Relaxation on Gun Control, Unlicensed Sales Contribute to Gun Violence in Oakland, California

Here are a few paragraphs from the article for you to read:

Easy access to guns has dire consequences.

"There would be fewer fatalities if guns weren't so easy to get," said Deane Calhoun, founder and director of Youth ALIVE!, an Oakland organization dedicated to preventing youth violence.

"Kids used to talk about using a knife to go after someone," she said. "And to use a knife you have to look at someone directly and be near to them. With an assault gun, you can just spray — drive by and spray bullets. You don't have to look at the person."

The distance that shooting a gun allows takes away a deterrent: Seeing that your victim is a human being, Calhoun said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that when guns are stored in a home there is a threefold increase in the risk of homicide by someone in that home, and a fivefold increase in the risk of suicide.

MY opinion? One day guns will be relegated into the annals of history and parents will say to their children while looking at pictures of guns in text books, "Yes...believe it or not, years ago we used to rely upon guns to solve our differences and problems, but thankfully we don't do this anymore and the children will be far better off than they are now, my dear, dear readers.

If could re-write the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, this is precisely what I would love to see:

"We, the people of the United States, in order that we shall have the right to preserve a State free for all races, shall achieve this end by the use of less-lethal weaponry only for our continued survival as human beings. This free State entails our personal self-defense as well as our right to our food consumption. In keeping with current government law, if we so choose to possess a less-lethal weapon (be it either upon our persons or within our private homes), we are obligated to store these aforementioned weapons plus any ammo relating to its use in a manner which will serve to protect the welfare of a minor child."

READ ABOUT THIS HERE

Seattle Drunk Driver Calls 911 on Himself

The sad reality of it is that there are many, many people who drive vehicles while intoxicated upon our roads but very, very few have the conscience despite their conditions to call 911 and report themselves for driving drunk.

I commend this individual for having made this emergency call, for in doing so not only did he end up saving who knows how many innocent lives, but he made the decision knowing full well that he would be charged with a criminal offense.

READ ABOUT THIS HERE

U.S. Airstrike Kills at Least 2 Iraqi Children

Children who will never see adulthood have been blown up by the United States because of our involvement in a country that we should never have invaded militarily in the FIRST place.

We need a U.S. President who is for non-violence and wouldn't have approved of such a war.

We need a U.S. President by the name of Congressman Dennis Kucinich in 2012.

READ ABOUT THIS HERE

If Health Care Professionals Screen for Abuse it May Help to End It

I would now like to link to a comment made by a poster by the name of AlwaysAwake that I found while in the Digg service just a few moments ago. Thank you AlwaysAwake...you said it all and so very eloquently.

"While this assertively practiced testing will not be the end of it, it could well be the beginning of social awareness of the scope, and depth of this huge problem within our nation, and the world.

Nearly all existing human cultures and societies have adopted the ages-old corrupt idea of Authority manifested as chauvinistic male domination over women and children. This illusion is so powerful and pervasive, that many adult women feel terrified, hopelessly trapped, even justifