</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sciotocountycommissioners/videos/702887844141102." target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/sciotocountycommissioners/videos/702887844141102.</a><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> You will find the question asked and answered by beginning to view at
37:50. The video and transcription speak for themselves. </span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span lang="en">My
question for the Commissioners: “Will the commissioners address
rescinding the Second Amendment Sanctuary designation in light of gun
violence?”</span> </b></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Commissioner Bryan Davis:</b> I'm
not rescinding it … (pause). I support all twenty-seven
amendments.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Commissioner Scottie Powell:</b> OK.
I don't know there's any appetite to do that. Quite honestly, back
then it was a resolution to show the support the commissioners had
for the Second Amendment. And, I think we're all very much in the
same vein. The reality is it didn't change the laws. The resolution
didn't change the laws in Scioto County. It is just giving the
position of the commissioners at that time, and I would say even
still today. We believe in the Second Amendment. We believe in all
the amendments. So, thank you for that question.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Davis:</b> Yeah. You
know what? I'm just going to dive into it here. Bottom line is the
red flag laws and things like that … we have seen proven over just
the last week. You could have all those things in place and they will
not prevent gun violence. People who want to commit acts of a
criminal nature will find guns. They're out there; they're readily
available. They can find them any time. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And what we need to be
dealing with is the issue of mental health in our communities and in
our country. Once again we have a person who was mentally ill. That
was out there. They had had him on their radar … the FBI themselves
had him on their radar. The local police had him on their radar. And,
I am so sick of hearing the phrases … of hearing the 'well, he was
on our radar.' Well, when do you do something about someone who was
on your radar? It's clear that there was mental health issues. This
young man needed help, needed help, and it's so sad. And, a lot of
time these are cries for help, and they have no other recourse.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, look we can talk about
the Second Amendment. We can talk about gun stocks. And we can talk
about AR-15s and everything else. The bottom line is as a nation, we
need to have a very strong conversation about mental health, about
getting people the needed assistance, and to be honest with you …
and I've said this many times in here before … our jails are full
of people that don't need to be in jail. They need mental health
help. We shut down all of our mental health hospitals in Ohio. We
have beds for 70 people out of 4 million in Southeast Ohio, which is
abysmal and sad. Should have never have happened. But they made that
decision a long time ago in Columbus. I do believe this
administration is trying to reverse that and they are looking at ways
to do that. But there are things that can be addressed. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And, you know what? Frank
… I understand Frank has a very strong opinion about this. I know
that he put a petition out there for Scioto Countians to stand
against the Second Amendment and get us to not be a Second Amendment
Sanctuary county, which we are with other counties, especially here
in Southeast Ohio. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">90 people signed his
petition out of 74,000, so I mean I think the people of Scioto County
spoke and I think the people of Scioto County support the Second
Amendment as well as all 27 amendments to our Constitution. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And what we need to do is
make sure that if there is an armed assailant out there and he has a
gun, you know what, it's all right to have one that's bigger than
what he's got. And, you know what? It goes back to the founding of
our country. The Founding Fathers showed great wisdom in the fact
that the right to bears arms shall not be infringed. And that means
no way, no how. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And, I do understand
there's a mental health aspect to it. It needs to be dealt with in a
very responsible manner. But red flag laws where you have people
making determinations that this person is mentally ill, and this
person's a threat, and this person's 'that.' And there's no real good
determination or good way to do that, I think is a dangerous,
slippery slope for this country to move down because at that point,
you know anybody could look at any of you (attendees at the meeting)
and say 'I don't like you. I think you're mentally ill. And you can
no longer possess a firearm.' That is a dangerous precedent to set in
this country. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And like I said, and I'm
sure Frank is going to have all kinds of blogs and everything else …
he always does. That the bottom line is … I have said multiple
times, and we have seen it this week, red flag laws do nothing …
nothing to prevent someone from going out and get a gun and going out
and shoot some place up. Period! It does nothing. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">God forbid it happen
around here, but it could. As a matter of fact, one of the worst
situations we had was with a knife … in our county. A few years ago
there was a teacher involved and there was a school involved so
don't, you know … gun, rock, knife, whatever it is. The core of the
issue is mental health, and if you <u>really</u> want to zero in on
the <u>big</u> issue, it's sin. It's sin in the hearts of man. That's
period. That's it. That's where it all goes. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And we deal with that,
(Powell laughs) and we'll be better off as a society. But you can't
legislate hate away, and you can't legislate guns away. And you can't
legislate sin away. That's gotta happen in the heart of man, so …
that's all I'll say. I've said too much. He's got plenty of fodder
for his blog now. But, by goodness, I'll stand for the citizens of
Scioto County and these United States and we shall not … the rights
of a citizen to bear arms will not be infringed as long as I'm
commissioner of this county. (knocks on the table). </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Scottie Powell is
laughing.) </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Unnamed commenter:</b>
They took God out of schools and took the Ten Commandments off the
wall. They took prayer out of schools. What do you expect? What you
(do?) is what you get. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Davis: </b>Thank you,
Sir. What you reap, you will sow. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Another unnamed
commenter: </b>They take the guns and we got a squawk, I know how to
swing a baseball bat. Are they going to stop baseball? I guess we
won't have any more baseball games in about ten years cause we'll be
killing everybody with bats. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Powell: </b>And with
that … (Davis and Powell both are laughing as the meeting is
closing.)</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Davis: </b>(To unnamed
commenters) Thank you for your comments. (Still laughing)</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I don't expect my inquiry
to be treated with courtesy and due respect because the commissioners
evidently do not see a connection between the epidemic of gun
violence in our nation – particularly in Ohio – and the
increased availability and access to firearms. They oppose all
efforts to gun reform even as our Scioto sheriff and the FOP spoke
out against some of these issues as they related to arming teachers
in public schools. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The commissioners unfairly
lumped all my efforts to call attention to gun violence under the
category of passing “red flag laws” – gun control laws that
permit police to petition a state court to order the temporary
removal of firearms from a person who they believe may present a
danger to others or themselves. I believe in research-based options,
not in one method of reform. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Their symbolic and
political declaration of “Second Amendment Sanctuary” may not
have changed laws in itself; however, the bold declaration stands in
opposition to much-needed changes. Using religion and nationalistic
jingoism to stoke emotional support influences public sentiment: that
is the <u>true</u> “slippery slope” Davis uses to convince others
that the gun has no part in the equation of violence. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Davis, himself, said upon
enacting the resolution: “Some people have asked us, 'Why waste the
time?' Well, we do resolutions for retirees. Why do we take the time
to do that? It’s important. We take time to honor law enforcement
and firefighters and people like that. Why do we do that? Because
it’s important.” </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The <i>Daily Times</i>
reported: “The resolution itself declared the opposition of Scioto
County to any restrictions on the Second Amendment and stated the
Board of Commissioners in Scioto County wish to resolve to protect
the right to bear arms in Scioto County, Ohio <u>even</u> <span style="font-style: normal;"><u>if</u></span>
<u>state</u> <u>and</u> <u>federal</u> <u>laws</u> <u>are</u> <u>passed</u>
restricting ownership or possession.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Ivy Potter. “Scioto
County becomes 2A sanctuary county.” <i>Portsmouth Daily Times</i>.
January 16,, 2020.) </b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mr. Davis speaks of the
“fodder” in my blog as if my opinion is unimportant. To him, not
enough people signed my petition to warrant fruitful discussion or
evaluation of how an attempt by GOP commissioners to resist gun
measures affects all constituents. I would suggest people review the
real reason the Scioto commissioners passed the sanctuary designation
in 2020. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This designation was
clearly political posturing rooted in the strong influence of the gun
lobby that has deep connections to corporate partners in the firearms
industry. It was, at the time, a shameful rebuke of Gov. DeWine's
efforts to allow police to remove firearms from individuals
undergoing court-ordered treatment for mental illness or substance
abuse. It continues to be in effect to this day. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If Davis views my blog as
“</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>fodder</i></span><span style="font-size: medium;">” –
inferior or readily available material – he unfairly minimizes the
importance of my words and my continued efforts to ease gun violence.
As a man of God, he should know better. And, I would caution Powell
that to judge the actions of others – those of the 2020 officials –
without investigating their motives is presumptuous. He was not a
commissioner at the time. He is now. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The commissioners took it
upon themselves to play upon the unfounded fears of a government
takeover to rally their base. And even now, notice how Davis uses
fears of red flags and falsely arresting someone suspected of being
mentally ill to stir emotions of the populace. This is clearly
</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="la-VA"><i>Argumentum ad Populum</i></span></span><span lang="la-VA">
-- </span><span style="font-size: medium;">an argument, often emotionally laden, that
claims a conclusion is true because most, all, or even an elite group
people irrelevantly think, believe, or feel that it is. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The commissioners still
view gun control measures to be unconstitutional, even those
addressing the terrible scourge of gun violence. They deny their
designation of “Second Amendment Sanctuary” has anything to do
with fearful resistance. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Davis admits, “The
number one job in the Commissioner’s job description is to keep the
county fiscally sound. By law, the Commissioners act as the chief
budgeting office of the county.” Ask yourself why the officials
decided to enact a gun designation that had nothing to do with fiscal
matters. And now, over two years later, why do they adamantly reject
all inquiry into their judgment to do so. </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Ivy
Potter. “Davis seeks re-election.” <i>Portsmouth Daily Times.</i>
January 25, 2018.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We all claim rights under
the Second Amendment, not just those who are gun owners or those who
believe the amendment must not be infringed. As a lifelong Scioto
County resident, I want commissioners who defend my First Amendment
privilege to object to stubborn political resistance, representatives
who understand that my viewpoint is valuable, and leaders who do not
laugh about proposed changes to save lives. Above all, I want
commissioners who serve everyone and provide representation to all
views. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I will continue to write.
I will also continue to fight for the views I deem right. I don't
need the support of a political party or the power of the majority to
continue my efforts to find solutions. I hope this transcription of
the meeting will serve you well as you negotiate the issues that
affect us all. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I submit this blog entry
for your review. You can watch the Facebook video as you read the
words of our commissioners. Believe me, I know how difficult it is to
swim against the current here in Scioto County. I also know many are
said to be afraid to express themselves with an opposing view. That
is for each person to decide. Anything less is manipulation without
representation. </span>
</p>
<p> </p>Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-20518916942861144072022-07-06T07:39:00.001-07:002022-07-06T07:39:45.283-07:00Ohio Knife Bills -- No Prohibitions On Combat Blades<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBTbqoD5F3eULS5ucoIOTwr7cLjDBQm1n10MIjm506HrXQcokuvI9A9Z6OhgK4_cTHaa-ho1A9n1uA-8IdKQTKvi3ypSnvzntSrY_lvliZFpBvozy_W1yYH_QS6jM_saaFHROXXHOAZJAYzv9WQPW4FOcWJ7bkzxZ4z6o0S6DDLqZo4Ie_XMxBO-fiw/s283/thw5w6yj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="283" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBTbqoD5F3eULS5ucoIOTwr7cLjDBQm1n10MIjm506HrXQcokuvI9A9Z6OhgK4_cTHaa-ho1A9n1uA-8IdKQTKvi3ypSnvzntSrY_lvliZFpBvozy_W1yYH_QS6jM_saaFHROXXHOAZJAYzv9WQPW4FOcWJ7bkzxZ4z6o0S6DDLqZo4Ie_XMxBO-fiw/s1600/thw5w6yj.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
<p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Rick
Hinderer started with art knives in the 1980s then transitioned to
tactical tools. State law now allows him to manufacture switchblades,
spring-assisted and gravity knives.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ohio
Senate Bill 140, a knife law reform bill advocated by the grassroots
knife owner organization Knife Rights, took effect Monday and
eliminated “the prohibition against manufacturing, possessing for
sale, selling, or furnishing certain weapons other than firearms or
dangerous ordnance.”</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>On
Tuesday, Hinderer hosted a factory tour at his Shreve-area business
Hinderer Knives to celebrate the bill’s passage. Attendees included
Knife Rights Founder and Chair Doug Ritter and Director of
Legislative Affairs Todd Rathner, state Sen. Kristina Roegner
(R-Hudson) and state Rep. Scott Wiggam (R-Wooster).</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Without
the change in the law, Hinderer seriously considered moving his
business out of Ohio so he could entertain military contracts for
automatic knives. He now projects his business will double overnight,
and he can expand his workforce beyond the 18 employees now working
for him.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>If the
military comes to me before this bill is passed and asks about
getting a knife that I produce, I wasn’t going to turn it down. I
was just going to move outside of Ohio,” said Hinderer, founder
and CEO of Rick Hinderer Knives. “It’s a huge benefit for us and
the business. Plain and simple, it’s jobs.”</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Like
Hinderer, Massillon native Michael Rice feared Ohio's knife
regulations would force him to leave the city he grew up in.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Rice, is
the inventor, founder and CEO of Gripknife, a vertical foregrip for a
firearm that could double as an immediately accessible secondary
weapon.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Gripknife
attaches to the rail system of an AR-style weapon to be used as a
normal foregrip, but with the push of a button, it can deploy into a
combat-style knife.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Knife
Rights worked for six years to get SB 140 passed in Ohio. The group’s
work continues “so people can carry whatever tool they want in
their pocket, at work, at home and don’t have to worry about being
arrest because of how the tool opens, the length of the blade, or the
shape of the blade,” Ritter said.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(<b>Jake Zuckerman. 'Law
takes effect legalizing concealed knife carry; also allows for brass
knuckles.” </b><i><b>Ohio Capital Journal.</b></i><b> April 13,
2021.)</b></span></span></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ymUUJcSEl-wH7Ys6vXB9GVA4PvzzBn9g3YQWNwIv4RPDbOiyDaZxTLQU03_vVVvl3Q4nu-GDla3gTNtm7CEj30zWCboHYNBCsiEqHyyzUca_dVyt7Gq__HsXFwufo6sQBVIGKPMYqRsPLp23116SXOeqWih6ADinbIprdXfJDkMEuWreB-btE_qA-Q/s500/Blade-Locking-Mechanism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="500" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ymUUJcSEl-wH7Ys6vXB9GVA4PvzzBn9g3YQWNwIv4RPDbOiyDaZxTLQU03_vVVvl3Q4nu-GDla3gTNtm7CEj30zWCboHYNBCsiEqHyyzUca_dVyt7Gq__HsXFwufo6sQBVIGKPMYqRsPLp23116SXOeqWih6ADinbIprdXfJDkMEuWreB-btE_qA-Q/w400-h214/Blade-Locking-Mechanism.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> <br /></b></span></span></b></span></div><p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Gripkknife<br /> </b></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Why would I worry about
people carrying knives when I grew up in a rural Ohio grade school
environment in which seemingly every young man had a pocket knife? I
even remember boys routinely playing “<i>mumblety-peg</i>” (aka
“<i>mumbley-peg</i>”) on the playground at recess. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then, there was little
worry about students using knives to settle disputes or to injure
others for whatever reason. Gone are both the morals and the common
sense that prevailed in the 1950s and 1960s. We live in violent days. <br /></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Times have changed.
Attitudes have changed. And, unfortunately, recent political and
social divisions and resulting fears have driven state legislators to
pass laws that make brandishing weapons perfectly legal. I worry that
these new laws will endanger all – young and old – and present
angry young men easy access to overwhelming force and concealed
weapons made to kill. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For once, I agree with gun
advocates who say that if a person intends to harm another, a knife
or a club <i><b>could be</b></i> an instrument as deadly as a
firearm. This fact did not stop Ohio's Republican lawmakers from
passing Senate bills and preventing legislation on the local level
that would limit this newfound right to carry automatic, combat-style
knives. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After previously approving
legislation (2021) that allows Ohioans to carry an array of different
knives and weapons on their persons – including butterfly knives,
switchblades, springblades, brass knuckles, and billy clubs – Gov.
Mike DeWine signed legislation Tuesday that preemptively blocks
cities from intervening.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now, Senate Bill 156,
which passed on party lines with Republicans in support and Democrats
in opposition, prohibits cities from passing laws blocking citizens
from carrying knives.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In Ohio, Democrats wield
political control of the urban centers, while Republicans control the
statehouse and governor’s office. Thus, the legislation
preemptively blocks the Democratic cities from enacting any ordinance
of their own that might restrict the right to carry knives beyond
what statehouse Republicans call for.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A similar pre-emption
blocks cities from establishing gun laws stricter than those at the
state level. That law has withstood repeated legal challenges since
it was passed in 2007.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The knife pre-emption
joins a growing list of state legislation expanding the right to
carry weapons in Ohio including:</span></p>
<ul><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2022: Knife
pre-emption </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2022: Authorizing
school boards to allow teachers to carry guns </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2022: Remove
training, background check and licensure requirement to carry
concealed firearm </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2021: Allowing for
concealed carry of knives </span>
</p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2021: Removing the
legal duty to retreat before responding to a perceived attack with
deadly force, often known as “stand your ground.” </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="singleHed"></a><b>(Jake
Zuckerman. “DeWine signs legislation buttressing knife carrying
expansion.”
<i>https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2022/06/17/dewine-signs-legislation-buttressing-knife-carrying-expansion/.
Capital Journal.</i> June 17, 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And, perhaps most
alarming, this new law about concealed knives comes after April 2021,
when “stand your ground” law took effect in Ohio, which removes
the legal requirement that a person reasonably try to retreat from a
perceived attack before responding with deadly force. Such
legislation has been associated with modest increases in violent
crime and disparate treatment in the criminal justice system on
racial lines, public health research shows</span>.
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Staff. “Ohio's new
'stand your ground' law: Everything you need to know.” WLWT 5.
April 22, 2021.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The measure expanded the
so-called “stand your ground” right from an individual’s house
and car to any place, “if that person is in a place in which the
person lawfully has a right to be.” Enter knives into the equation.
</span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The new law can be
explained like this: In the past, if someone shot in self-defense,
the burden was on the shooter to prove that's why they did it. With a
"stand your ground" law, the burden shifts to the
prosecutor to prove the shooting was not justified. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In addition to making
prosecutors prove a claim of self-defense may not be justified, the
measure would also eliminate the call for gun owners with concealed
carry permits to try to retreat from a threat before opening fire.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Republican governor
signed the bill despite his long expressed concerns that GOP
lawmakers were ignoring his own legislation proposed following the
2019 mass shooting in Dayton. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ethan Nichols, executive
director of Ohio Students for Gun Legislation, sees the recent
“stand your ground” law like this … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"This isn't a Second
Amendment issue. I support the Second Amendment. But this has nothing
to do with that. Your ability to shoot someone without just, you know
– randomly shoot someone because you feel threatened, it's
ridiculous."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nichols worries the new
law will exact a heavy toll on minority communities.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"It's a racist law,"
Nichols said. "I think for Ohioans that this is a, very
obviously, a step in the wrong direction. This is a step backwards
into another century."</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Staff. “Ohio's
'stand your ground' law goes into effect Tuesday. What to know.”
<i>https://www.wlwt.com/article/ohio-s-stand-your-ground-law-goes-into-effect-tuesday-what-to-know/36026492.
</i>WLWT 5. April 05, 2021.)</b></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xhEPpinssHYV3u0PMKGlZ76OFkzpyT1UFcvFq3XnhPLCzMOORiTKTYx5cRlVHA-CnlcQAPeHvuvFKscjTKLzp1foz0yxgqpxK8mMO2FBYJME-NiuatGMLPp5qfIVNfEk9Hq_vhFnKTpMA-ZmDMcEb2g6Xr_TKQNlhn3vNhX0xNuaZG53Z_k2BdSF-A/s1864/Screen-Shot-2019-11-23-at-12.27.32-PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1864" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xhEPpinssHYV3u0PMKGlZ76OFkzpyT1UFcvFq3XnhPLCzMOORiTKTYx5cRlVHA-CnlcQAPeHvuvFKscjTKLzp1foz0yxgqpxK8mMO2FBYJME-NiuatGMLPp5qfIVNfEk9Hq_vhFnKTpMA-ZmDMcEb2g6Xr_TKQNlhn3vNhX0xNuaZG53Z_k2BdSF-A/w400-h228/Screen-Shot-2019-11-23-at-12.27.32-PM.png" width="400" /></a><b> <br /></b></b></div><p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion </b></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Knives of all kinds
protected throughout Ohio? Are blade laws simply about creating
economic opportunities for manufacturing tactical and automatic knives, or are
they about something more? The laws are clearly a Second Amendment
bills that dovetails into recent acts passed in the Buckeye State to
loosen restrictions on carrying deadly weapons. It's the old need for
a “bigger gun” argument now widened to include “bigger knives.”
In reality, no kid is going to employ one of these weapons to whittle
or to assist him with outdoor skills. These blades are designed to
kill. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Art knives? Don't kid
yourself. GOP legislators are fighting a culture war, and part of
this struggle involves their alarm that the “untouchable” Second
Amendment may soon be reformed. They wrap their fight in Jingoism –
belligerent patriotism – and in religion to sell their message of
threatened freedoms to anyone who needs a convenient scapegoat.
Passing “stand your ground” laws and “conceal and carry” acts
is part of their thin veneer of toughness. Sexy weapons with maximum
bling appeal are the products at hand. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">SB 140 addresses the often
abusive and discriminatory application of the existing Ohio weapons
law against knife carriers, clarifying that unless the knife/edged
tool is actually used as a weapon, it is legal to be carried.
Supporters of the bill will tell you about the need to seek uniform
regulation in the state. </span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">However, tactical knives are sold with advertisements
that call them “a must-have accessory to carry as they are tough,
reliable and easy to use, not to mention they can save your day when
doom strikes.” It is obvious that such instruments are intended to
be used as weapons. </span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">For example, on their website, Tekto knives are
marketed as such … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Here at Tekto, we take
great pleasure in staying up to date with the latest law and
regulations to make sure we all play by the rules. By doing so, you
can choose the best suitable knife without having to worry about the
legality of it.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And then, this caveat … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Tekto Gear is not, and
cannot be, a legal service provider. Use of the site does not create
a lawyer/client relationship. Laws are interpreted differently by
enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys, and judges. Tekto Gear
suggests that you consult legal counsel for guidance.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Dan D. “Ohio Laws:
Facts You Must Learn.
https://www.tektogear.com/blogs/news/ohio-knife-laws-updated-2020-facts-you-must-learn-or-risk-prosecution.
March 31, 2020.)</b></p>
<ol start="1000" type="I"><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">W. Byrne of The
Coolist writes …</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
</li></ol>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Manufacturers have done
an excellent job of finding ways of making modern switchblades that
slip through the loopholes in the laws, but even so, you can find
yourself in a mess of legal trouble if you are caught carrying,
buying, selling, importing, handling, or looking too closely at an
automatic knife. Though, if you’re like us, you just can’t help
yourself, no matter what Washington’s fat bastards have to say.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(M. W. Byrne. “The 14
Best Automatic Knives (2022 Edition): Tomorrow’s Switchblades.”
https://www.thecoolist.com/best-automatic-knives/. The <i>Coolist.</i>
2022 Edition.)</b></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincFIy-uVosLackivsCBn0PKZQtPrkh3n1Kw9gJ6CfhtZjFl5pwVm6JqmnmSRN0yVvsOCEtlHA8c90bU_F5esNSPHZLwmlveSBf5GraDQKbfCfF53vwW_kUW7Xd46HiTY4Kana4c6Og9O90idZi__0T2GrNhZKCe8bLfWqXLhtGlKAZLeHYZQpMnJ4Dw/s600/3-in-XM18_Spearpoint_BFPU387_Natural-Walnut_Ricks-Special-600x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincFIy-uVosLackivsCBn0PKZQtPrkh3n1Kw9gJ6CfhtZjFl5pwVm6JqmnmSRN0yVvsOCEtlHA8c90bU_F5esNSPHZLwmlveSBf5GraDQKbfCfF53vwW_kUW7Xd46HiTY4Kana4c6Og9O90idZi__0T2GrNhZKCe8bLfWqXLhtGlKAZLeHYZQpMnJ4Dw/s320/3-in-XM18_Spearpoint_BFPU387_Natural-Walnut_Ricks-Special-600x450.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<b>This is a very
special XM-18 3in done in the Battlefield Pickup theme. All parts of
the knife as well as the knife build itself was done exclusively by
me. The walnut handle is done in a entirely new way to further
enhance its “worn” look. All parts of the knife have been hand
worked by me to give it a very unique BPU look and feel! Also this
particular knife is serialized for both the Vintage series as well as
the BPU. VERY unique and rare! Of course my build card is included!”</b></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Rick Hinderer</b></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>$700.00</b></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-11748163327643640172022-07-05T07:41:00.000-07:002022-07-05T07:41:02.140-07:004th Of July Highland Park Massacre -- Gun Worship And Violence Sanctuaries<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gG1o84WfBe_uZ-GV6tFYDifULYbAgU5sg0sk3I92KNRUWvWwJaz37yLCkH3Ud7en_rXehHEs25Cjc1sf3Oc-fTCMnS_qVvrBETKQsKKjVZAaFGdhEV_t8iGG_MovOrDM4-ABsi36IzOjd6_xuU9A_0t2J0goQxH6-o6n0GP8Rjfu5QhMOWHLaBl38A/s1461/HIGHLANDPARK_06__1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1461" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gG1o84WfBe_uZ-GV6tFYDifULYbAgU5sg0sk3I92KNRUWvWwJaz37yLCkH3Ud7en_rXehHEs25Cjc1sf3Oc-fTCMnS_qVvrBETKQsKKjVZAaFGdhEV_t8iGG_MovOrDM4-ABsi36IzOjd6_xuU9A_0t2J0goQxH6-o6n0GP8Rjfu5QhMOWHLaBl38A/w400-h229/HIGHLANDPARK_06__1_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Again.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Again and
again.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>This time,
America's latest mass shooting turned a cherished July Fourth parade
from a scene of patriotic joy into one of fear and death.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The rapid
bursts of a high-powered rifle brought the chilling reality that no
one can be sure they are safe, anywhere, to one of the nation's most
unifying gatherings.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In that
instant, Highland Park joined Uvalde, Columbine, Newtown and Parkland
and a long list of cities and towns known across the country for the
massacre of innocents in a gun violence contagion that makes the
United States an outlier in developed societies.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>It
reflected yet another scene of normality shattered by a mass
shooting. In this case, six people who simply went out to celebrate
America on its birthday are dead. More than two dozen – aged 8 to
85, according to doctors – are injured. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><h1 align="CENTER" class="western"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>July 4 parade
slaughter again shows nowhere is safe from America's mass killing
contagion</b></span></span></h1><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>(Stephen Collinson.
“July 4 parade slaughter again shows nowhere is safe from America's
mass killing contagion.” CNN. July 5, 2022.) </b></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And once again, massive
investigations into the crime will begin, the nation will mourn the
unspeakable tragedy, and devout believers will pray for the families
and loved ones killed and injured in the senseless massacre.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But, in the aftermath of
yet another mass shooting, all of this is not enough. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No longer can we refuse to
confront the epidemic of gun violence that threatens every innocent
human being in America. We must study evidence-based solutions and
pass new measures to prevent future bloodshed. I understand no one
reform will stop all gun violence; however, I am sickened by the
continuing lack of action needed to begin sensible reform. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have actually become
tired of Christians who answer such tragedies with pleas to
God to stop the killing and then do nothing more. That is not enough,
not nearly enough. The deadly and angry intentions of those with
firearms cannot be “prayed away.” Nor will I ever believe that God intends humans to helplessly accept these vicious murders. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We must no longer be a
sanctuary of access to a Second Amendment that does not protect those
who simply wish to live in peace. The amendment belongs to all, not
just to some. Many conservatives claim it for themselves: they insist
in unrestricted rights supported by gun manufacturers, the NRA,
lobbyists, and Congresspeople who benefit from their profitable
association. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Why must we live our lives
fearing those who should not even have access to firearms? It is as
if the continual assault of pro-gun propaganda – now sexy and
testosterone-based – has inured an adoring gun culture to the ill
effects of putting weapons of mass destruction in the hands of
criminals, crazies, and killers.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWxYx9-ABfq9IZ4hDDUFXk3nfAGQ8v395ODErPFungrkRiTEa2N3eQDYpCiaqknv1aXiofbfNwiip4Ht1H9UciQGfdN2OSTyhDmJvjBvZ_g22pnP9FHd3gWyNPF9JzA-5kn0IWegjjKi1_wa-uETfmjd3KwNTeZxjeV4PRhwZeCev_Bgz8079Pv6_1w/s1200/1200x768_fusillade-fait-moins-six-morts-26-blesses-lors-defile-pres-chicago-fete-nationale-americaine-4-juillet.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1200" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWxYx9-ABfq9IZ4hDDUFXk3nfAGQ8v395ODErPFungrkRiTEa2N3eQDYpCiaqknv1aXiofbfNwiip4Ht1H9UciQGfdN2OSTyhDmJvjBvZ_g22pnP9FHd3gWyNPF9JzA-5kn0IWegjjKi1_wa-uETfmjd3KwNTeZxjeV4PRhwZeCev_Bgz8079Pv6_1w/w400-h256/1200x768_fusillade-fait-moins-six-morts-26-blesses-lors-defile-pres-chicago-fete-nationale-americaine-4-juillet.webp" width="400" /></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We now live in a robust
gun culture populated by many who refuse to assume the negative
effects of their gun worship. Once again, after this bloody 4<sup>th</sup>
of July 2022, they will prefer to ignore the obvious – the gun is
part of the deadly equation. No solution can possibly ease the
violence unless access to firearms is addressed … and, unless
actions are taken to keep deadly weapons from those bent on death and
destruction. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have waged a fight to
take even simple, symbolic steps to call attention to the need to
consider the true meaning of the “sacred” attitude toward guns in
our culture – a need to separate facts from myths and to find
compromise in the political, cultural, and religious views about
American firearms. We need to be safer, not just live in hopes that
we and our loved ones survive a life where free availability and lack
of restriction prevail. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As totems of power, guns
have been part of the salvation in our collective history. Who can
deny the role of firearms in settling the frontier, securing our
freedom from tyranny, and winning necessary wars? I understand the
pride and connection.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yet, any divine providence
today must be viewed anew. Consider that religion interacts with
race, and far-right militias employ power and bigotry in “heavenly”
disguises. And, also consider that we live in unsettled times when
some believe traditional American values are under attack. They see
the gun as protection from an unseen enemy threatening their precious
way of life. They also think any challenge to gun ownership is
unpatriotic. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And, for God's sake, the
emotion and mental state of the nation is and has been failing for
many years – especially that of young people. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">According to Mental Health
America (MHA):</span></p>
<ul><li><p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">In 2019, just prior to the COVID-19
pandemic, 19.86% of adults experienced a mental illness</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;">,
equivalent to nearly 50 million Americans.</span></p>
<p></p>
</li><li><p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Suicidal ideation continues to increase
among adults in the U.S. </span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;">4.58% of
adults report having serious thoughts of suicide, an increase of
664,000 people from last year’s dataset. The national rate of
suicidal ideation among adults has increased every year since
2011-2012. This was a larger increase than seen in last year’s
report and is a concerning trend to see going into the COVID-19
pandemic. </span>
</p>
<p></p>
</li><li><p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">A growing percentage of youth in the
U.S. live with major depression. </span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;">15.08%
of youth experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, a
1.24% increase from last year’s dataset. In the bottom-ranked
states, up to 19% of youth ages 12-17 experienced major depression. </span>
</p>
</li></ul>
<ul><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Over 2.5
million youth in the U.S. have severe depression, and multiracial
youth are at greatest risk. </span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;">10.6% of
youth in the U.S. have severe major depression (depression that
severely affects functioning). The rate of severe depression was
highest among youth who identified as more than one race, at 14.5%
(more than one in every seven multiracial youth).</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Over half of
adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment, totaling over
27 million adults in the U.S. who are going untreated.</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;">
In Hawaii, the bottom-ranked state, 67% of adults with a mental
illness did not receive treatment. Even in Vermont, the top-ranked
state in the U.S., 43% of adults experiencing a mental illness were
not receiving treatment.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">The
percentage of adults with a mental illness who report unmet need for
treatment has increased every year since 2011.</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;">
In 2019, 24.7% of adults with a mental illness report an unmet need
for treatment.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Over 60% of
youth with major depression do not receive any mental health
treatment.</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> Even in states with the
greatest access, nearly one in three are going without treatment. In
Texas, the bottom-ranked state for this indicator, nearly
three-quarters of youth with depression did not receive mental
health treatment.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Nationally,
fewer than 1 in 3 youth with severe depression receive consistent
mental health care.</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> Even among youth
with severe depression who receive some treatment, only 27% received
consistent care. In Tennessee, the bottom-ranked state, that rate is
as low as 12%. 65.6% of youth in Maine (ranked 1st) received
consistent treatment, which is 16% higher than Vermont (49.7%) which
is ranked 2nd. </span>
</p>
</li></ul>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(“The State of Mental
Health in America.”</b><i><b>
https://www.mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america.</b></i><b>
Mental Health America. 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In reality, “our
constitutional right” does not exist in a vacuum. We cannot treat
it with detachment during the proliferation and worship of guns. In other
words, the Second Amendment has consequences. The true patriot fights
against armed mobs of destruction and defies acts of murderous gun
mayhem; that patriot does not blindly support a piece of legislation
and render all reform dead. </span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">It is clear what is wrong with this detachment. While
most Republicans think they’re showing their toughness by
preventing restrictions on guns, this abstinence has become a
terrible weakness. Even discussion of the need to consider reform is
often choked by those with a gun mindset. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The rage, resentment and
extremism in 21<sup>st</sup> century America is undeniable. Also
undeniable is the fact that so many people are asked to compress
their person-hood into succinct lines and images. It is no wonder
that these often end up including guns – America’s most potent
symbol of masculinity, power and self-determination. What about those
who use the gun to exert control and even to kill in the name of
their perceived grievances? </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We no longer live in a
frontier where the gun helps us reckon with social problems. Yet,
that myth still perpetuates violence as an answer to economic
inequality, to crime and punishment, and to living a life where
packing a weapon and standing your ground is deemed necessary for
tranquility … all in a modern culture that reveres the unarmed
Sheriff of Mayberry and the single, pocketed bullet of his deputy
Barney Fife. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Maybe, just maybe … if
people would seek solutions other than defending a lie: a falsehood
that holds a constitutional amendment is untouchable and sacred, we
could all work together to defeat gun violence. Still, in my county –
Scioto, Ohio – leaders refuse to consider what rescinding a
designation of “Second Amendment Sanctuary” may symbolize to a
community caught in the throes of denial. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion </span></b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The nation's birthday in
2022 will now be forever remembered as the day a 22-year-old with
social media postings of violent gun imagery went on a deadly rampage
… and the truth that his father, a longtime deli owner who
previously ran a failed campaign for mayor of Highland Park, “liked”
a tweet his son had made that read: “Protect the Second Amendment
like your life depends on it.” </span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Who knew? It was said his family noticed “nothing
amiss” and saw “no signs of trouble.” Give me a break. They
knew this deranged criminal had no business owning a gun. We </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>all</u></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
know the drill by now. Denial and regret in the rear-view. It's time
to call it what it really “is” – irresponsible, unforgivable
behavior on the part of those who </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">worship
guns. The operating legal definition is that of “</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">accomplice</span></i></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">”
– “one who intentionally and voluntarily participates with
another in a crime by encouraging or assisting in the commission of
the crime or by failing to prevent it though under a duty to do so.”
</span></span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>"For
[a] distinct group of gun owners, gun empowerment delivers a sense of
meaning to life that neither economic status nor religious devotion
currently provide. These owners’ attachment to guns draws directly
from popular narratives concerning American masculinity, freedom,
heroism, power, and independence. In turn, owners who feel more
emotionally and morally empowered by their guns are more likely to
think that guns can solve social problems and make communities safer,
and that citizens are sometimes justified in taking violent action
against the government."</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">(Mencken
FC, Froese P. “Gun culture in action.” </span><em><span style="font-size: small;">Social
Problems</span></em><span style="font-size: small;"> 2017, 0:1–25.) </span></b></span></span>
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjVSl2Vm6EN4FFnRiLNlIb7CZcAShMxhh-89G8zSOVJHM8W552Ep76Z4G5dM35F1DHCeHpMG8PbwEG-pJqAMO34gFW6ksdkhxVdzoACQcF6brk4zzXArFCxmDfsbFPjAZ7ZZe3fsPEDZ7UAlalklmDHoJEDwTXIgvsCe-CkeC4n7qThZefQk_E0NEFg/s1470/20130123-nra-worship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="1470" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjVSl2Vm6EN4FFnRiLNlIb7CZcAShMxhh-89G8zSOVJHM8W552Ep76Z4G5dM35F1DHCeHpMG8PbwEG-pJqAMO34gFW6ksdkhxVdzoACQcF6brk4zzXArFCxmDfsbFPjAZ7ZZe3fsPEDZ7UAlalklmDHoJEDwTXIgvsCe-CkeC4n7qThZefQk_E0NEFg/w400-h314/20130123-nra-worship.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-85433947459095313292022-07-04T06:33:00.000-07:002022-07-04T06:33:22.718-07:0010-Year-Old Raped In Ohio Forced To Go To Indiana For Abortion<p>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPJ7szne0zYYupFo2VgMxH3tahlMNgmmngzZIkiCkWyB9MrkEHk2vlpxeuFJe9qY1WrlnlWsrqS7FBRIGGJx5IXI04R7RQQpePP9n-lIMCPM6a8URSxsklkP7_Fz5osjDXI3FxLhfjvJW_2o38vmkRz4MCbKfrd2FcNd3a57UWy-RISsY2mjoyBgCag/s800/abortion-protesters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="800" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPJ7szne0zYYupFo2VgMxH3tahlMNgmmngzZIkiCkWyB9MrkEHk2vlpxeuFJe9qY1WrlnlWsrqS7FBRIGGJx5IXI04R7RQQpePP9n-lIMCPM6a8URSxsklkP7_Fz5osjDXI3FxLhfjvJW_2o38vmkRz4MCbKfrd2FcNd3a57UWy-RISsY2mjoyBgCag/s320/abortion-protesters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span>
<p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A
10-year-old rape victim in Ohio was denied an abortion, sparking
outrage online as many Republican-led states strip away reproductive
rights following the Supreme Court's overruling of Roe v. Wade. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Sheena</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><div dir="LTR" id="id__fuqm62n84z">
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>@MomSheenanigans</b></span></span></p>
</div><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><div dir="LTR" id="id__wuwt38nqjtd">
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>GOP: Maybe she should
use protection if she didn't want to get pregnant. </b></span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>D: she was raped </b></span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>GOP: *switches talk
track* what was she wearing? </b></span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>D: she's 10. </b></span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>GOP: *checks notes*
this is a blessing from God </b></span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>MONSTERS</b></span></span></p>
</div><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Gavi Begtrup</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><div dir="LTR" id="id__mh6ynxrkd8">
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>@GaviBegtrup</b></span></span></p>
</div><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><div dir="LTR" id="id__f9ssr6pswg">
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A 10-year-old girl is
raped. The State forces her to remain pregnant and tells her to
consider it an “opportunity.” </b></span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>This isn’t Iran.
This isn’t Gilead. This isn’t hypothetical. </b></span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>This happened today in
Ohio.</b></span></span></p>
</div><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>(Andrew Stanton.
“'She's 10': Child Rape Victim's Abortion Denial Sparks Outrage on
Twitter.” <i>Newsweek</i>. July 02, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ohio has outlawed abortion
just weeks after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. And,
meanwhile, physicians in neighboring Indiana described an influx of
out-of-state patients seeking care. Among them: a pregnant
10-year-old.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dr. Caitlin Bernard, an
Indianapolis obstetrician-gynecologist, told the</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>
Indianapolis Star </i></span><span style="font-size: medium;">that just three days after
the federal right to an abortion was reversed she received a call
from a colleague, a child abuse doctor in Ohio, who needed her help. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The physician had a
pregnant patient – a 10-year-old who got pregnant after getting
raped – who could no longer legally undergo the procedure in her
home state. The girl was six weeks and three days pregnant when Dr.
Bernard was contacted, the</span><em><span style="font-size: medium;"> Indianapolis Star</span></em><span style="font-size: medium;">,
reported. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Could Bernard help?</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Indiana lawmakers are
poised to further restrict or ban abortion in mere weeks. The Indiana
General Assembly will convene in a special session July 25 when it
will discuss restrictions to abortion policy along with inflation
relief.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But for now, the procedure
is still is legal here. And so the girl soon was on her way to
Indiana to Bernard's care.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Shari Rudavsky and
Rachel Fradette. “As Ohio restricts abortions, 10-year-old girl
travels to Indiana for procedure.”<i> Indianapolis Star</i>. July
01, 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since Friday, the abortion
clinics where Dr. Katie McHugh, an independent
obstetrician-gynecologists works have seen “an insane amount of
requests” from pregnant people in Kentucky and Ohio, where it is
far more difficult to get an abortion.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">For now, Indiana abortion providers have been
fielding more calls from neighboring states. Typically about five to
eight patients a day might hail from out of state, said McHugh, who
works at multiple clinics in central and southern Indiana. Now, the
clinics are seeing about 20 such patients a day.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kentucky patients have
been coming to Indiana in higher numbers since earlier this spring
when more restrictive laws took effect there, McHugh said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">A similar dynamic is at play at Women’s Med, a
medical center that performs abortions in Indianapolis that has a
sister center in Dayton, Ohio. In the past week, they have doubled
the number of patients they treat for a complete procedure, accepting
many referrals from their Ohio counterpart.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">More than 100 patients in
Dayton had to be scheduled at the Indianapolis facility, a
representative for Women’s Med, wrote in an email to<i> IndyStar</i>.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Women and pregnant people
are “crying, distraught, desperate, thankful and appreciative,”
the representative wrote. </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Shari Rudavsky and
Rachel Fradette. “As Ohio restricts abortions, 10-year-old girl
travels to Indiana for procedure.”<i> Indianapolis Star</i>. July
01, 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Other nearby states,
including Illinois, where abortion is likely to remain legal, are
bracing for an influx of patients seeking care from nearby states
where the procedure is more heavily restricted, including Ohio,
Kentucky, and Missouri.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Planned Parenthood
Illinois expects the state will see an additional 20,000 to 30,000
patients overall crossing its border to receive abortions each year.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEQRk_cyaGRahuHrtmgSg3vI2N_xYqwGYtyhe7tsUxvOlhFrJETgQda_K526P6OL5DkdZaJA2whIQ6dAEV2F7AXRbD-rqU8a6_kx6x140Yw_bk7G7MPtwFJFaOkOrvp-cfyHnply0xZ8xYcP33RcLWauasLvt6HSMNCXBhxfBNu1nUzToUGXpO9EcAA/s1024/abortion_Ohio.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEQRk_cyaGRahuHrtmgSg3vI2N_xYqwGYtyhe7tsUxvOlhFrJETgQda_K526P6OL5DkdZaJA2whIQ6dAEV2F7AXRbD-rqU8a6_kx6x140Yw_bk7G7MPtwFJFaOkOrvp-cfyHnply0xZ8xYcP33RcLWauasLvt6HSMNCXBhxfBNu1nUzToUGXpO9EcAA/w400-h266/abortion_Ohio.webp" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For decades, about 75
percent of Americans have consistently told pollsters that abortion
should be legal in cases of rape and incest. But many of the measures
now set to take effect do away with such exceptions.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Gallup's
May 1-10 Values and Beliefs poll (2018), are similar to the prior
update, in 2012, as well as to Gallup's first measure of this
question, in 1996.) </b></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Elaine Godfrey, staff
writer at <i>The Atlantic</i>, wrote … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">President Ronald Reagan
detested abortion but endorsed exceptions for rape in the 1980s;
George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump all also
indicated their support for the measures. The National Right to Life
Committee supported legislation that included exceptions in the
1990s. Even the Hyde Amendment, the federal law that prohibits
federal funds from being used to pay for abortions, has long
contained these exceptions.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">In the past few years,
though, the anti-abortion movement has moved in a different
direction. In 2019, Alabama legislators passed an abortion ban that
lacked rape and incest exceptions. Nine other states—Arkansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Tennessee, and Texas—have passed similar laws. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">But
Republicans have plowed ahead anyway, confident that they’re on the
right side of this issue not only morally, but politically. Maybe a
lack of exceptions for rape is not the poison pill it once was.
'We’ve seen state legislatures adopt restriction after restriction
and ban after ban, and these legislators remain in power,' Elizabeth
Nash, a policy analyst at the Guttmacher Institute, which supports
abortion rights, told me. 'It doesn’t feel like there are any
consequences for them.'” </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Elaine
Godfrey. “The GOP’s Strange Turn Against Rape Exceptions.” <i>The
Atlantic</i>. May 04, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Republicans
have increased their opposition despite the fact that obtaining an
abortion under a rape or incest exception is difficult. Many states
require rape survivors to file a police report to qualify. “These
exceptions don’t do the job that people think they’re going to
do,” Nash said. But the trend toward blanket abortion bans signals
a clear shift in the anti-abortion movement. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Banning
all abortions, even in cases of rape and incest, is ideologically
consistent, the bans’ proponents argue: If abortion is murder, why
would murder be acceptable in any instance? “We don’t issue birth
certificates in the United States with a ratings system based on how
someone was conceived,” said Kristi Hamrick, a spokesperson for the
anti-abortion group Students for Life. “Clearly crimes must be
fully prosecuted, and women [must be] helped. But we mourn as well
for the preborn, who also suffer.” </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Godfrey
concludes … </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">The
anti-abortion-rights movement still seeks to portray itself as
advocating for pregnant women, rather than seeking to punish them,
and leaps into damage-control mode if its allies suggest otherwise. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">During
his primary campaign in 2016, for example, Donald Trump suggested in
a town-hall interview with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews that women should
face 'some sort of punishment' for obtaining an abortion. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Republicans
and leaders of the anti-abortion movement pushed back immediately.
'No pro-lifer would ever want to punish a woman who has chosen
abortion,' said Jeanne Mancini, the president of the March for Life
Education and Defense Fund. 'We invite a woman who has gone down this
route to consider paths to healing, not punishment.'”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Elaine
Godfrey. “The GOP’s Strange Turn Against Rape Exceptions.” <i>The
Atlantic</i>. May 04, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Trump, realizing that he
had entered politically iffy territory, retracted his statement.
Abortion bans seek to punish providers, rather than people who seek
out the procedure. But this political third rail may be losing its
charge too. Several women have recently been arrested and jailed in
cases involving self-induced abortions. “If abortion is murder,
then women are hiring the hitmen,” Carol Sanger, a professor at
Columbia Law School who studies reproductive rights, told me. “It’s
not logically impossible to get to that position.” </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With Roe v. Wade being
overturned, women … girls … who travel to other states to get an
abortion are protected … I guess, for now. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Under bedrock
constitutional principles, women who reside in states that have
banned access to comprehensive reproductive care must remain free to
seek that care in states where it is legal,” U.S. Attorney General
Merrick Garland said in a recent statement.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="NXlh4M"></a><span style="font-size: medium;">Middlebury
College economics professor Caitlin Myers looked into the data on
access to abortion facilities around the country, and predicted in
May that about 24 percent of women who’d like an abortion would be
unable to reach a provider in the affected states, under the new
laws, and that three-quarters of those women would give birth in the
first year after a Roe reversal. Myers’s analysis assumes
one-fourth of abortion seekers who can’t get out of their state
might be able to get the procedure through other means. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="rpMeol"></a><span style="font-size: medium;">Assuming
that the number of people seeking abortions in the affected states in
the next year is the same as those who got abortions in 2019 (the
most recent year for which we have data), about two in 10 women
hoping to stop their pregnancy would have to give birth in the next
12 months. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I believe no 10-year-old
child should be forced to have children. The stance of those who
support abortion bans is echoed by people like South Dakota Governor
Kristi Noem, who was challenged Sunday about her stance on exempting
rape victims from her state's abortion ban after this Ohio girl was
raped, and was then denied an abortion. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">CNN's State of The Union
host Dana Bash asked Noem: "Will the state of South Dakota going
forward force a 10-year-old in that very same situation to have a
baby?" Noem generally skirted the answer after calling the
pregnancy a “tragedy.” </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The governor made a
similar remark a week earlier when CBS' Face the Nation host Margaret
Brennan asked her whether or not she is open to exceptions for rape
and incest when it comes to abortion. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I just have never
believed that having a tragedy or tragic situation happen to someone
is a reason to have another tragedy occur," Noem responded. "I
believe every life is precious.”</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Another
tragedy occur”? How about the fragile life of the 10-year-old
victim now forced to deal with the aftermath of an unspeakable,
heinous crime? Ohio gave the family no choice to end the product of
the act. The heartbeat law assumed a viable human being was alive at
six weeks.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Ohio GOP doesn't even
use science to reinforce their position. Although some people might
picture a heart-shaped organ beating inside a fetus, this is not the
case. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At 6 weeks, an embryo does
not have a fully formed heart. Rather, it has a cluster of cells
(that eventually forms into a heart) that emits electrical signals,
which can be detected on an ultrasound. This flutter happens because
the group of cells that will become the future "pacemaker"
of the heart gain the capacity to fire electrical signals. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But the heart is far from
fully formed at this stage, and the "beat" isn't audible;
if doctors put a stethoscope up to a woman's belly this early on in
her pregnancy, they would not hear a heartbeat. (What's more, it
isn't until the eighth week of pregnancy that the baby is called a
fetus; prior to that, it's still considered an embryo, according to
the Cleveland Clinic.)</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The heart of a fetus is
fully developed by the 10th week</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Kloesel B, DiNardo JA,
Body SC. “Cardiac Embryology and Molecular Mechanisms of Congenital
Heart Disease: A Primer for Anesthesiologists.”<i> Anesth Analg</i>.
2016 September; 123(3):551-69.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Denying choice in
instances of pregnancy such as this is draconian. The intrusion of
this so-called “morality” is certain to wreck lives and force
terrible negative medical effects. What do these lawmakers want by
enacting such legislation – a right to life or an open invitation
to child abuse? It makes me wonder if these “no exception
anti-abortionists” have a heartbeat themselves – a vital
pulsation to animate their desire to protect the living … in this
case, an elementary student they deemed capable of motherhood. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They say it is the
Christian response. How so in the cases of rape and incest? And, the
fact is justice, equality, and compassion is about much more than
elimination of the right to choose. Real life is often messy,
complicated, and so dependent upon circumstance. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Michael Coren, author and
columnist for <i>The Toronto Star</i> who is ordained in the Anglican
Church of Canada, reminds us … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Abortion rates drop
when contraceptives are made freely available, modern sex education
is taught, paternity payments enforced, women empowered, universal
child care provided and poverty combatted. That, and not cruel
prohibition, should be the authentic Christian response.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Michael Coren. “Does
Christianity condemn abortion? That’s not what the Bible says.”
<i>The Globe and Mail</i>. June 29, 2022.)</b></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b> <br /></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisp0ZyVlIakBULr3d4DQKuvvkPchqxnwLhWz-7FJCY9BphpViLFSOSuflnIzQvg3SoDL1bWxtvPEfo0PBwSQXnKC_XzULE3tOdNl5BRugrJ7m02f7oqXfgUyp-TuiA59hTMxYbGnDd6nueOGlQLWsiGyGCVB1g2kPx6aHev9cTHVEbzNaUtZkjCVbS1Q/s850/rapeoutlook2_570_850_1000x667_570_850_(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="850" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisp0ZyVlIakBULr3d4DQKuvvkPchqxnwLhWz-7FJCY9BphpViLFSOSuflnIzQvg3SoDL1bWxtvPEfo0PBwSQXnKC_XzULE3tOdNl5BRugrJ7m02f7oqXfgUyp-TuiA59hTMxYbGnDd6nueOGlQLWsiGyGCVB1g2kPx6aHev9cTHVEbzNaUtZkjCVbS1Q/w400-h266/rapeoutlook2_570_850_1000x667_570_850_(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-80532941245851699662022-07-02T10:43:00.001-07:002022-07-02T10:43:19.771-07:00July 4 Declaration of Independence -- Who Wrote Those Beautiful Words?<p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeReJ4_1fyOh9oChllVmsRK6bNYyYMl9G8MLOKJnc3pQJp77O3mLvs5ntHXDgv2Szmf72_3tXVb_obC5MjVCNVduz9bk71keOW-lTNtrXdmRz9-JEj7p7iCHfUjgQMiQpUiEJkMTfHj3Zs9OhT0t2gIOLfQLFdHkbRZhPnxxEfTV52FucKzOhK4veUQ/s1220/TimothyMatlack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="1220" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeReJ4_1fyOh9oChllVmsRK6bNYyYMl9G8MLOKJnc3pQJp77O3mLvs5ntHXDgv2Szmf72_3tXVb_obC5MjVCNVduz9bk71keOW-lTNtrXdmRz9-JEj7p7iCHfUjgQMiQpUiEJkMTfHj3Zs9OhT0t2gIOLfQLFdHkbRZhPnxxEfTV52FucKzOhK4veUQ/w640-h158/TimothyMatlack.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Penmanship (the
Declaration of Independence, 1776). </b>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">This
July 4, 2022, I want to pose a simple question: Who wrote the
Declaration of Independence?</span></strong></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Thomas
Jefferson, right?</span></strong></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">The
word “</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>wrote</i></span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">”
has multiple meanings. While Jefferson can be credited with
authorship of many of the eloquent and persuasive passages in the
proclamation, Timothy Matlack is the scribe who formed characters and
symbols on the surface of the declaration parchment. </span></strong></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Timothy
Matlack's impeccable handwriting adorns the official, signed
parchment on display in the National Archives Rotunda.</span></strong></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Did I ask
you a trick question? No, not at all. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Did
Matlack's writing even matter? </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>You better
believe it. Matlack gave the most celebrated declaration of freedom
authentic readability, and he was greatly instrumental in its widespread
distribution and public appeal. </b></span></span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><em><span style="font-style: normal;">(Jessie
Kratz. “The Power of Penmanship: Writing the Declaration of
Independence.”
</span></em><em><i>https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2021/07/01/the-power-of-penmanship-writing-the-declaration-of-independence/</i></em><em><span style="font-style: normal;">.
National Archives July 1, 2021.)</span></em></b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Penmanship</strong></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Penmanship in the colonial
era – when only some Americans had the opportunity to learn how to
read and write – was a necessary skill for carrying out one’s
professional and social duties. Since these tasks differed by social
standing and gender, so too did the style of writing a person would
learn. Merchants employed a thin, loopy script that was both quick
and assured, whereas wealthier men projected a sense of leisure
through handwriting that seemed effortless.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The National Archives
reports that fewer women than men learned to write in the 18th
century. Among the elite members of colonial American society, women
who did receive penmanship instruction learned a flowing style whose
light touch and varying thickness gave a pleasing appearance that
could be embellished further with decorative shading.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Standardization and
formality have long been hallmarks of official documentation, such as
legal or government papers. For this reason, the mastery of fine
handwriting became a profession itself, and the craftsmen who
expertly transcribed texts for hire were called “penman.” The
mark of “good” penmanship was its artful appearance. Fine letter
formation instilled trust and so carried an importance equal to what
the words actually said.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The printing press shrank
the demand for professional scribes in the mid-18th century. Indeed,
the Second Continental Congress turned to Philadelphia printer John
Dunlap to publish the Declaration of Independence in the form of a
broadside several weeks before commissioning an engrossed version on
parchment.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So the Archives records …
</span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">On the evening of July
4, 1776, Dunlap printed the first edition of the proclamation for
entry in the <i>Rough Journal of the Continental Congress</i>.
Additional broadsides went to the states and troops to publicly
announce and explain the reasons for the delegates’ decision to
break away from Great Britain. While the exact number Dunlap printed
remains unknown, it is thought that he made around 200 copies. The
Dunlap Broadside at the National Archives is one of only 26 copies
known to survive.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Given the speed,
clarity, and wide distribution of the printed broadside, why did the
Second Continental Congress order an engrossed version of the
Declaration of Independence be made a few weeks later, on July 19?
The preparation of the document in a large, clear hand denoted that
this version was the official copy, the one that would bear the
delegates’ signatures. Signing the Declaration became as important
as the votes cast in Congress to approve the measure. The Declaration
of Independence was an act of treason against the British Crown; the
document acknowledges this at the end with the words: 'we mutually
pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.'”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Jessie
Kratz. “The Power of Penmanship: Writing the Declaration of
Independence.”
</span></span></em><em><span style="font-size: small;"><i>https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2021/07/01/the-power-of-penmanship-writing-the-declaration-of-independence/.</i></span></em><em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
National Archives July 1, 2021.)</span></span></em></b></span></p>
<p align="CENTER"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Post
thanks to Breanne Robertson, Education Specialist in the Museum
Programs Division in Washington, DC.) </span></span></em></b></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Matlack,
who was an assistant to the Secretary of the Second Continental
Congress, set to work with parchment, ink, and quill to transcribe
the document using a patrician style called English round hand or
Copperplate. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Although
the printing press began to replace handwritten documents at this
time, Matlack’s handwritten document lends a sense of elegance,
authority, and – most important – anonymity to the Declaration of
Independence. The purpose of the document is to justify American
independence and raise support for an independent United States, both
within the colonies and abroad. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
formality and skill of the engrossed copy strengthened the
persuasiveness of the Declaration by distancing its arguments from
any individual. The document not only helped protect the identities
of the signers – the names were kept secret until 1777 – but it
also announced the official standing of the new government by giving
sophisticated visual expression to its collective voice. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Timothy
Matlack remains a minor character in the story of American
independence despite the physical trace of his hand being clearly
visible in every word of the Declaration of Independence. To be sure,
the very concealment of his identity speaks to the artistry of his
pen. Let's celebrate Matlack – they guy who gave the Declaration of
Independence its distinctive and artistic Copperplate style –
symbolic forever as a masterpiece of American human design. </span></p><p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKIwjx7XmFlemREWPh5nb7U3w4wUMC4QgimUnplqozwQg1Yh3Bl34u2rQmVM5dw-GvoVs3GNnMR7d_L_OyWZXdPYGi7KgSKV8lUkYJqfSMXNeRR-jZ0xNYBIwQb8G2hsdeR-1D0hHUTQEeo29UXZ2SBPDrayVOjFkoQ5Cs5jcq2aFRKTag_2UHRzYzw/s549/matlack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKIwjx7XmFlemREWPh5nb7U3w4wUMC4QgimUnplqozwQg1Yh3Bl34u2rQmVM5dw-GvoVs3GNnMR7d_L_OyWZXdPYGi7KgSKV8lUkYJqfSMXNeRR-jZ0xNYBIwQb8G2hsdeR-1D0hHUTQEeo29UXZ2SBPDrayVOjFkoQ5Cs5jcq2aFRKTag_2UHRzYzw/w320-h400/matlack.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<p></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Who Was
Timothy Matlack?</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The “power of the
written word” and the “artistry of the pen” – these are
beautiful phrases that speak volumes to me. This little-known story
is about the real thing – the ink, the paper, the physical
declaration that we all cherish. And, above all, the man with the
penmanship who was chosen to craft the news of independence for all
the masses to see. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Early on, Matlack's story
is as colorful and intriguing as that of any founding father. In the
spirit of the 4<sup>th</sup>, allow me to share some of it with you.
It is a story of a common man, a person caught up in the times and
willing to stand for freedom</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Timothy Matlack was born
on March 28, 1736 in Haddonfield, New Jersey. His family moved to
Philadelphia eight years later. At the age of thirteen, Timothy
began an apprenticeship under a prosperous Quaker merchant named John
Reynell. Looking forward to a bright future, Matlack enthusiastically
signed his contract with characteristic looping flourishes. </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Chris
Coelho. “Timothy Matlack, Scribe of the Declaration of
Independence.”
<i>https://allthingsliberty.com/2021/08/timothy-matlack-scribe-of-the-declaration-of-independence/.
Journal of the American Revolution.</i> August 24, 2021.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But then disaster struck
his family. His father, Timothy Sr., was a brewer who fell into debt,
and the court ordered the seizure of his brewery and household goods.
A last-minute agreement allowed the continued use of the property but
with a new man in charge: Timothy’s half-brother, Reuben Haines.
Timothy’s father drank himself to death soon thereafter and his
younger brothers were admitted to a charity school as “poor
scholars.” </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After completing the term
of his apprenticeship in 1758, Timothy Matlack married Ellen Yarnall,
the daughter of a Quaker minister. Matlack became such a devout
Quaker that some people considered him a candidate for the ministry.
Timothy and Ellen had four children, the youngest of whom would be
killed in a battle at sea during the Revolution. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="_ednref1"></a><span style="font-size: medium;">In
1759, Benjamin Franklin, as a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly,
hired Matlack to transcribe onto parchment a massive petition to the
King-in-Council regarding Indian affairs.[1] In 1760, Matlack
opened a mercantile (selling cloths and hardware).</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 1765 the Society of
Friends complained that Matlack had become negligent in attending
meetings for worship, instead “frequenting company in such a manner
as to spend too much time away from home.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Notice of disownment
issued by Philadelphia Monthly Meeting to Timothy Matlack, July 26,
1765 reprinted in A.M. Stackhouse, Col. Timothy Matlack: Patriot and
Soldie – privately printed, 1910.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">His new companions kept
him away from not only home and church, but also work. He was
disowned by the Quakers and his business failed. He was in debtor’s
prison on two occasions, each for about a month. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Matlack had been raised to
live with Quaker simplicity and earn a living in a lucrative trade.
But he found himself more interested in the weight of a prize cow, or
the length of a racecourse, than the price of linen in London. After
his father’s business failure and untimely death, he had found
consolation in his faith. But now, after his own fiasco and his
mother’s death, he filled the emptiness in the taverns. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yet he did not fall into
the abyss. In the alehouses he found an appealing world where men
talked trade, politics, and sport over rounds of beer, wine, and rum
punch. This was a time of fascination with the public world, and
Matlack eagerly joined in these discussions. His friendly manner
earned him popularity and acceptance. He discovered an identity which
saved him from this second crisis. He was becoming a public man.
Matlack’s embrace of public life led to his leadership role in town
meetings and committees during the climactic years leading to the
Revolution. The first Continental Congress was only ten years away.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fortunately, Timothy’s
half-brother Reuben transformed the old Matlack operation into Haines
and Twells, the largest brewery and malt house in Philadelphia.
Timothy had his own brewery and bottled beer operation at the “old
Brew-House” on Sixth Street, near the State House. He stamped his
corks TIM MATLACK PHILAD.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(</b></span></sup></em><em><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pennsylvania
Gazette</b></span></em><span style="font-size: small;"><b>, May 8, 1766.)</b></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Quakers condoned the moderate consumption of beer,
which was made from their barley. But they complained bitterly about
“the increase in vice occasioned by the enormous increase of
taverns and tippling houses.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Peter Thompson. <i>Rum
Punch and Revolution: Taverngoing and Public Life in
Eighteenth-Century.</i> Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania
Press, 1999.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Society of Friends
ordered its members not to run horse races or gamble on sports, “for
our time swiftly passes away.” For Timothy Matlack and his friends,
horse racing was a passion. In the taverns, horse talk reached a
fever pitch in the days before Philadelphia’s spring and fall
races, which attracted aristocrats from New York and Maryland. A
sport equally popular in the middle and southern colonies, among rich
and poor alike, was cockfighting. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 1770 Philadelphia
hosted a big intercolonial cockmain that pitted a wealthy visitor
against a local man of humble origins. On Tuesday, March 6, a clear
sunny day, “James Delancey Esq from New York, and Timothy Matlack,
had a great cockfight at Richeson’s on Germantown road.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Jacob Hiltzheimer Diaries, March 6,
1770, American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. APS.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Spectators drank and
gambled, and the day ended in a massive brawl. Throughout his
political career, Matlack’s enemies took every opportunity to
remind people of his link to this discredited sport, as well as to
the Black men who were also enthusiastic participants. As the Tory
poet Jonathan Odell ridiculed, “game-cocks and negroes were his
whole delight.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER"><sup><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(</b></span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jonathan
Odell, ed. </b></span><em><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Loyal Verses of Joseph
Stansbury and Doctor Jonathan Odell. </b></span></em><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Albany:
J. Munsell, 1860,)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nevertheless, Matlack’s
central role in this infamous cockfight earned him a high approval
rating across a large swath of regular Philadelphians. His newfound
popularity also created social opportunities. In February 1774, he
officiated at a patriotic gathering at a slaughterhouse. Timothy
recorded the exact weight of each section of a prize steer owned by
his friend Jacob Hiltzheimer, and authenticated those figures with
the notation that the cow had been “weighed and measured in the
presence of T Matlack.” Two days later, the Hiltzheimers and
Matlacks dined on beefsteaks. Matlack’s toast was as follows: “Let
the friends of America be fed on such beef and may her enemies long
for it and be disappointed.” </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER"><b>(Jacob Hiltzheimer.</b><i><b> Extracts from the
Diary of Jacob Hiltzheimer, of Philadelphia, 1768-1798</b></i><b>.
February 1767, APS.)</b></p><p align="CENTER"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOYRcSlxP93MGUhmIlPg9mQF60tfURs4m2Xh76mYIDmCLFLxKB4UcpuV-eXVJLbJ9ucEvvJxeL1rwcMF_CLaydKcQfR87go0oADkb1Wr4KoQzw7pOptIuAhVFs4wfmD89L2zUNd--Utt5zFxHs71ItcL1O0nNCtEdrDlE4j12OzwU3SzHLZ28nk-ppw/s650/Screenshot%202022-07-02%20at%2012-45-59%20DECLARATION%20OF%20INDEPENDENCE%20%E2%80%93%20In%20Congress%20July%204%201776.%20The%20Unanimous%20Declaration%20of%20the%20Thirteen%20United%20States%20of%20America.%20When%20in%20the%20Course%20of%20Human%20Events...%20Washington%20engraved%5B...%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="549" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOYRcSlxP93MGUhmIlPg9mQF60tfURs4m2Xh76mYIDmCLFLxKB4UcpuV-eXVJLbJ9ucEvvJxeL1rwcMF_CLaydKcQfR87go0oADkb1Wr4KoQzw7pOptIuAhVFs4wfmD89L2zUNd--Utt5zFxHs71ItcL1O0nNCtEdrDlE4j12OzwU3SzHLZ28nk-ppw/w541-h640/Screenshot%202022-07-02%20at%2012-45-59%20DECLARATION%20OF%20INDEPENDENCE%20%E2%80%93%20In%20Congress%20July%204%201776.%20The%20Unanimous%20Declaration%20of%20the%20Thirteen%20United%20States%20of%20America.%20When%20in%20the%20Course%20of%20Human%20Events...%20Washington%20engraved%5B...%5D.png" width="541" /></a><b> <br /></b></b></div><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Revolution In
Philadelphia </b></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="_ednref8"></a><span style="font-size: medium;">On
October 25, 1774, the First Continental Congress resolved to send a
formal address to the king asking for his royal attention to “the
grievances that alarm and distress his Majesty’s faithful subjects
in North America.”[8] Secretary Charles Thomson assigned the
urgent task of engrossing two copies of the address to Timothy
Matlack. Matlack had these ready to sign the next day, the last day
of Congress. In January 1775, the first copy was laid before the
House of Commons and the second copy laid before the House of Lords.
Both were promptly ignored. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="_ednref9"></a><span style="font-size: medium;">The
Second Continental Congress convened on May 10, 1775, and five days
later Samuel Ward of Rhode Island noted, “The Secretary allowed to
employ Timothy Matlack as clerk under an oath of secrecy.”[9] On
June 15, Congress appointed George Washington to be general and
commander-in-chief of the army of the United Colonies, and Matlack
penned the formal commission. Besides being busy in Congress, Matlack
was also a rising local leader: that summer, he was elected to
Philadelphia’s powerful committee of inspection. This was one of
the bodies that formed across the colonies, by order of the first
Congress, to enforce the boycott of British goods. Matlack was also
named secretary of the committee of militia officers. </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER"><b>(Samuel Ward Diary, May 15, 1775, in <em>Letters
of Members of the Continental Congress </em>(Washington, DC:
Carnegie institution of Washington, 1921.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Matlack’s committee of
inspection was gaining power by force of the militia and the people
at large. In late February, his board announced a convention that
would authorize new Assembly seats and write new instructions.
Philadelphia’s elite was shocked by this volley. Joseph Shippen
complained:“Tim Matlack and a number of other violent wrongheaded
people of the inferior class have been the Chief Promoters of this
wild Scheme; and it was opposed by the few Gentlemen belonging to the
Committee—but they were outvoted by a great majority.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(David F. Hawke.
<i>Benjamin Rush; Revolutionary Gadfly.</i> Indianapolis:
Bobbs-Merrill, 1971.) </b>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Skipping ahead
… Congress declared independence on July 4, 1776 and Matlack may
have been the first to read the Declaration in public that day. After
New York agreed to independence on July 9, Congress ordered the
Declaration “fairly engrossed on parchment” and “signed by
every member of Congress.” Secretary Thomson assigned this to
Timothy Matlack. The result was the famous signed Declaration of
Independence.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
scribe of the Declaration of Independence was also, perhaps, the
first man to read it in public. Matlack was truly a man of action.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Historical Note:</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Timothy Matlack served as the clerk
to the secretary to the Second Continental Congress, Charles
Thompson. Matlack got the job after selling a few cases of Madeira
wine to his neighbor, Benjamin Franklin, who, discovering Matlack's
facility with calligraphy and penmanship, hired him as a scrivener.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Matlack's enthusiasm for rebellion
was palpable. When the Continental Congress approved the Declaration
of Independence on July 4, 1776, Timothy Matlack, serving as clerk,
grabbed the text, ran to the steps of the State House and read the
proclamation aloud to a gathering of citizens of Philadelphia. This
was the first public presentation of the decision of the Continental
Congress. Two weeks later, after the New York delegation finally
assented to the Declaration, Timothy Matlack, known to the Congress
for his expert penmanship, was assigned the task of "engrossing"
the official document. Matlack finished the task in short order and
on August 2, the final document - the one that was sent to King
George III and the one that is on display in the National Archives in
Washington, DC - was signed by John Hancock and the rest of the
founding fathers. </b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Matlack was unlike the others
gathered to declare independence from England. He was far from elite
or wealthy. Matlack further alienated himself from the wealthy Quaker
businessmen of Philadelphia by publicly criticizing them for holding
slaves. Finally, of course, Matlack favored war with England, while
Quakers abjured all wars.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Timothy Matlack offended many in his
day. He does not fit comfortably alongside our other founding
fathers, but if today we are going to continue the fight for true
equality, true democracy, we, like Matlack, are going to have to
offend many, too. </b>
</p>
<div dir="LTR" id="main">
<div dir="LTR" id="Blog1">
<h3 align="CENTER" class="western"><a name="4810313720003218527"></a><span style="font-size: small;">(Russ
Walsh. “We Hold These Truths: Timothy Matlack and the Declaration
of Independence.” <i>Russ On Reading</i>. July 4, 2016.) </span>
</h3>
</div>
</div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So it was that Timothy
Matlack was so much more than a scribe. He joined the Philadelphia
Militia as a Colonel and led them across the Delaware River with
Washington’s Army. Matlack was also elected to the Continental
Congress. After a year in that position, he took on several
positions, including surveying large tracks of Pennsylvania.
Additionally, he became one of the earliest abolitionists in the
United States and was a major reason Pennsylvania became the first
State to outlaw slavery. Eventually Matlack retired to a house in
Lancaster where he became known for his peach orchard. He spent his
golden years as America’s most respected grower of that tasty
fruit.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Harvard professor of
political science Danielle Allen spoke of the elegance of Matlack’s
work in creating the finest rendering of the Declaration. She
described how Matlack made his impact as he drew up the formal
document: “Editorializing on the parchment with capitalization,
punctuation, and flourishes, Matlack too helped write the
Declaration. Of all the copies, this one, Matlack’s parchment
manuscript was the most important.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER"><b>(Danielle Allen. <em>Our Declaration: A Reading of
the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality. </em>New
York: W.W. Norton & Co. 2014.) </b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chris Coelho in “Timothy
Matlack, Scribe of the Declaration of Independence” printed in the
<i>Journal of the American Revolution</i> says … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">As the man who
engrossed the Declaration of Independence, Timothy Matlack should
have a place in American lore. But as one contemporary adversary
predicted, Matlack was scrubbed from history. Historian Gary Nash
writes that in the nineteenth century the radicals of 1776 were
ignored by Philadelphia’s archivists and librarians. Further,</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">'The papers of the
radicals were lost or never preserved, and most of the officers of
the collecting institutions were as suspicious of ordinary people
elected to high places as were those who, at the time, deplored the
1776 [Pennsylvania] Constitution.'</span></p>
<p align="CENTER"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">(Gary B. Nash. </span><em><span style="font-size: small;">First
City: Philadelphia and the Forging of Historical Memory.
</span></em><span style="font-size: small;">Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania
Press, 2006.)</span></b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nash concluded that the
conservative establishment disapproved of the radicals’ desire for
“a thorough reformation of American society in the interest of
greater equality.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most prominent among those
given the cold historical shoulder was Thomas Paine. The nineteenth
century was nearly over before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
got around to purchasing a copy of Common Sense for its collection.
The copy was the very one “owned by Paine’s radical,
warm-tempered compatriot, Timothy Matlack.” </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Chris Coelho. “Timothy
Matlack, Scribe of the Declaration of Independence.”
<i>https://allthingsliberty.com/2021/08/timothy-matlack-scribe-of-the-declaration-of-independence/.
Journal of the American Revolution.</i> August 24, 2021.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 2004, Timothy Matlack
was briefly rescued from historical obscurity when his name showed up
in the movie <i>National Treasure</i>. A clue that the movie's
characters find reads: "The legend writ, the stain affected, the
key in silence undetected, fifty five in iron pen, Mr. Matlack can't
offend." The clue leads to the Declaration of Independence and a
map on the back supposedly placed there by Matlack.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Russ
Walsh. “We Hold These Truths: Timothy Matlack and the Declaration
of Independence.” </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Russ On Reading</b></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>.
July 4, 2016.) </b></span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Footnote:</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Matlack’s penmanship
in the Declaration and other historical documents of the time has
inspired a number of modern typefaces, or fonts, such as American
Scribe, Declaration Script, and National Archive. </b></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Handwriting in the
colonial period was heavily influenced by Europe, in particular by
18th century English writing masters. By the mid-18th century, there
were special schools established to teach handwriting techniques, or
penmanship. </b></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Master penmen like
Timothy Matlack were employed to copy official documents such as land
deeds, birth and marriage certificates, military commissions, and
other legal documents. The development of copperplate engraving
allowed for the use of very delicate type faces with many flourishes
and curlicues in the script-like letters, which greatly influenced
handwriting. </b></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Elegant handwriting
became a sign of social status. One can readily see these influences
in Matlack’s penmanship in the Declaration of Independence. In
particular, his use of English Roundhand script stands out. This form
of script was executed with a feather quill pen and was actually a
form of handwriting. The script is known today as Copperplate. </b></span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(“Timothy Matlack.<i>
https://www.revwartalk.com/timothy-matlack-1319/</i>. 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-4390772349974134702022-06-30T08:46:00.000-07:002022-06-30T08:46:24.914-07:00Lucasville Remembers Past 4th of July Celebrations -- 1865 Peace Jubilee to Harrisonville Reunions to Civic Club Events<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycHiEeJFJ76txp30NMnExd5FgG0dobusDOMkRkpwVj6OcVg2GZ2fmAPguSvaC7fw6VNlR_-7UTv9kiIdTZSGM3CdcJr-zR1ImunKLljPfgPCKAD9vy5IWGVOpy4T7B4MSwOUngGoddPBH8O8T8wcWqWp97vyjTjJi-5fltu8EnajCRzTyfNbT7EBCKw/s1659/3b60cac92502215e89b2c7cd24088f63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1659" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycHiEeJFJ76txp30NMnExd5FgG0dobusDOMkRkpwVj6OcVg2GZ2fmAPguSvaC7fw6VNlR_-7UTv9kiIdTZSGM3CdcJr-zR1ImunKLljPfgPCKAD9vy5IWGVOpy4T7B4MSwOUngGoddPBH8O8T8wcWqWp97vyjTjJi-5fltu8EnajCRzTyfNbT7EBCKw/w640-h402/3b60cac92502215e89b2c7cd24088f63.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The 4th of July
Independence Day outing – once called “a community picnic –
used to be a spectacular annual summer event for the Lucasville
community. When I was younger, the day-long celebration featured
picnics, amusements, commemorations, music – including a very
popular teen dance – and, of course, fireworks. The setting was the
Scioto County Fairgrounds where large crowds gathered to enjoy the
patriotic festivities.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I miss the event, and I
often wonder why it disappeared, as so many families – and
especially area youth – flocked to the fairgrounds to take part in
the colorful observance. Like so many other things from the past, a
doting generation has lost part of its identity to time. I assume the
cost of liability insurance, fears of injury, and lack of funds
probably all contributed to the demise of the local tradition. For
whatever reason, the community no longer hosts the summer
celebration.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Allow me to share
information about one such Fourth of July outing of the past. I am
not certain if this was the second year for the event or just the
second year for the sponsorship by the Lucasville Civic Service Club.
I am sure that many seniors will recognize names and details from
this 1946 4<sup>th</sup> of July. Through this post, I hope that
Lucasvillians hearken back to the past for a “hot minute” of
history now gone but not forgotten. By the way, please add your
remembrances of the Fairgrounds 4<sup>th</sup> in the comment
section. I'm sure others will enjoy those reminiscences. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzaRH7xfkcAtOpHit-AlnHXKo__26mVe9GxD5rB7lNkvmNR-zog7Eu_ZVObslW5ooBJ8Bx8Vs384kPvPiJHthIOZAbef0QzuWp7n6scH0Nl6Yb_lqiKTZd7nkVeVX97hLkDTBoIJv9xGuTz5Xp_-xCaVX-TOu-lKHYSTgdlmrUGLYMPMSGaNXIxXjmA/s1584/c7fb322dffae8d7e83ac319304bc7683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1584" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzaRH7xfkcAtOpHit-AlnHXKo__26mVe9GxD5rB7lNkvmNR-zog7Eu_ZVObslW5ooBJ8Bx8Vs384kPvPiJHthIOZAbef0QzuWp7n6scH0Nl6Yb_lqiKTZd7nkVeVX97hLkDTBoIJv9xGuTz5Xp_-xCaVX-TOu-lKHYSTgdlmrUGLYMPMSGaNXIxXjmA/w640-h388/c7fb322dffae8d7e83ac319304bc7683.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1946: "July 4th
Event Will Raise Funds For Projects in Community"</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">An all-day Fourth of July
celebration will be held Thursday, July 4, 1946, at the fairgrounds
at Lucasville in the form of a community picnic sponsored by the
Lucasville Civic Service Club. The organization boasts a membership
of 30. The club was organized a year ago last May and this is the
second Fourth of July celebration held for the purpose of raising
funds for community projects.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Officers of the club
include: W.J. Carver, president; John Collins, vice president; Edward
Miller, treasurer; and Mr. Bogan, secretary. Members of the committee
in charge of the picnic include: P.L. Bogan, A.S. Moulton, Coy Dodds,
Dean Schuler, and G. Malone.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Admission to the grounds
will be free as well as admittance to a baseball game in the
afternoon between the Portsmouth Moose nine and a Jackson team. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A concert by the Valley
Rural High School band will be a special attraction at night. The
band is comprised of high school students and other members who have
played with the band in past years. The group will be directed by
Esto Davis.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Midway attractions, square
dancing, and other amusements will help raise money for the club.
Families are invited to take picnic baskets and spend the day.
Refreshment stands will be on the grounds, and it is planned to keep
the rides over for an extra two days, Friday and Saturday.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Last year the club helped
purchase new uniforms for the high school band and gave a Christmas
party for youngsters with funds raised at the 1945 celebration.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The club has seven
standing committees. These and their chairmen are: municipal
development, C.M. Purdy; civic improvement, Dr. D.C. Coleman;
business, Mr. Carver; advertising, J.W. McKinley; membership, Mr.
Moulton; agriculture, Walter Malone; recreation, Mr. Miller.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Frank R. Thompson.
“Bits and Pieces.” Bicentennial Calendar Project. 2019.)</b></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKwI5uwo7GmBDrY0qd0mxzBzAZDhTdlhvO6P-TpD7U0uE3u_JSO1y8R7MQqRk9ql9oGGPGnqPSJClfLenmZSju102jv3_rOhv_-g-Z43d9xZyergfSvhNQCnSYML-Zsrtf2UnjqATuhyyhfR2i62loDAfIao5bvhHl4PSp-DQXeea4d6h6mwpexMtrA/s900/Photo234928o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKwI5uwo7GmBDrY0qd0mxzBzAZDhTdlhvO6P-TpD7U0uE3u_JSO1y8R7MQqRk9ql9oGGPGnqPSJClfLenmZSju102jv3_rOhv_-g-Z43d9xZyergfSvhNQCnSYML-Zsrtf2UnjqATuhyyhfR2i62loDAfIao5bvhHl4PSp-DQXeea4d6h6mwpexMtrA/w640-h480/Photo234928o.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b> </b>Photographer: William Fischer, Jr.<br />Taken: September 2, 2012<br /><b>Caption: Civil War Mural Detail, Robert Dafford<br /></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I would also like to share
information about Dugan's Grove and early beginnings of other public
commemorations at, or near, the Scioto County Fairgrounds in
Lucasville. The place – the grove – was very much both a center
of public attention and a symbol for patriotic observances, including
the end of the American Civil War. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is an account of one
very celebrated reunion at Dugan's Grove – an event actually
organized on July 4, 1865, </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>August 17, 1865 –
Dugan's Grove</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the close of the war,
patriotic fever was at white heat. The people felt there should be a
grand reunion of the returned soldiers. At a meeting in Dugan’s
Grove on July 4, 1865, it was resolved to have a Grand Soldier’s
Reunion and Peace Jubilee. It was an affair of the two counties of
Pike and Scioto. Abram F. Millar, Thomas Dugan and John L. Ward were
the master spirits in the movement. Many committees were appointed in
Portsmouth and the reunion was set for August 17, 1865.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dugan's Grove was then one
of the most delightful spots in the county. On this beautiful day,
the two entrances to the grove were decorated for the Jubilee. Over
one entrance appeared the motto, “Victory at Last,” and over the
other, “Welcome to the Soldiers.” </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The grand event featured a
free dinner, with two tables each over a thousand feet in length. At
one was a banner inscribed, “We honor the private soldier.” At
the other at each end were banners bearing the names “Logan,”
“Thomas,” and "Rosecrans.” In the center were banners
bearing the names, “Grant,” “Sherman,” and "Sheridan.”
On the speaker’s stand was a banner reading, “The War was not a
Failure.” </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Five thousand people took
dinner. Colonel John R. Hurd made the opening speech. Colonel T. W.
Higgins spoke as did General Robert Schenck, who was the orator of
the day. Schenck was at both battles of Bull Run and took part in
Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862, and the Battle of Cross Keys. Hon.
Eli Glover made the closing speech. There was dancing in the
afternoon and the band of the 73rd O. V. I. furnished the music. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmnVuBXS0kyeMuxzcKmHPu-Np9d20HPrxOyzOWO-jGR4QUpCvH-0hXXtJZlITTXTpq7WFACH_MY_Ky2wt0_nYdyP1R-NskIfZ0jekLgZE3fZIcplXpveZ5Ph_k7fbOqnkeqG4Dw-knUyq1Eud73fe1SW710EAqrUD3KdhcyHMrTjhE6dgRwCutEB_Jg/s2278/334af98fc15bd0a9a91f425bcd6d0905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2278" data-original-width="1129" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmnVuBXS0kyeMuxzcKmHPu-Np9d20HPrxOyzOWO-jGR4QUpCvH-0hXXtJZlITTXTpq7WFACH_MY_Ky2wt0_nYdyP1R-NskIfZ0jekLgZE3fZIcplXpveZ5Ph_k7fbOqnkeqG4Dw-knUyq1Eud73fe1SW710EAqrUD3KdhcyHMrTjhE6dgRwCutEB_Jg/w318-h640/334af98fc15bd0a9a91f425bcd6d0905.jpg" width="318" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></b></span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">G.A.R. Organization, “G.A.R. Reception Committee,” <em>Local History Digital Collection</em>, accessed June 30, 2022, <span class="citation-url">https://www.yourppl.org/history/items/show/12892</span>. </span></span></b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Closing</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To close, I would be
remiss if I didn't include information about the Harrisonville
Reunion in this blog post, billed as one of the "biggest events
in the county," according to many records. Local historical
accounts say people would come from all over the region to
participate in the festivities. The 1865 Peace Jubilee was evidently
the inspiration (the beginning?) of the so-called “reunion.” Here
is what I know from <i>Portsmouth Times</i> accounts … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Harrisonville
Reunion </b></span></span>
</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
Harrisonville Reunion was started as a "thank you" to all
of the veterans who served in the Civil War. The event was originally
held in Lucasville. An article appeared in <i>The</i> <i>Portsmouth
Times </i>on June 5, 1965 entitled, "History Revealed."
This article states that: "History recalled that on August
17, 1865, a reunion of Civil War veterans was held in the grove. More
than 5,000 attended the "Peace Jubilee." Abram F. Millar,
Thomas, Dugan and John L. Ward were listed as the committeemen.</span></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
<i>Times </i>(1965) reported in 1880 Lucasville lost interest in the
reunion and it was moved to Harrisonville when it was held August 17,
1880 and has been held annually since as the Harrisonville Reunion."
Then, the Harrisonville reunion became an institution eventually
managed by the Sons of Veterans. </span>
</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There
are conflicting records about the reunion's start date:</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The July 20, 1895 article
states, "one great picnic in the county every summer for the
last 5 years" (making the start date 1890). Please read this
1895 reference: it's a great report. You will see Lucasville
references and also delight in how descriptive and detailed past
<i>Portsmouth Times</i> accounts truly were. Historians, enjoy. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOHzLDF8ZM_PI_rIRTHWZUZ80cuxyps53fniG4KP0SlsoLOP6axe1kiORL0Y60wriNy3akhmGFDwSZ_piz8J64ItqYhEMJ1cnFLfB0fCKHZUJpXEJ8qH4ZQdUNGudI3kVxpM_OJVPINySEs1zJOm3gGMQlG-veB-fAgcK84pZna5bONh35S2VIy0E2w/s730/civilwarfifedrum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="730" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOHzLDF8ZM_PI_rIRTHWZUZ80cuxyps53fniG4KP0SlsoLOP6axe1kiORL0Y60wriNy3akhmGFDwSZ_piz8J64ItqYhEMJ1cnFLfB0fCKHZUJpXEJ8qH4ZQdUNGudI3kVxpM_OJVPINySEs1zJOm3gGMQlG-veB-fAgcK84pZna5bONh35S2VIy0E2w/w640-h572/civilwarfifedrum.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="ContentPage1_ctl00_lblText3"></a>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Historical Note: Harrisonville Reunion (August 18,
1895)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Article taken from <i>The
Portsmouth Daily Times</i>, August 16, 1895</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Sam Patch said "Some things can
be done as well as others." He was right. So with the
Harrisonville reunion and picnic last Saturday. Scioto Post, G. A.R.,
ably assisted by Lois Camp, S. O.V., put forth an extra effort this
year, and the result was highly satisfactory to all concerned.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>It cannot be said that reunion was
any better or the picnic more enjoyable than on former occasions. The
Harrisonville gatherings are always up to the limit. It's hard to
improve on them. Last year the Sons of Veterans had entire charge of
the affair, this year they stepped aside and the G.A.R. Ruled.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Saturday was an ideal picnic day.
All roads led to Harrisonville, and long before people were coming
from all parts of the county. The road was blocked in some places by
long strings of rigs stretching away for a mile or so without a
single break.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>The dust was almost suffocating, and
if there was one thing more devoutly prayed for than another it was
rain. And it came in a gentle sprinkle in the afternoon. Just a wee
bit of shower where the people were gathered, but beyond
Harrisonville it rained copiously, and many of the home goers in the
evening found the roads muddy in some places. Judging from the acres
of rigs of all sorts in the grove it seemed that everybody in the
county had turned out. Various estimates were placed on the number of
people present. Some thought there could not be less than 6,000
people in the grove; others estimated the attendance at 2,000. A fair
average would be 4,000. Of these probably 500 came from Portsmouth.
How they did miss the street car! A horse and buggy represented
$6 for the trip from Portsmouth, and it had to be a good, reliable
driver that could get it at that price.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>The picnic grounds are on a little
rising knoll, half a mile beyond Harrisonville. The grove is
the property of Dr. Ray and contains over forty acres. The trees are
not very large and the shade is not dense. The grounds might be
considerably improved by cleaning out the underbrush and burning the
leaves which have been accumulating on the ground for several years
and have smothered out the grass completely. No malaria lurks in the
grove. It is on high ground, half a mile away from water and
dampness.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>There were various means of
entertainment in the grove. Most prominent of all was a large dancing
platform. There was a large crowd around it all day. The Scott String
band furnished the music for the dancers. Lemonade and refreshment
stands were quite numerous. Marsh had two of the largest on the
grounds and did a big business. The talented editor of the <i>Morning
Excuse</i> even conducted a small lemonade and soda water stand. Five
merry-go-rounds were in operation, but did not do the business
expected. A platform for speech-making and the band was erected.
Wheels of fortune, cane racks, shell games and various other schemes
were in operation. Down in a corner of the grove several slabs of
lumber had been stuck up, forming an enclosure of about twenty-five
feet square. It was the intention of the builders to confine some
Union prisoners inside, put some Rebels on guard, and, finally a
grand rush for liberty was to be made, with a sham battle following.
The prisoners could not be found, so the scheme failed.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>A baseball game was also booked for
the afternoon between the Sciotoville players and the Lucasville
nine. As the clubs were being organized the rain came up and
the sport stopped.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Recognizing the importance of having
some eloquence and speech making, Mr. Horace White exerted himself to
enlist the services of a number of orators and politicians. After
much trouble he obtained some promises and after some patriotic music
by the Harrisonville Sheepskin band and the Lucasville band, the
first orator of the day was introduced. It was young Orra Rickey, son
of Ex-Commissioner Frank Rickey. He delivered a very able oration and
one worthy the oldest orator on the grounds. He is a very
bright young man and will make his mark in the world someday.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Rev. Snodgrass was then introduced
and made one of his characteristic patriotic talks. He was listened
to with considerable interest and his frequent bursts of eloquence
were loudly applauded.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>William E. Ross, the colored
statesman from the Seventh ward was next introduced. He wore his long
Prince Albert coat and as he placed his hand on his bosom he looked
far more dignified than his wont when addressing the city fathers. He
made a good speech. It was full and running over with patriotism and
he only alluded to politics in a very mild way. It was a very
interesting talk. "Some negroes will steal and so will the white
folks. Some colored people go to the penitentiary so does the white
man. If I want to steal a chicken once in a while, nobody ought to
kick on an old soldier. I was raised by Grover Cleveland's uncle
anyhow and I ought to be excused," said the member of council
from the Seventh ward. With the assistance of two of his colored
brethren he sang an original song composed for the occasion. He
afterwards favored the crowd with another song not quite so original,
"Poor, but a Gentleman Still." He sang it, however, in a
very original key, and some of the people believed what he said.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>For some unaccountable reason the
speech and song of Bro. Ross closed the exercises of the day,
Chairman White then announcing the speech making at an end. There
were several orators waiting behind the grand stand and were sorely
disappointed when they were overlooked by the chairman. Charley
Hard stood under the dripping bunting until his had was colored red,
white and blue, ready with a pretty little speech for his
constituents. Rev. Racy also wanted a chance to move the audience to
tears and tell them what an honest man he was to trust with the
country cash. A number of other offices seekers could hardly control
their anger when refused a chance to make their speeches, "This
is not a good crowd to electioneer in anyhow" said C. Hard,
"there are too many woman and children here. The people I want
to see are voters."</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>A good story is told on Candidates
Hard and Ball of a discovery they made while in search of water. They
found something else, and as they were examining the cork of kodak,
flend pressed the button. Go to Floyd McCormick for the rest.
It is said that Rev. Tracy was also in it.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>All in all the picnic and reunion
was a great success. Not a single accident was reported, not a single
drunk and disorderly was to be seen on the grounds. Everybody came to
enjoy themselves, and they did in their own quiet way.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>These annual picnics are productive
of much good. It matters not that their main objects is to make a
little money. Patriotism and love country are always inspired, and
the day is looked forward to with much eagerness by those to whom it
is the only big holiday of the year. In many respects it is much
more of a gala day than the biggest day of our county fair. Scioto
Post, G.A.R., Lois Camp, S.O.V., and the people of Harrisonville are
to be congratulated on giving us such and opportunity for solid
enjoyment. There is not another picnic in southern Ohio equal to it.
May the custom long survive.</b></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(“The Harrisonville
Reuniion.
<i>https://www.minfordfalcons.net/TheHarrisonvilleReunion.aspx.</i>)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the August 17, 1900
edition of <i>The Daily Times</i>, p. 1, an article described plans
for the upcoming reunion. "Every rig and spare cab in the city
have been engaged and the pike from here out will be black with
vehicles and people a foot." </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">July
21, 1911 article states, "They mean to make this the biggest of
the twenty-nine like affairs" (making the start date 1882) –
</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">“and to that end will get new
attractions to draw the people. Chief of these is a balloon ascension
which has already been contracted for.”</span></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">July
21, 1915 article states, "making the 36th annual reunion one of
the best a great series" (making the start date 1879)</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The reunions started to
fizzle in the early 1910's. By 1915 there was a drive to reinstate
the reunion is all it glory. In later years, the reunion became known
throughout the community as the 17th of August. The event was held on
August 17, unless that date fell on a Sunday.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(“The Harrisonville
Reunion.”
<i>https://www.minfordfalcons.net/TheHarrisonvilleReunion.aspx.</i>)</b></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="ContentPage1_ctl00_lblText1"></a>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Historical Note: The History of Harrison Township </b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>FIRST SETTLERS IN THE AREA</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>The first two families to live in
the area were Rev. Thaddeus Bennett and family, and his son, Rev.
Joseph Bennett and family.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Thaddeus Bennett and his son, Joseph
Bennett, lived in New York in the early 1800's. Thaddeus Bennett was
a veteran of the Revolutionary War. Joseph Bennett was a veteran of
the War of 1812. Around 1814, the two men decided they wanted a
different life in the Northwest Territory.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Thaddeus, age 56, and Joseph, age
22, built a raft, and set out on the Olean River to begin their new
life. They headed toward the Allegheny River. Continuing south, the
men finally reached the Ohio River. The Bennett families continued
down the Ohio River until they arrived at the mouth of the
Little Scioto River. They settled in the area we now know as
Sciotoville.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="ContentPage1_ctl00_lblText"></a>
<b>General William Henry Harrison visited the area again in 1836.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>In 1837, Joseph Bennett laid out a
town on the land surrounding his home. He gave a building site to
anyone who would guarantee to build a home in the settlement. Joseph
named the town Harrisonville, after his friend, General Harrison.
However, it would be 22 more years before the town of
Harrisonville would become "official." The town had not
been platted in Scioto County records.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="ContentPage1_ctl00_lblText2"></a>
<b>By 1880, the population of Harrison Township had grown to 1,325.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Lodges played a big part in the
community of Harrisonville. Ives Lodge Knight of Phythias
started in 1890. Soon after it was organized, a large two-story hall
was built at a cost of $1,800 including fixtures.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Scioto Post GAR was established in
1880.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Lois Camp Sons of Veterans was
organized in 1880. They enjoyed second rank in the state of Ohio.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="ContentPage1_ctl00_lblText5"></a>
<b>HARRISONVILLE CHANGES ITS NAME TO MINFORD</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>There was another town called
Harrisonville on the C&O Railroad line. Railroad officials wanted
to simplify matters, so they asked local resident Frank R. Minford if
he thought the village would mind changing its name. Frank R. Minford
was friends with one of the C&O Railroad attorneys.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Several names were suggested for the
town--Harrison, Bennettville, and Minford. In honor of Frank R.
Minford, (a local blacksmith) the town's name was changed to Minford
on August 17, 1917. Frank R. Minford was the son of William J.
Minford who immigrated to the area from County Antrim, Northern
Ireland in 1846. William, his mother, brother Robert, and sister
Agnes first arrived in New York before traveling to Ohio. William was
the owner of a successful blacksmith business in the area. He taught
his trade to his son, Frank, who took over the business when his
father passed away.</b></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="ContentPage1_ctl00_lblText4"></a>
<b>(“The History of Harrison Township.”
<i>https://www.minfordfalcons.net/HarrisonvilleBecomesMinford.aspx</i>.)</b></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b> </b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1baOwaKKP373-ueghQkoPR-zrJ74CcF0HgJ7EYtfkCWboy-In95DuqFzb1KmFjFLSjzR2AfLmbKEwm5H79bzBPWEe7w52jVxCUxtUvxZOJtXtWU7fjbefEWhvAp0KqYwgprXtm80f9tRjtnhlrE4gCezqH_VBQRB4ZWFMjzK8BX7jT8Iaue6j_QEIbg/s252/1e995cbe43f12318fbc4d0b0f9d4d39d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="252" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1baOwaKKP373-ueghQkoPR-zrJ74CcF0HgJ7EYtfkCWboy-In95DuqFzb1KmFjFLSjzR2AfLmbKEwm5H79bzBPWEe7w52jVxCUxtUvxZOJtXtWU7fjbefEWhvAp0KqYwgprXtm80f9tRjtnhlrE4gCezqH_VBQRB4ZWFMjzK8BX7jT8Iaue6j_QEIbg/w400-h325/1e995cbe43f12318fbc4d0b0f9d4d39d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-29035843812756623632022-06-29T05:30:00.000-07:002022-06-29T05:30:17.833-07:00Five Despicable Cases That Scream For the Right To Choose <p>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmIuj-bOHhYtrm_tslQk4vCr9WYsNNlgye5o1w8wok2HvaQ2rDoNLG6WWyihUyYOHxizg6oDQBvgClorj5C160qlrkvIIwSdS9UCEBcH0CnpLpsiyH5P717b9Exu-TvedDXKRp9gR4_oGJitJRQVRsiX9QpJoCSFgT4p1_4BSxzoZ_Y2eiL2DsZ1HYA/s1024/Resources-for-Abortion-Care-2-1024x576.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmIuj-bOHhYtrm_tslQk4vCr9WYsNNlgye5o1w8wok2HvaQ2rDoNLG6WWyihUyYOHxizg6oDQBvgClorj5C160qlrkvIIwSdS9UCEBcH0CnpLpsiyH5P717b9Exu-TvedDXKRp9gR4_oGJitJRQVRsiX9QpJoCSFgT4p1_4BSxzoZ_Y2eiL2DsZ1HYA/s320/Resources-for-Abortion-Care-2-1024x576.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This post is for
pro-lifers who defend outlawing abortion. Most want no exceptions for
saving the so-called “life” of the baby – no provisions for
rape, incest, and potential severe health hazards to the fetus or to
the mother. The latest Supreme Court ruling that overturns Roe v.
Wade makes no provision for abortion in cases of criminal activities
against a perpetrator like I am about to report. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Allow me to present five
cases that I believe deserve utmost consideration for abortion.
Although each case involved disgusting and reprehensible acts that
required arrest, each also fostered a victim of abuse left with an
indelible scar. I believe no one should be forced to live with the
product of such unions. To me, the Supreme Court's decision to
overturn Roe v. Wade is unthinkable.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Case One: Showering the
Rapist With Love (2021)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Oklahoma police arrested a
woman after her 12-year-old daughter gave birth – and the family
welcomed the child’s rapist to a baby shower.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tulsa police said mom
Desiree Castaneda and other family members knew about the victim’s
relationship with 24-year-old Juan Miranda-Jara, who was reportedly
surprised when he was arrested July 14, 2021 as he accompanied the
12-year-old to the hospital where she delivered.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">At the time, we
received many questions along the lines of, ‘Where were the
parents?’” the Tulsa Police Department said in a statement posted
to Facebook.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">The family permitted
the relationship, and there are photos of the family throwing a baby
shower for the victim and the suspect.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Castaneda was slapped with
charges of enabling child sex abuse and neglect. The victim’s dad
is behind bars on a 12-year prison sentence for an unrelated case of
first-degree rape, cops said.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Miranda-Jara was charged
with first-degree rape of a minor when he showed up to the Hillcrest
Hospital in midtown with the victim in mid-labor. When questioned, he
reportedly admitted he was the father of the unborn child and “acted
a bit unsure as to why police were even getting involved,” FOX23
reported. </span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">They walked in just like any other couple would;
excited to deliver their newborn child,” Officer Danny Bean told
the local station.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Miranda-Jara even
allegedly posted that he was in a relationship with the girl on his
Facebook profile, the station said. Photos of Miranda-Jara and the
victim at the baby shower were also posted to his page, FOX23 stated.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Mark Lungariello. “Mom
arrested after her 12-year-old daughter gives birth.” <i>New York
Post.</i> July 29, 2021.)</b></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Case Two: Raped By the Deacon (2021)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sherry Johnson was raped
by the deacon of her local church when she was just nine years old.
She was the daughter of the assistant “church mother” and her
stepfather was the assistant pastor at an Apostolic Christian church
in Tampa, Florida. The deacon who sexually abused her was 18. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He had entered her home
while her mother and sisters had gone to church. “All you had to do
was walk down the steps from the church and you’d walk into our
kitchen,” Johnson explained. “And that’s where he raped me. I
woke up with him on top of me. Many times.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Johnson told her mom about
what had happened and pleaded with her to help her understand what
she had gone through. Even though she was young, she knew something
was amiss. But her mom ignored her and didn’t even believe her.
Shockingly, she told the church that Johnson was a liar. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">I was a sacrifice to
cover up what he did,” Johnson recalled. She said at that moment
she wanted to run away from home. But she had nowhere to go and she
was just nine years old. And then, to make matters worse, she found
out that she was pregnant months after being sexually abused by the
deacon. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Social workers got
involved but Johnson couldn’t tell them who the father of her baby
was as she was frightened. Her mom had also told her that she should
keep it a secret in order not to ruin her family name. Johnson was
later sent away with the deacon who raped her again while they were
making their journey from Tampa to Miami. The young girl was seven
months pregnant at the time. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While staying with the
deacon thousands of miles from home, she gave birth in a hospital.
Her mother did not even visit her or her new baby, Johnson said. At
11, she </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">was
forced to marry her rapist, who was now 20. Her mother made the
wedding cake, dress and even a veil for her. Johnson said she found
“a little bit of security” in the </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">marriage
because her mother told her to do it. “So I thought there must have
been something OK with it,” she said.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But after the marriage,
the deacon started tormenting her — emotionally and physically. And
anytime he got her pregnant, he would leave her and then come back
after the baby was born to impregnate her again. By age 16, Johnson
had six children.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Eventually, the deacon was
jailed for failing to pay child support. Johnson tried to start
divorce proceedings but she was not able to because she was under 18.
Later, she was given special dispensation and divorced the deacon at
17. Johnson went on to marry twice, and in both marriages, she was
abused. But she had three more children and about five years ago, she
finally got her high school diploma at age 55.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now a mother of nine
children and a grandmother of more than 30 grandchildren, she has
been fighting to end child marriage in the United States. Her
children, who know about what she went through when she was young,
have been giving her all the support she needs.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Although most states in
America require one to be at least 18 years old to marry,
some have exceptions that allow children under 18 to get married.
Most states require a minor to have parental consent, the approval of
a judge or to be recognized as adults (i.e. emancipated minors) for
them to get married. Consequently, as of December 2017, 25
states allowed minors to get married if they meet their state’s
exceptions.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Mildred Europa Taylor.
“Raped by a deacon, she had his baby at nine, married him at 11 and
had six kids by 16.”
<i>https://face2faceafrica.com/article/raped-by-a-deacon-she-had-his-baby-at-nine-married-him-at-11-and-had-six-kids-by-16</i>.
December 14, 2021.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Case Three: Brother
Pregnancy (2020)</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">An 11-year-old girl in St. Charles, Missouri, who was
raped by her brother, gave birth at home, and now he and their
parents are facing criminal charges.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">The (unnamed) girl gave birth to a boy in a bathtub
according to a probable cause statement. Her biological brother, who
is 17, was charged in February 2020 with incest, statutory rape, and
statutory sodomy of a person younger than 12, while her parents were
charged with child endangerment. Police say the girl's parents did
not provide medical care to their daughter after she gave birth.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Police started
investigating on Feb. 11 after the girl's parents brought a baby boy
to a hospital. The baby still had the umbilical cord and placenta
attached and a body temperature of 90 degrees, according to a
probable cause statement.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The girl's father
initially claimed the baby was his and had been dropped off on their
porch by an ex-girlfriend. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He later told
investigators his daughter had given birth to the boy and that his
son was the father, a probable cause statement states. The girl's
parents claimed they were not aware she was pregnant or that she was
allegedly being sexually assaulted by her brother, according to the
statement. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">During questioning, the
brother told police he had sex with his sister about 100 times but
did not know she was pregnant, according to a probable cause
statement. He also said he did not know how long it had been going on
for, the statement said.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The baby was born
premature, and the girl is in the care of relatives, St. Charles
police Lt. Tom Wilkison told NBC News.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Janelle
Griffith. “Girl, 11, gave birth to baby allegedly fathered by
brother; he and parents are charged.” NBC News. February 22, 2020.)
</b></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Case Four: 25-Year-Old
Florida Woman Pregnant By 11-Year-Old Boy (2018)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Can a male be raped? If
so, what say should he (or his parents/guardians) have on carrying a
baby to term? An additional 14 charges were filed November 2018
against a Port Richey, Florida, woman accused of sexual battery on an
11-year-old that led to her having the boy’s child.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The relationship started
in 2014 and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies said the baby
boy was born later that year.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Investigators arrested
25-year-old Marissa Ashley Mowry on Tuesday afternoon. She was
originally charged with sexual battery on an 11-year-old child.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mowry was charged with
three counts of sex assault by 18 years of age sex battery victim
under 12 years of age, and 11 counts of sex assault by custodian sex
battery victim 12 years of age and under 18 years of age.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Investigators said Mowry
admitted to having a sexual relationship with the boy.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In January 2014,
investigators said Mowry, who was 22 at the time, had sexual
intercourse with the 11-year-old at a home in Hillsborough County. As
a result, Mowry got pregnant and gave birth in October 2014. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Deputies said Mowry and
the victim continued to have sexual contact several times until this
year when the victim was 14.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Investigators
said the victim was also a Brandon resident but deputies would not
elaborate on how the two were connected in an effort to conceal the
victim’s identity.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Investigators
said that in April 2018 someone anonymously reported the encounters
through an abuse tip line in Pasco County.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Staff. “25-year-old
Florida woman impregnated by 11-year-old boy, has child’s baby”
</b><i><b>https://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/news/main-news/25-year-old-florida-woman-impregnated-by-11-year-old-boy-has-childs-baby/</b></i><b>.
Abilene Nexstar. November 20, 2018.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Case Five: Father of
Four Babies By His Own Daughter (2014)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dateline Harrisonville,
Missouri: A woman whose husband fathered four babies with one of the
couple's daughters was sentenced to seven years in prison November
2014 after pleading guilty to child endangerment and hindering
prosecution of a felony. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Three of the four children
the woman's husband had with the couple's daughter died, including
one whose body was found in a shallow grave in eastern Oklahoma where
the family apparently lived for a short time. The bodies of two other
babies were found in coolers on a rural Harrisonville property where
the family lived in their mobile home.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Judge Mike Wagner said he knew of animals in the wild
that fought to protect their young and questioned why the 49-year-old
mother didn't do the same.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"What is so
frustrating to the court is there is no amount of time in prison that
can give this young lady her childhood back," he said. "Your
child suffered an unthinkable abuse, and you allowed that to happen.
You will have to live with that for the rest of your life."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Three of the four children
the woman's husband had with the couple's daughter died, including
one whose body was found in a shallow grave in eastern Oklahoma where
the family apparently lived for a short time. The bodies of two other
babies were found in coolers on a rural Harrisonville property where
the family lived in their mobile home. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Associated Press is
not identifying the parents to protect the victims' identities.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Under a plea deal, the
victim's mother was sentenced to serve her seven-year sentence for
child endangerment at the same time as her four-year sentence for
hindering prosecution.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The victim testified at
her father's trial, divulging that her father began having sex with
her when she was 5 years old. He was sentenced in June to life in
prison after being convicted of charges that included second-degree
murder and abandonment of a corpse.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The murder charge stemmed
from the death of the victim's third child, who fell ill and didn't
receive appropriate medical care. The victim's first child, born when
she was just 14, died after falling off a couch; the fourth baby was
stillborn. Only the second child survived.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The victim, now 21, sobbed
during her mother's sentencing hearing as Cass County prosecutor
Teresa Hensley wrapped her arm around the young woman.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"It hurts me to know
my mom could have been there for me and helped me," the victim
said in a handwritten statement that Hensley read to the judge. "I
wish I had a mom to talk to and hang out with, but that will never
happen."</span></p>
<div dir="LTR" id="desktop_desk-art-us-lb3">
<div dir="LTR" id="google_ads_iframe_/4145/fnc/desk/art/us/lb3_0__container__">
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The victim said in the
statement that she now could move on with her life with her
surviving son and soon-to-be husband. The boy was placed in foster
care when the allegations were first made, and Hensley said the
victim is seeing him.</span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(“Mother Sentenced to
7 Years in U.S. Incest Case.”
<i>https://www.foxnews.com/us/mother-sentenced-to-7-years-in-u-s-incest-case</i>.
Associated Press. November 17, 2014.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Those who wish to simplify
abortion with ideals of morality and pleas of absolute right to life
should shoulder all responsibility for evil actions of those like the
perpetrators above. Denying a young girl … even a boy … a choice
to end the product of rape, incest, and total irresponsibility is the
loss of a precious freedom. Notice I said “a choice” – who can
deny that an option must be available for those manipulated and
abused?</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pro-lifers are quick to
cite that only a fraction of abortions in the U.S. are done for rape,
incest, or mother’s health issues. But, what does that have to do
with the reality of these things occurring? Should the smaller
percentage deny a right to choose in such incredibly invasive and
dangerous cases? I think not.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anti-abortionists say
“abortion is just another act of violence perpetrated against their
bodies and their children’s bodies.” Or, they argue that the
future child's life may have come intrinsic value or that when a
woman goes through with a pregnancy, that process somehow “conquers”
the rape. How presumptuous. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Think of this equally
“fair” consideration: the victims have been stripped of their
choice once, why do that to them again?” It should be an
individual's choice of freedom, and not the government's choice.
Allowing this individual to choose gives that person back their
self-control. And, if the government wants to respect people's values
and beliefs, such circumstances require special attention and
delicate relief. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'll end with this
little-known fact. Dr. Ann Burgess, an internationally recognized
pioneer in the assessment and treatments of victims of trauma and
abuse, commented, “People are not aware how the rapist tries to
claim responsibility for the child. He insists on some say in the
child’s life. I know about a dozen cases where this happened. The
rapist continues the emotional trauma on the victim by forcing
himself into the victim’s life.”</span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-size: medium;">American Thinker</span></em><span style="font-size: medium;"> was
told about a senior in college who was raped. She did not abort and
when the child was seven years old the rapist suddenly served her
with papers requesting custody of their daughter. At first she
thought it was so ridiculous she laughed it off. Then, the truth sank
in as she noted, ‘I was struck with terror, not only with the idea
of letting my child be around him, but also having to spend the next
eleven years of my life tied to him.’”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Elise Cooper. “The
Rape Exception.” <i>American Thinker</i>. September 25, 2015.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The victims should be the
ones to determine if they want to continue the pregnancy or prevent
it. Those women who become pregnant because of rape and do not
believe in abortion should be respected by society, but so should
those who choose to abort. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Postscript</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>In Virginia, GOP congressional
candidate Yesli Vega, who also cited her time as a police officer,
gave credence to an absurd untruth – that a woman who is raped may
have a lower chance of getting pregnant. Axios published audio
recordings of her comments on June 26, 2022.</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>In the fall of 2021, Ohio US Senate
candidate JD Vance called pregnancies from rape merely "inconvenient"
and emphasized that in matters relating to pregnancy resulting from
rape, "The question to me is really about the baby."
(Apparently the woman matters very little, if at all.) In 2022, Ohio
Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt said that her state's law criminalizing
abortion gave child rape victims the "opportunity" to "help
that life be a productive human being."</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>That is, if a child victim makes it
that far. Pregnancy and childbirth complications are the leading
killer of girls aged 15-19 worldwide, according to the World Health
Organization. And adolescent motherhood means that girls are more
likely to be in abusive relationships; that they wind up poorer; that
they and their children are less likely to reach their educational
potential; and that their children are less healthy and are more
likely to die in infancy. </b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>And just this week (June 26, 2022),
in a stunningly callous interview with CNN's Pamela Brown, Rep.
Warren Davidson of Ohio applauded his state's strict anti-abortion
law, which outlaws abortion roughly six weeks after the first day of
a woman's last menstrual period with few exceptions and without any
exemption for rape or incest. </b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>"What happens when a
twelve-year-old girl falls pregnant after being raped?" Brown
asked him. "Are you ok with her being forced to carry that fetus
to term?"</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>"You don't know you were raped
for two months?" Warren asked, as if women and girls seeking
abortions after rape are either liars, idiots or irresponsible. "I
think it's a great law," he said. "And it is a compromise."
The "compromise," apparently, is that most rape and incest
victims are forced to carry pregnancies to term. That, Warren
reiterated, didn't bother him. "It's hard to conceive of
somebody who doesn't know they were raped for two months," he
said. </b>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Jill Filipovic.
“Opinion: Cruel GOP rhetoric about rape survivors and abortion is
far more than words.” CNN. June 28, 2022.)</b></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b> </b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKaqrHli4F3XPay62DJHw-kNxqBeNw1FIpe6mvdteEVwSyNJ3js93luEXqOvwcmUCDSoPix8STDAo4tg4q8yjvi05oLwNbm4YmXgyn8g7BhcI2TpPSY8oL2-czmkje7DG0EmiFUBy6X1oR38-c7ZAh1rJHAGGGSQgeuDB4YJuN58uk43hpNARIAuI7w/s1920/abortion-is-essential-1920x1080-v4.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKaqrHli4F3XPay62DJHw-kNxqBeNw1FIpe6mvdteEVwSyNJ3js93luEXqOvwcmUCDSoPix8STDAo4tg4q8yjvi05oLwNbm4YmXgyn8g7BhcI2TpPSY8oL2-czmkje7DG0EmiFUBy6X1oR38-c7ZAh1rJHAGGGSQgeuDB4YJuN58uk43hpNARIAuI7w/s320/abortion-is-essential-1920x1080-v4.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-90904443849067240172022-06-27T07:19:00.003-07:002022-06-27T07:19:38.689-07:00Ohio Legislature Is Anti-LGBTQ+ -- "Rolling Back the Hatred"<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJxhh1E12q40EsCs2FrbsCJVwqlvkZDsJwryKOFaP0uDHRz_C7sd7d-zJhAsVvMH87IuEALahiJAWxIWQIiI9Sab5Pmqgvx-XuFt0Q51IJEE8NdHOUqA5vaG5z_0Z__MqKbyNaxJybB4VvzFxrBtFcu2V4rnggFXCoWX_TbN4AQpRgDrmB5Z4qvuo9g/s768/APR_180425_discrimination_6-768x272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="768" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJxhh1E12q40EsCs2FrbsCJVwqlvkZDsJwryKOFaP0uDHRz_C7sd7d-zJhAsVvMH87IuEALahiJAWxIWQIiI9Sab5Pmqgvx-XuFt0Q51IJEE8NdHOUqA5vaG5z_0Z__MqKbyNaxJybB4VvzFxrBtFcu2V4rnggFXCoWX_TbN4AQpRgDrmB5Z4qvuo9g/w400-h141/APR_180425_discrimination_6-768x272.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Ohio
legislature has opted for anti-LGBTQ+ bills. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In April,
House Bill 616 was introduced, a “divisive concepts” bill
opponents have dubbed a “Don’t Say Gay” bill that would
prohibit schools from teaching about “divisive or inherently racist
concepts,” including sexual orientation and gender identity for
students between kindergarten and third grade. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In May,
House Bill 454 was introduced to ban various medical procedures for
transgender or non-binary minors. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And, in
June came House Bill 151, which aims to ban transgender athletes from
participating in women’s sports.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>[Ohio]
is on the brink of rolling back as this hateful, anti-LGBTQ+
legislation is considered by our state leaders, instead of more
conversation on how we can improve our climate for LGBTQ+ folks who
want to live, work and play here,” said Alana Jochum, executive
director of Equality Ohio – a statewide legislative and legal
nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering equality for LGBTQ+
people. </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: georgia;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>(David Rees. “Ohio
equality score: Advocates say anti-LGBTQ+ bills are bad business.”
NBC 4. June 27, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Out Leadership, a global
LGBTQ+ network for business leaders and companies, released its State
LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index for 2022, ranking Ohio 31st in the
nation.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The annual index ranks
each state by assessing LGBTQ+ people’s experiences and is designed
to be a tool for business leaders to advocate for equality from a
business perspective.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJbXH_wIGSDMBFb4FU5B6NayYwAe2PWpnh3pDPvVm1CDq0FNc0QlgALYiLuADUZuFM6B5Du6of_ZLRf6DSvERHnWbhDsuBBRcB7qr0OWz2MOkbLIyhO0qQHj8h1Zf_KNqZ4fn9luzfelaYR4WROvbCDYp-3UaKvs19SPajatGKiNJEUunuyGc5AFu6A/s773/Screenshot%202022-06-27%20at%2008-48-31%202022_StateClimateIndex_Digital_Final.pdf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="687" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJbXH_wIGSDMBFb4FU5B6NayYwAe2PWpnh3pDPvVm1CDq0FNc0QlgALYiLuADUZuFM6B5Du6of_ZLRf6DSvERHnWbhDsuBBRcB7qr0OWz2MOkbLIyhO0qQHj8h1Zf_KNqZ4fn9luzfelaYR4WROvbCDYp-3UaKvs19SPajatGKiNJEUunuyGc5AFu6A/w355-h400/Screenshot%202022-06-27%20at%2008-48-31%202022_StateClimateIndex_Digital_Final.pdf.png" width="355" /></a></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Businesses supporting Climate Index </b></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbrjNueWFVGQI2cWjxv16wgg25Gon2TieWsbF3CTIhIamlYTzQCfcEECrH3Iig0TKCS4g5g7BTkZPUFHTHkQjD6wy2HKZAWN9kiz3jlLiwCmYbCT5pwPPu_RmVatfsVtnwh8WixhCR__Vy-gYrHk6wMQrOMQ4zbr_5BNkVBYnj4le6btT-AyJ624NHA/s841/Screenshot%202022-06-27%20at%2008-59-40%202022_StateClimateIndex_Digital_Final.pdf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="841" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbrjNueWFVGQI2cWjxv16wgg25Gon2TieWsbF3CTIhIamlYTzQCfcEECrH3Iig0TKCS4g5g7BTkZPUFHTHkQjD6wy2HKZAWN9kiz3jlLiwCmYbCT5pwPPu_RmVatfsVtnwh8WixhCR__Vy-gYrHk6wMQrOMQ4zbr_5BNkVBYnj4le6btT-AyJ624NHA/w640-h398/Screenshot%202022-06-27%20at%2008-59-40%202022_StateClimateIndex_Digital_Final.pdf.png" width="640" /></a></div></b></span></span><b>(“2022 State LGBTQ
Business Climate Index.” OUT LEADERSHIP. Updated as of May 31,
2022.)</b></b></span></span></div><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The index gives each state
a score out of 100 points, based on 20 markers across five
categories: Legal and Non-discrimination Protections, Youth and
Family Support, Political and Religious Attitudes, Health Access, and
Safety and Work Environment and Employment.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Each category includes
markers like, “Does the state have any employment nondiscrimination
policies for LGBTQ+ people?” “How supportive is the state of
LGBTQ+ people who are in or want to start families?” and “Do
LGBTQ+ people, particularly the most vulnerable and economically
precarious, have access to health care and insurance?” For each
question, Out Leadership gave the state a score out of five.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(David Rees. “Ohio
equality score: Advocates say anti-LGBTQ+ bills are bad business.”
NBC 4. June 27, 2022.)</b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The American Civil
Liberties Union reports that Ohio does not have a statewide law that
protects LGBTQ people from discrimination. This means that a person
can still be fired, denied housing, or refused service simply because
of whom they love or how they identify. Unfortunately, the Ohio
legislature has been voting down LGBTQ nondiscrimination bills for
the past twenty years. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As of January 4, 2021, 32
cities and 1 county in Ohio have passed local ordinances banning any
LGBTQ discrimination (sexual orientation or gender identity) in
employment, housing, and public accommodations, but LGBTQ Ohioans
deserve more than a piecemeal approach. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here’s the list of 35
localities banning discrimination:</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Akron, Athens,
Beachwood, Bexley, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Cleveland
Heights, Columbus, Coshocton, Cuyahoga County, Dayton, Dublin, East
Cleveland, Galion, Gambier, Golf Manor, Kent, Lakewood, Medina,
Newark, Oberlin, Olmsted Falls, Oxford, <b>Portsmouth</b>,
Reynoldsburg, Sandusky, Shaker Heights, South Euclid, Toledo,
University Heights, Westerville, Worthington, Yellow Springs, and
Youngstown.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="auto-tag_ohio"></a><span style="font-size: medium;">In
2021, Ohio approved legislation that would allow medical providers
to refuse to administer any medical treatment that violates their
moral, ethical, or religious beliefs.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The language was buried in
a 700-page document of last-minute amendments to the state’s
two-year budget bill, which Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine approved. The
provision allows anyone providing medical care – from doctors and
nurses to researchers and lab techs – and anyone paying for that
care (namely, insurance providers), “the freedom to decline to
perform, participate in, or pay for any health care service which
violates the practitioner’s, institution’s, or payer’s
conscience as informed by the moral, ethical, or religious beliefs.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The bill does not allow
medical professionals to deny LGBTQ people care, carte blanche; the
exemption “is limited to conscience-based objections to a
particular health care service.” It goes on to say that the
provider is “responsible for providing all appropriate health care
services, other than the particular health care service that
conflicts with the medical practitioner’s beliefs or convictions,
until another medical practitioner or facility is available.” </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But the bill was
overwhelmingly opposed by the state’s medical community. “The
implications of this policy are immense and could lead to situations
where patient care is unacceptably compromised,” read a letter to
budget negotiators, signed by the Ohio Hospital Association, the Ohio
Children’s Hospital Association, the Ohio State Medical
Association, and the Ohio Association of Health Plans.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gov. DeWine could have
struck the language while signing the rest of the budget into law,
but declined to do so, despite issuing 14 other line-item vetoes.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With this newly enacted
language in place, a medical provider could refuse to prescribe PrEP
to an LGBTQ patient looking to reduce their risk of contracting HIV,
or refuse to provide gender-affirming care to trans and nonbinary
patients, or puberty blockers to transgender minors. Equality Ohio
called it a “license to discriminate,” and Human Rights Campaign
President Alphonso David said that it jeopardizes “the medical well
being of more than 380,000 LGBTQ people in Ohio.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Local advocates have also
called foul on lawmakers’ move to insert the clause last-minute
into the state’s massive two-year, 2,400-page budget bill. “They
know that they couldn’t pass this on its merits as a standalone
bill, because literally no one is asking for this to be passed,”
Dominic Detwiler, a public policy strategist for Equality Ohio told
the <i>Columbus Dispatch</i>.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Hannah Murphy Winter.
“Ohio Allows Doctors to Deny LGBTQ Health Care on Moral Ground.”
<i>Rolling Stone.</i> July 07, 2021.)</b></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJebeaM8ASofscDqAb3sYGfvuM7NT9xsVRGauM2WrnCfxUU01G5pfirPK0N0bsLR_jQziAWQwYSIyKv60yuBjg-9rgTB78UpxSJlrdbgHN2xuuDSCf38uAIUhK-j0N-23Ciy7eCLU6WCxD8vKUIAFjmsw-JVKMWChoc8yQZglAwObHg4e6qsTwSKKBQ/s812/Screenshot%202022-06-27%20at%2008-50-54%202022_StateClimateIndex_Digital_Final.pdf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="812" height="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJebeaM8ASofscDqAb3sYGfvuM7NT9xsVRGauM2WrnCfxUU01G5pfirPK0N0bsLR_jQziAWQwYSIyKv60yuBjg-9rgTB78UpxSJlrdbgHN2xuuDSCf38uAIUhK-j0N-23Ciy7eCLU6WCxD8vKUIAFjmsw-JVKMWChoc8yQZglAwObHg4e6qsTwSKKBQ/w640-h610/Screenshot%202022-06-27%20at%2008-50-54%202022_StateClimateIndex_Digital_Final.pdf.png" width="640" /></a></b></div><b>Redder the worse <br /></b><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Where does Ohio go from
here? I guess that depends on the political climate much more than on
the human rights demands. The nationalistic movement to deny LGBTQ
rights is rooted in homophobia and hatred. As you can see, it blocks
progressive legislation and thwarts positive gains for this
population.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And, what about the LGBTQ
population in Ohio? The Williams Institute based on Gallup surveys
conducted between 2015-2017, and looked at LGBT family demographics
in every state and Washington D.C. Respondents who said they
identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender were considered
LGBT and were not asked whether they identify under the wider
umbrella term LGBTQ+. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ohio's numbers were as
follows: </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">- Population identifying
as LGBT: 4.3%</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">- LGBT population with
children: 30.0%</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">- LGBT couples with
children: 17.7%</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Ohio Fairness Act –
Senate Bill 119 would make it illegal in Ohio to discriminate against
someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity or
expression. The legislation, sponsored by State Senators Nickie
Antonio and Michael Rulli and introduced in March, 2021 has
languished in the Ohio General Assembly without even sponsor
testimony being held. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Don't Say Gay"
is not just about words.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Children are not being
turned gay due to what they learn in school. Gender identity is a
real thing and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer children
and adults exist.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ohio bills like House Bill
327 are attempts to whitewash history just as House Bill 616 is an
attempt to erase LGBTQ people.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The <i>Columbus Dispatch</i>
Editorial Board wrote on April 5, 2022 … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>It is
reprehensible that adults – in this case Republican lawmakers –
want to shame and suppress children while they are developing into
the people who will lead this state.</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>That's the
indoctrination that should outrage parents and anyone else who cares
about children or the future of Ohio.</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Teachers have
already come out against it, Anthony Coy-Gonzalez, Ohio's 2021
teacher of the year, calls it an attack on "authentic and
honest" education.</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>As Ohio continues
to recover from the pandemic, the recessive bill will no doubt be
condemned by businesses, those here hoping to attract young and
forward-thinking talent and those looking for homes here.</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>That is no small
thing particularly in Columbus – the state's undeniable economic
center – which also ranks among the top gay friendly metropolitan
areas in the nation. </b></i></span>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>"'Our nation has strived to make good on
its promise that everyone is entitled to be treated with equal
dignity under the law. That is true when it comes to LGBTQ Americans,
who now have the constitutional right to identify openly as LGBTQ, to
marry, and to form families with children,' said attorney Roberta
Kaplan who is representing National Center for Lesbian Rights on
behalf of Equality Florida and Family Equality.</b></i></span></p>
<p>“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Instead of following Florida down the road
to oppression, Ohio lawmakers should make this a state where all kids
can strive, learn and grow into healthy adults.</b></i></span></p>
<p>“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>By not saying gay, lawmakers are telling
LGBTQ kids they are not worthy of love or liberty.”</b></i></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(“Our view: Ohio's
LGBTQ kids would be forced in closet with lawmaker's 'Don't Say Gay'
copy.” Dispatch Editorial Board. <i>Columbus Dispatch</i>. April
05, 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There is a ton of work to
do to achieve equality in the Buckeye State. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In February 2020, Human
Rights Campaign Foundation and the Equality Federation Institute
released their 5th annual State Equality Index (SEI), a comprehensive
report detailing statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ people
and their families, and assessing how well states are protecting
LGBTQ people from discrimination. Ohio falls into the category, “High
Priority to Achieve Basic Equality.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While falling into the
lowest category, Ohio is one of 30 states where LGBTQ Americans,
their friends and families remain at risk of discrimination.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi74eQf5zRWuE1zuHq_W6_DpRl4uOSmAHnsl8ABh6QHmmBK8h0jahOP2hUyxZXE8LFR0NnxtgHSvEY-PIaHtvzllDTPgNHP0hWedodgRx8d1G6pFsjS369Gc7LuIJJ0dK2oRWcVQy0mZgMjQdVsg5IL8k4vun4T0_--VGIjcUHE3JlFxZe2ht1-SSrg/s1068/prideflaginohio-1068x712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1068" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi74eQf5zRWuE1zuHq_W6_DpRl4uOSmAHnsl8ABh6QHmmBK8h0jahOP2hUyxZXE8LFR0NnxtgHSvEY-PIaHtvzllDTPgNHP0hWedodgRx8d1G6pFsjS369Gc7LuIJJ0dK2oRWcVQy0mZgMjQdVsg5IL8k4vun4T0_--VGIjcUHE3JlFxZe2ht1-SSrg/w400-h266/prideflaginohio-1068x712.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-52289078593437996942022-06-26T09:21:00.000-07:002022-06-26T09:21:57.439-07:00Abortions Now Illegal In Ohio At Fetal Heartbeat -- But, What Is a "Heartbeat"?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEDJV45zKq4byA-4aGRxuzedax0Lkh05J9wJk88FhM3uns8TRs1l1PkciVYpBpFizwASYMdqpdBOJxf2fijHKJ9If381t2OVBSvnJ187WxVS8qTT0TVTF_oRHA6FTuCF1eVEskEKPsTVWQVQLvG5dHP0FHIfVzfFSXggyqHvLa1tO7TWGfFIAGwkG8Q/s1920/259616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEDJV45zKq4byA-4aGRxuzedax0Lkh05J9wJk88FhM3uns8TRs1l1PkciVYpBpFizwASYMdqpdBOJxf2fijHKJ9If381t2OVBSvnJ187WxVS8qTT0TVTF_oRHA6FTuCF1eVEskEKPsTVWQVQLvG5dHP0FHIfVzfFSXggyqHvLa1tO7TWGfFIAGwkG8Q/s320/259616.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Abortions in Ohio are now illegal once a fetal heartbeat can be
detected.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The news
came Friday evening – June 24 – in the form of a ruling from a
federal court judge who lifted the nearly three-year injunction on
the law following the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade on
Friday morning. Judge Michael Barrett granted the state's request to
lift an injunction in place since 2019.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Dubbed the
"heartbeat bill," the law criminalizes all abortions
performed after the detection of fetal cardiac activity, which is
about six weeks into a pregnancy (four weeks after conception).</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Ohio
Department of Health doesn't track how many abortions happen at the
six-week mark, but about 38% of abortions performed in Ohio in 2020
(7,866) happened after nine weeks gestation.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Patients
seeking what would now be illegal abortions would not be prosecuted
under this new law, but providers could face fifth-degree felony
charges and up to one year in prison. The law has an exception
to save the life of a patient but no exceptions for rape or incest.</b></span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>(Anna Staver and
Cameron Knight. “Ohio's six-week abortion ban becomes law hours
after Supreme Court's Dobbs decision.” <i>Cincinnati Enquirer.</i>
June 25, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What does this mean? The
Ohio ruling will end safe, legal abortions. Patients seeking
abortions may contact clinics to get instructions on next steps,
which might include going to another state. Groups like Women Have
Options provide money and assistance for those seeking abortions.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What about prosecution for
those who seek abortions? Ohio Republicans like Gov. Mike DeWine have
consistently expressed reluctance to prosecute people who seek
abortions, and Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, told the USA
TODAY Network Ohio Bureau that policing what Ohioans do in other
states isn't likely to happen.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When is a fetal heartbeat
detected?A fetal heartbeat may first be detected by a vaginal
ultrasound as early as 5 1/2 to 6 weeks after gestation. That’s
when a fetal pole, the first visible sign of a developing embryo, can
sometimes be seen. But between 6 1/2 to 7 weeks after gestation, a
heartbeat can be better assessed. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometimes, a so-called
“heartbeat” is not detected this early because the patient may
have a retroverted uterus – one form of “tilted uterus,” a
category that also includes anteverted uterus, which is a uterus that
is tilted forward rather than backward. In addition, a doctor may not
detect a fetal heartbeat in a patient with a large abdomen. And, an
ectopic pregnancy, which most often occurs in a fallopian tube, may
also not be detectable.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Fetal Heartbeat –
Politically Flawed Definition</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But the medical-sounding
term "fetal heartbeat" is being used in this law – and
others like it – in a misleading way, say physicians who specialize
in reproductive health. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dr. Jennifer Kerns, an
OB-GYN and associate professor at the University of California, San
Francisco, says that health care providers might use the term "fetal
heartbeat" in conversations with patients during this early
stage of pregnancy, but it's not actually a clinical term.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"This is a term that
is not widely used in medicine," Kern says. "I think this
is an example of where we are sometimes trying to translate medical
lingo in a way that patients can understand, and this is a really
unfortunate side effect of this type of translation."</span></p>
<p>“<span style="font-size: medium;">That's why "the term 'fetal heartbeat' is
pretty misleading," says Kerns.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"When I use a
stethoscope to listen to an [adult] patient's heart, the sound that
I'm hearing is caused by the opening and closing of the cardiac
valves," says Dr. Nisha Verma, an OB-GYN who specializes in
abortion care and works at the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The sound generated by an
ultrasound in very early pregnancy is quite different, she says.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"At six weeks of
gestation, those valves don't exist," she explains. "The
flickering that we're seeing on the ultrasound that early in the
development of the pregnancy is actually electrical activity, and the
sound that you 'hear' is actually manufactured by the ultrasound
machine."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"What we're really
detecting is a grouping of cells that are initiating some electrical
activity," she explains. "In no way is this detecting a
functional cardiovascular system or a functional heart."</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Selena
Simmons-Duffin and Carrie Feibel. “The Texas Abortion Ban Hinges On
'Fetal Heartbeat.' Doctors Call That Misleading.” All Things
Considered. NPR. May 03, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In reality, it would be
really hard for a woman to know she's pregnant before the point at
which cardiac activity would be detectable by an ultrasound. She
would have to be tracking her periods carefully, have regular
periods, notice her period was late and then be able to quickly get
an appointment with her doctor to confirm a pregnancy.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Periods vary in
length – and can be normal – from 21 to 42 days," Kaplan
says, adding that "late" periods can happen for many
reasons, some of which have nothing to do with being pregnant. "It
can be because of stress, it can be because of changes in sleep,
changes in weight, travel – all of those things can do it. We
actually aggressively counsel women they shouldn't be panicked about
being a week or two late."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pregnancies are dated from
the start of a woman's last period. A few weeks after that, if
fertilization and implantation occur, Kern says, there's "a
window of a few days, maybe a week or two at the most, where you can
actually detect an intrauterine pregnancy [with an ultrasound] before
you detect any kind of cardiac motion or electrical activity,"
says Kerns.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Selena
Simmons-Duffin and Carrie Feibel. “The Texas Abortion Ban Hinges On
'Fetal Heartbeat.' Doctors Call That Misleading.” All Things
Considered. NPR. May 03, 2022.)</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To add to the confusion,
working women are busy, and the last thing on their list may be to
schedule a pregnancy test.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">John Culhane, a law
professor at Widener University who co-directs its Family Health Law
and Policy Institute, said the anti-abortion lobby's marketing of
“heartbeat bill" legislation is “all an attempt to make a
fetus into a person.”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">The ‘heartbeat,’ it
literally tugs at the heartstrings, it makes you feel like, ‘Why
would you do this?' Never mind that there’s not a heart” yet in
the embryo, he said.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Julie Carr Smyth and
Kimberlee Kruesi. “'Fetal heartbeat' in abortion laws taps emotion,
not science.” ABC News. Associated Press. May 14, 2021.)</b></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk6cpE0SecNsjyqX1ScyITclRRTz8ZaJ1YXSaQiSg-gMo875_AhBE5pOd1t9ZlDn2wBIs_8VVTlbOic6v-utwSgGxniHHSnccGfc4ne8ra3tHa2vY72TDk_1wJoV2V_vZ7TPtCb37V7iIBoYBTIGofOe9qOo2CqsZu7Hq6gJWfGgaADDAp_W_zxMlBw/s1280/JTWKGYXWHFEGXKTNPRCKGB672I.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk6cpE0SecNsjyqX1ScyITclRRTz8ZaJ1YXSaQiSg-gMo875_AhBE5pOd1t9ZlDn2wBIs_8VVTlbOic6v-utwSgGxniHHSnccGfc4ne8ra3tHa2vY72TDk_1wJoV2V_vZ7TPtCb37V7iIBoYBTIGofOe9qOo2CqsZu7Hq6gJWfGgaADDAp_W_zxMlBw/w640-h300/JTWKGYXWHFEGXKTNPRCKGB672I.webp" width="640" /></a></b></div><p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>
</b></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>The number of abortions
performed in the state in 2019 decreased 2% from 2018, part of a
steady decline that has been observed since 2001, according to the
newly released abortion report by the Ohio Department of Health. </b>
</p><b> </b>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Data</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The CDC reports that in
2019 (the last year for which the CDC reported a yearly national
total for abortions), women in their twenties accounted for the
majority of abortions (56.9%). The majority of abortions in 2019 took
place early in gestation: 92.7% of abortions were performed at ≤13
weeks’ gestation; a smaller number of abortions (6.2%) were
performed at 14–20 weeks’ gestation, and even fewer (<1.0%)
were performed at ≥21 weeks’ gestation. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Early medical
abortion</i>” is defined as the administration of medications(s) to
induce an abortion at ≤9 completed weeks’ gestation, consistent
with the current Food and Drug Administration labeling for
mifepristone (implemented in 2016). In 2019, 42.3% of all abortions
were early medical abortions. Use of early medical abortion increased
10% from 2018 to 2019 and 123% from 2010 to 2019. </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Kortsmit K, Mandel MG,
Reeves JA, et al. Abortion Surveillance – United States, 2019. MMWR
Surveill Summ 2021;70(No. SS-9):1–29.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Figures indicate that in
2019, 56% of legal abortions in clinical settings occurred via some
form of surgery, while 44% were medication abortions involving pills,
according to the CDC. Since the Food and Drug Administration first
approved abortion pills in 2000, their use has increased over time as
a share of abortions nationally. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Guttmacher Institute,
that compiles its figures after contacting every known provider of
abortions – clinics, hospitals and physicians’ offices – in the
country, says that 2020 was the first time that more than half of all
abortions in clinical settings in the U.S. were medication abortions.</span><b>
</b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Heartbeat legislation”
or not, early medical abortions will continue to occur in Ohio. What
about morning-after pills? Emergency contraception, which is taken
within days of unprotected sex, will become even more important. Laws
against such sale? What happens to consumerism in this case?</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A wave of
direct-to-consumer brands – including Wisp and Nurx – are working
to make it easier to access these pills, which don’t require a
prescription. Stix, a three year old startup, is the latest. Today,
it’s debuting its own $38 emergency contraception pill, Restart,
and launching a fund to make the pills free to women in need. It’s
also rolling out billboard ads close to crisis pregnancy centers,
which focus on preventing women from getting an abortion. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In May, when news broke
that the Supreme Court might overturn Roe, online searches for the
morning after pill surged more than 160%. Once the decision is issued
this summer, there will likely be another surge, including women who
are stockpiling it for the future. Wisp, a website that sells sexual
health products, echoes this, saying demand for emergency
contraception pills has been up by 50% since May and it’s preparing
for an even greater surge if Roe falls. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today, Stix is unveiling
billboards ads located within five miles of crisis pregnancy centers
in Ohio, Arkansas, Utah, Missouri, and Kentucky, which are among the
states with trigger bans. These billboards will advertise Restart
while also highlighting the absurdity of restricting abortion. For
instance, one says, “In Ohio, a dog can legally get an abortion.
But her owner is begging for reproductive rights.” </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Elizabeth Segran.
“Post-Roe, the morning after pill will be crucial. Startups are
racing to increase access.”
<i>https://www.fastcompany.com/90761921/post-roe-the-morning-after-pill-will-be-crucial-startups-are-racing-to-increase-access.</i>
June 21, 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To close, here's a story
from Ohio about how even a mention of abortion may now cost you your
job in the health field … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>When she came
across a training opportunity for mifepristone, a drug used in early
pregnancy loss and abortions, Jessica Warner put a mention of it in
the May edition of the newsletter she compiled as a coordinator at
the Ohio Department of Health.</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>An hour after she
hit send, her supervisor called. It was the start of an ordeal that
culminated in Warner, a sexually transmitted infections and viral
hepatitis training coordinator, being fired and two other employees
disciplined. An investigative report prepared by human resources
described abortion topics as 'off limits,' adding that 'the
mifepristone item in the newsletter is in direct conflict with the
agency’s mission and is an embarrassment to ODH.' It also said the
topic was 'contrary' to the state’s mission.</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>That a state
health department would take such a stance, Warner said, came as a
shock. </b></i></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>I want people to
understand how it seems like politics is taking over health care, and
it’s less about the science and the evidence,” she said in an
interview with The Washington Post five days after her termination.
'And it seems more it’s about people who have no background in
health care who are making our decisions and even censoring and
silencing us.'</b></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>"Ohio Department of
Health spokesman Ken Gordon said there is no policy that keeps
abortion topics off limits. He said references to abortion as being
in conflict with the health department’s mission are based on a
state law that took in effect in 2019, barring the department from
contracting or affiliating with 'any entity that performs or promotes
nontherapeutic abortions.'”</b></i></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="main-content"></a>
<b>(Brittany Shammas. “Ohio health agency staffer fired after
abortion pill mention in newsletter.” <i>The Washington Post.</i>
June 23, 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Go figure for yourself.
What is the end goal of anti-abortionists and political movements to
supposedly save “hearts” of the unborn? This all-out assault on a
woman's right to choose has devastating consequences, many of which
are simply swept under the table and out of sight of Ohioans and
their fellow Americans across the nation. In order to get a full view
of the good, the bad, and the ugly, one must not be overcome by
emotions or by non-medical definitions. Like every difficult issue,
to be studied properly, abortion requires thorough investigation of
all its possible outcomes.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-78368869621504964622022-06-25T07:03:00.000-07:002022-06-25T07:03:05.080-07:00Overturning Roe v. Wade: A Human Rights Violation<p>
</p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFFziBys1LrSrp73qnAwhPOGPjs7H8V0gWimdPxNHw3MFuVUYiTTAse5_X-P2hnVf1r-rfL-kc-Br7G2JJqYuXJ6tmSBQMuNb1pLOG_Hpsj0rJksGFO6g7bW97b8j7bytJ6LZWOgBAS6VzY8llHmUWbKNz_UPiyanxJDJjiCAjlm0QDQ5KFEYmyULBA/s670/3ec908d26ad25dbb5d4f831b61cd044f.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="670" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFFziBys1LrSrp73qnAwhPOGPjs7H8V0gWimdPxNHw3MFuVUYiTTAse5_X-P2hnVf1r-rfL-kc-Br7G2JJqYuXJ6tmSBQMuNb1pLOG_Hpsj0rJksGFO6g7bW97b8j7bytJ6LZWOgBAS6VzY8llHmUWbKNz_UPiyanxJDJjiCAjlm0QDQ5KFEYmyULBA/w320-h320/3ec908d26ad25dbb5d4f831b61cd044f.png" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Regardless
of how you feel about abortion – all of the fundamental concerns
for the life of the embryo or fetus – you need to understand that
the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Roe v. Wade takes away a
woman's right to choose.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A woman's
right to choose regarding birth control and abortion is
sociologically important because women have fought long and hard to
be equal to men. In fact, authoritative interpretations of
international human rights law establish that denying women access to
abortion is a form of discrimination and jeopardizes a range of human
rights. The United Nations human rights treaty bodies regularly call
for governments to decriminalize abortion in all cases and to ensure
access to safe, legal abortion in certain circumstances at a minimum.
</b></span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">American poet, essayist
and critic Katha Pollitt writes … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;">Young women need to
know that abortion rights and abortion access are not presents
bestowed or retracted by powerful men (or women) – Presidents,
Supreme Court justices, legislators – but freedoms won, as freedom
always is, by people struggling on their own behalf." </span>
</p>
<blockquote style="margin-left: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pollitt explains
that qualifying abortion as "the most difficult decision a woman
will ever make" may help abortion rights advocates to "forestall
the 'women are lazy sluts who have abortions for convenience'"
line from opponents, Pollitt said, but the somber tone of such
defenses withholds the fact that abortion is often a positive choice
for women's lives. </span>
</blockquote>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Amanda Duberman.
“Katha Pollitt On What The Pro-Abortion Rights Movement Gets Wrong
About Choice.” <i>HuffPost</i>. October 15, 2014.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-right: 0.39in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ultimately, treating
abortion as a moral issue means ignoring many of the realities that
factor into a woman's choice to end a pregnancy – and the positive
impact this decision can have on her life. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"The way we need to
reframe abortion is to talk about it in the context of people's
lives. Women want to have children when they are able to have a good
situation, when they're ready and able to take care of a baby,"
Pollitt said. "Doesn't it everybody benefit, including children,
when families are planned by the people who are supposed to be
responsible for them?"</span></p>
<div dir="LTR" id="list-sc-item_1-0-2">
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="mntl-sc-block_2-0-6"></a><a name="toc-kristin-luker"></a>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Kristin Luker, Elizabeth Josselyn Boalt Professor of
Law in the Jurisprudence and Social Policy Program and Professor of
Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, posits … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="mntl-sc-block_2-0-7"></a><span style="font-size: medium;">"Pro-choice
and pro-life activists live in different worlds, and the scope of
their lives, as both adults and children, fortifies them in their
belief that their own views on abortion are the more correct, the
more moral, and more reasonable. When added to this is the fact that
should 'the other side' win, one group of women will see the very
real devaluation of their lives and life resources, it is not
surprising that the abortion debate has generated so much heat and
so little light." </span>
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="mntl-sc-block_2-0-8"></a><a name="productSubtitle"></a><a name="title"></a>
<b>(Kristin Luker. </b><i><b>From Abortion and the Politics of
Motherhood</b></i><b>. August 4, 1985.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On June 14 2022, the
American Medical Association announced that the organization would
be adopting a new policy that recognizes abortion restrictions as a
"violation of human rights."</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The AMA, one of the
largest health care associations in the country, promised legal
actions to protect access to abortion should restrictions be imposed
on the state level. AMA went on to state that the group views
abortion as a private matter between patient and physician.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Responding to the growing threat of
over-policing and surveillance of reproductive health services, the
nation’s physicians and medical students at the AMA Annual Meeting
adopted policy recognizing that it is a violation of human rights
when government intrudes into medicine and impedes access to safe,
evidence-based reproductive health services, including abortion and
contraception," the press release reads. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
AMA, along with dozens of other leading medical organizations, filed
an amicus brief in </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Dobbs
v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, </span></i></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">stating
that abortion is a safe medical procedure and a decision to be made
between the patient and the physician. </span></span>
</p>
</div>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Asher Notheis.
“Abortion bans a ‘violation of human rights’: American Medical
Association.” <i>Washington Examiner.</i> June 21, 2022.)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>From “Poem about My
Rights” </b></span></span>
</p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>By June Jordan </b></span></span>
</p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I am the history of
rape</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I am the history of the
rejection of who I am</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I am the history of the
terrorized incarceration of</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>myself</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I am the history of
battery assault and limitless</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>armies against whatever
I want to do with my mind</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>and my body and my soul
and</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>whether it’s about
walking out at night</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>or whether it’s about
the love that I feel or</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>whether it’s about
the sanctity of my vagina or</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>the sanctity of my
national boundaries</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>or the sanctity of my
leaders or the sanctity</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>of each and every
desire</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>that I know from my
personal and idiosyncratic</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>and indisputably single
and singular heart</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I have been raped</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>be-</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>cause I have been wrong
the wrong sex the wrong age</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>the wrong skin the
wrong nose the wrong hair the</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>wrong need the wrong
dream the wrong geographic</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>the wrong sartorial I</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I have been the meaning
of rape</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I have been the problem
everyone seeks to</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>eliminate by forced</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>penetration with or
without the evidence of slime and/</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>but let this be
unmistakable this poem</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>is not consent I do not
consent</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>to my mother to my
father to the teachers to</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>the F.B.I. to South
Africa to Bedford-Stuy</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>to Park Avenue to
American Airlines to the hardon</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>idlers on the corners
to the sneaky creeps in</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>cars</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I am not wrong: Wrong
is not my name</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My name is my own my
own my own</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>and I can’t tell you
who the hell set things up like this</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>but I can tell you that
from now on my resistance</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>my simple and daily and
nightly self-determination</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>may very well cost you
your life</b></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">June Jordan, “Poem About
My Rights” from<i> Directed By Desire: The Collected Poems of June
Jordan </i>(Port Townsend, WA: Copper Canyon Press, 2005). Copyright
© 2005 by The June M. Jordan Literary Trust. Used by permission of
The June M. Jordan Literary Trust, www.junejordan.com. Source: The
Collected Poems of June Jordan (2005) </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdGozhr6gK3ZElnWjDf6giw6R1PWCw-z6jBy1jgvT0oO-zbvS4yQ5gM9mfC23WFJrl3C6fQt1EvZlqLEh0oUIUt4xtH3azGk5ciGo64hWjj4-1AfXZ6Bp_4VlZ9V5UXgSVuyXD4AM2f3TLnWwlJs-2v5wJ0mHvzuODLikNw6sNW9g9Exf2yJLTFy3Cw/s799/ABORTION-SUPREME-COURT-PROTEST-2019-e1630478538709.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="799" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdGozhr6gK3ZElnWjDf6giw6R1PWCw-z6jBy1jgvT0oO-zbvS4yQ5gM9mfC23WFJrl3C6fQt1EvZlqLEh0oUIUt4xtH3azGk5ciGo64hWjj4-1AfXZ6Bp_4VlZ9V5UXgSVuyXD4AM2f3TLnWwlJs-2v5wJ0mHvzuODLikNw6sNW9g9Exf2yJLTFy3Cw/w400-h250/ABORTION-SUPREME-COURT-PROTEST-2019-e1630478538709.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352780903142089915.post-57389582711593104432022-06-24T07:00:00.000-07:002022-06-24T07:00:09.787-07:00U.S. Senate Passes Bipartisan Gun Legislation: What Does This Mean For the Scioto County "Second Amendment Sanctuary"?<p>
</p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs1z4VChPwJUe8JEn5cpe9WZPGXXU0EsJVN5ccbFhL_6Tw4Tx1EqOzSVMmwwJL9dfrla711gAjTZJNvD_IGvHR347vXMlhhaTZHjZVu42IE3EsXBQCVOVWoAvBKd10hLogrlAydPTCVIq2BvYyczumeGG0wfCmr7BO2_egHkg9eSZEVp46Eizzeju0A/s1200/1200px-Seal_of_the_United_States_Senate.svg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs1z4VChPwJUe8JEn5cpe9WZPGXXU0EsJVN5ccbFhL_6Tw4Tx1EqOzSVMmwwJL9dfrla711gAjTZJNvD_IGvHR347vXMlhhaTZHjZVu42IE3EsXBQCVOVWoAvBKd10hLogrlAydPTCVIq2BvYyczumeGG0wfCmr7BO2_egHkg9eSZEVp46Eizzeju0A/w200-h200/1200px-Seal_of_the_United_States_Senate.svg.png" width="200" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Senate
voted to advance bipartisan gun legislation on Tuesday, with hopes of
passing it prior to the July 4 recess.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>All 50
members of the Democratic caucus joined 14 Republicans in moving the
legislation forward. The bill comes after a number of mass shootings,
most notably in Buffalo, N.Y., and Uvalde, Texas.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
Bipartisan Safer Communities Act falls short of more expansive
proposals passed by Democrats in the House and is already facing
opposition from top House Republicans. Should it become law, however,
the bill would be the most sweeping gun safety legislation passed by
Congress in decades.</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>(Christopher Wilson.
“What’s in the Senate’s new gun control bill.” Yahoo News.
June 22, 2022.) </b></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank God the Senate has
passed new legislation to stop gun violence. This most significant
step promises finally to take much-needed actions to help fight the
epidemic of death and destruction. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The bill’s chief
negotiators – Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., John Cornyn, R-Texas,
Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C. – released a joint
statement celebrating the agreement … </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Today, we
finalized bipartisan, commonsense legislation to protect America’s
children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence
across our country. Our legislation will save lives and will not
infringe on any law-abiding Americans’ Second Amendment rights. We
look forward to earning broad, bipartisan support and passing our
commonsense legislation into law.”</b></i></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Dareh Gregorian, Julie
Tsirkin, Sahil Kapur and Frank Thorp V. “Senators release text of
bipartisan gun bill, seek final passage this week.” NBC News. June
21, 2022.)</b></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxGohu20OFyQblpPp85G-6juJukOW94AS4pwPScTDBmqstLZyaAxESTi-fsRV-kEvRPQ_Dl1yOhjco9oZaoX8JsZzSfC5vD-i4LTsIGvcrJvuxkvNrgM9Yw0JLYrmYTLpnxxn3tB1apofqek5CmYbBeYoaH22O7WP0ykDGlhAdkRu2X75QzVwtb2UqA/s960/253613685_251621347010230_3923005746066810497_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="960" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxGohu20OFyQblpPp85G-6juJukOW94AS4pwPScTDBmqstLZyaAxESTi-fsRV-kEvRPQ_Dl1yOhjco9oZaoX8JsZzSfC5vD-i4LTsIGvcrJvuxkvNrgM9Yw0JLYrmYTLpnxxn3tB1apofqek5CmYbBeYoaH22O7WP0ykDGlhAdkRu2X75QzVwtb2UqA/w400-h281/253613685_251621347010230_3923005746066810497_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b>Scioto Commissioners <br /></b><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How About Local
Reaction?</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 2020, the Scioto County
Commissioners designated Scioto County, Ohio, as a "Second
Amendment Sanctuary." This designation was clearly political
posturing rooted in the strong influence of the gun lobby that has
deep connections to corporate partners in the firearms industry. It
was certainly a shameful rebuke of Gov. DeWine's efforts to allow
tighter gun control. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The commissioners at the
time took it upon themselves – without debate or majority approval
– to declare Scioto County a place that stood in opposition of
reform to the Second Amendment. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Second Amendment
Sanctuaries</i>” are defined as states, counties, or localities
that adopt laws to prohibit or impede the enforcement of gun control
measures believed to infringe on the rights of the Second Amendment
such as universal gun background checks, high capacity magazine bans,
assault weapons bans, and red flag laws. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now that the Senate passed
new legislation including some of these very measures, will the
commissioners once more defiantly raise up their sanctuary ordinance
and urge local citizens to fight such restrictions? In fact, Second
Amendment Sanctuaries claim refuge from superior government
enactments. For example, such resolutions claim an absolute right to
protect local citizens from any statewide gun control law by refusing
to enforce those laws in their jurisdiction. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The resolution in 2020
proclaimed sanctuaries would seek to resist at the local level the
enforcement of laws passed by a superior governmental entity, be it
the federal or state government. In a predominantly conservative,
overwhelmingly Republican county with a “sanctuary resolution”
already in place, such resistance again comes front and center. I can
only speculate on the commissioners response to the new gun
legislation passed by the Senate. I do so by reviewing their recent
commitment to disallow change and reform.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Shawn Fields, Assistant
Professor of Law at Campbell University School of Law and author of
the article “Second Amendment Sanctuaries” in the Northwestern
University Law Review, writes … </span>
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Joseph Blocher (scholar and author of articles on
federal and constitutional law published in <i>Harvard Law Review,
Yale Law Journal, Stanford Law Review, Duke Law Journal, Yale Journal
of International Law,</i> and other leading journals) and others have
advanced compelling arguments that the scope of Second Amendment
rights should be locally tailored, a view buttressed by this nation’s
long history of regulating firearms at the local level. </span>
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">But whether recent statewide gun control proposals
run afoul of federal constitutional guarantees in any locality
remains an open question, particularly given the relatively unsettled
state of Second Amendment doctrine. Moreover, even if these
regulations present unconstitutional infringements, the proposition
that local executive actors like sheriffs and prosecutors have the
authority to make this determination is a controversial one at best.”</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Shawn Fields. “Second
Amendment Sanctuaries.”<i> Second Thoughts</i>. The Center for
Firearms Law at Duke University. May 15, 2020.) </b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Any defense of the
sanctuary movement must wrestle with its unsavory roots, including
the political activism of far-right and white nationalist groups in
Virginia and elsewhere. Of course, it must also address the
unprecedented gun violence in the United States – </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the CDC reports in 2020,
there were 45,222 firearm-related deaths in the United States. That’s
about 124 people dying from a firearm-related injury each day. More
than 4 out of every 10 were firearm homicides. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For local residents to be
certain of the proposed changes in the law, here are the key
provisions in the 80-page bill:</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>* Funding for crisis
centers and so-called red flag laws</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Under the legislation,
$750 million would be allotted over the next five years to help
states implement red flag laws, which allow authorities to
temporarily confiscate guns from individuals deemed a threat to
themselves or others. (Similar laws already exist in 19 states and
the District of Columbia.) The legislation allows for the
implementation of these programs through mental health, drug and
veterans’ courts.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>* Closing the
“boyfriend loophole”</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While spouses, co-parents
or cohabitating partners convicted of domestic violence are already
banned from purchasing firearms, abusers in relationships between
people who are not married and live separately are still able to
purchase guns, creating the so-called “boyfriend loophole.”
(According to Everytown, a gun safety advocacy group, about 70 women
are shot and killed by an intimate partner every month.)</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Under the new legislation,
anyone convicted of domestic violence against a former or current
dating partner would be banned from purchasing a weapon.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>* Expanded background
checks for younger buyers</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The legislation calls for
an expansion of background checks into buyers under 21 years of age,
providing three business days for the check into their criminal and
mental health history to be completed. If that background check finds
something questionable in a potential buyer’s record, the
legislation would provide for an additional seven business days to
look into the buyer.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>* Funding for mental
health and school security</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The bill provides funding
for expanding access to mental health services, including making it
easier for Americans on Medicaid to use telehealth services and work
with “community-based mental health and substance use disorder
treatment providers and organizations.” And it would provide
additional funding for the national suicide prevention hotline (since
guns accounted for a majority of suicide deaths in 2020) while
schools would receive funding to increase the number of staff members
providing mental health services.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The bill also provides
$300 million for the STOP School Violence Act for increased security
at schools, although some Democrats had expressed concern about this
aspect of the bill. Last week, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.,
said she was worried about “the expansion of background checks into
juvenile records,” arguing that previous attempts to secure schools
were both ineffective and harmful.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>* Licensed dealers and
gun trafficking</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The legislation would also
require more sellers to register as “Federally Licensed Firearm
Dealers,” including anyone who sells guns to “predominantly earn
a profit.” These sellers would in turn be required to run
background checks on potential buyers and keep records of the sales.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The bill would also impose
penalties on “straw” purchasers who buy guns for people who can’t
pass a background check.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(Christopher Wilson.
“What’s in the Senate’s new gun control bill.” Yahoo News.
June 22, 2022.) </b></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9onkyALkEfj38HmgkFJ8sSRVlDMtY7Rgb_lKM5Om9az9-a90-LlodDyP-ROLI-PIH7LK_wP1GEQ7S-2ptedmUIjOIRM5DUV2SExAZnBp6O_d8Ae426MyWMlyefK_Ogtc_g8Y9m579NR48-fvlMTEt8yUBywT1OF3-DAi1CjlWly8O7weqB7GHGVQ9Dw/s810/secondamendmentsanctuaries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="810" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9onkyALkEfj38HmgkFJ8sSRVlDMtY7Rgb_lKM5Om9az9-a90-LlodDyP-ROLI-PIH7LK_wP1GEQ7S-2ptedmUIjOIRM5DUV2SExAZnBp6O_d8Ae426MyWMlyefK_Ogtc_g8Y9m579NR48-fvlMTEt8yUBywT1OF3-DAi1CjlWly8O7weqB7GHGVQ9Dw/s320/secondamendmentsanctuaries.jpg" width="320" /></a><b> </b></b></div><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You may say the
designation of “Second Amendment Sanctuary” is purely ornamental
and has no real teeth in courts; however, I beg to differ. When a
county passes such clearly political stances – beliefs that defy
measures to save lives – it becomes emblematic of its stubborn and
determined resistance to compromise and its determination to prohibit
or impede the enforcement of certain gun control measures. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No amendment or law should
be beyond measures to redefine its parameters or to reconstruct its
intentions. In addition, the madness of “no infringement” of the
2</span><sup><span style="font-size: medium;">nd</span></sup><span style="font-size: medium;"> Amendment runs
counter to its intentions. The Heller Court (the U.S. Supreme Court’s
2008 decision in District of Columbia v. Heller) explained that the
Second Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep
and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for
whatever purpose. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the years since that
decision, there’s been a flood of legal challenges to federal and
state gun control laws. According to one study, in 94 percent of
those cases, courts have found that reasonable gun regulations didn’t
violate the Second Amendment. They’ve mostly relied on the Heller
Court’s explanation that its ruling shouldn’t “cast doubt” on
several longstanding gun restrictions, including bans on gun
ownership by certain individuals (like felons), prohibitions on some
types of “dangerous and unusual weapons,” limits on carrying
firearms in certain public places, and requirements for gun sales.</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <b>(Ruben, Eric and
Blocher, Joseph. “From Theory to Doctrine: An Empirical Analysis of
the Right to Keep and Bear Arms after Heller.” <i>Duke Law Journal,</i>
Vol. 67, No. 7, 2018, Duke Law School Public Law & Legal Theory
Series 2018-35. April 18, 2018.)</b></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>(W. E. Burger. “Second
Amendment Does Not Guarantee the Right To Own a Gun.” U.S.
Department of Justice. From </b><i><b>Gun Control</b></i><b>, P
99-102, 1992, Charles P Cozic, ed. -- See NCJ-160164. 1992)</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I wonder where Scioto
County officials will stand on the new legislation. In this red
stronghold, I can only imagine stiff resistance. I and other citizens
have recently petitioned the commissioners to rescind the “sanctuary”
designation – but we have been met with absolutely no reply or no
concern about the intent or meaning of their gun consecration. I hope
the latest news from the U.S. Senate will change minds and open a
dialogue to prevent gun violence through better restrictions. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, once again, I will
send this blog entry to the Scioto commissioners to inform them of
our concern. I ask, once again, to stop the “sanctuary”
resistance to reform. This time I ask it in the memory of 4-year-old
Zsailynn Amari Conley who was killed in a shooting on the night of
June 12, 2022, while sitting on his porch in Portsmouth, Ohio. Local
police believe two different guns were used in the incident although
it is still unclear how many suspects might have been involved. What
is clear is the unspeakable devastation these bullets caused and the
interminable grief suffered by the family. </span>
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>We
the Grieving</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>(January
13, 2020)</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>By
Linda Eve Diamond</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We the Grieving</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">
hold candlelight vigils,<br />voices and moments of silence
spinning<br />through darkness—as gun deaths mount<br />and children
practice active shooter drills</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We the Tired Masses</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">
petition, speak,<br />write and sing to the choir, cry and shout<br />into
videos, microphones, megaphones<br />mementos, stuffed bears and
pillows</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We the Calculated Risks</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">
march, run, vote,<br />write stories, columns, poems, songs,
posts…<br />while victims are reported, stacked and sorted<br />in cold
statistical fields of incalculable loss</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We the Problem Solvers</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">
share stories<br />mapping incidents of variable Xs and whys<br />charting
possible solutions in which X<br />might have come out alive</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">We the Target Audience</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">
endure daily barrages<br />of blood-red herrings and black-or-white
fallacies<br />as we break down, over and over, the arguments<br />and
essences of commonsense and freedom</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We the People</b> live and grieve for
peace,<i> Justice, </i><br /><i>Liberty </i>and<i> Tranquility </i>for<i>
ourselves and our Posterity.</i></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Linda Eve Diamond is a
Florida-based poet whose work has appeared in <i>Poets Reading the
News, Your Daily Poem,Tuck Magazine, High Shelf Press</i>, and
others. Find her poetry collections and selected poems at
<i>http://lindaevediamond.com.</i></span></p>
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt-75EKGSnX39FLaZ3G-t0M4I8niiyeOPd8cmYoOhuHZjZz2kR6ePEMu4K4dckAnjdJPt34qU8cR-dyn285dYaLVtUC15t0z3hPiuCPTthOcqfP6WBvTEq0FgCw8caUiEmpE0IrFsrxAwUsUusPxTR0iP298njb5Yphug5AE620wWSqHoOVtBCSWTwA/s760/151012-sandy-hook-shootings-mn-1315.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="760" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt-75EKGSnX39FLaZ3G-t0M4I8niiyeOPd8cmYoOhuHZjZz2kR6ePEMu4K4dckAnjdJPt34qU8cR-dyn285dYaLVtUC15t0z3hPiuCPTthOcqfP6WBvTEq0FgCw8caUiEmpE0IrFsrxAwUsUusPxTR0iP298njb5Yphug5AE620wWSqHoOVtBCSWTwA/w400-h266/151012-sandy-hook-shootings-mn-1315.webp" width="400" /></a></div><b><span class="caption__container">The families of victims grieve near Sandy Hook Elementary School after the mass shooting.</span></b><span class="caption__source"></span><p></p>Frank Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18214921895704057150noreply@blogger.com0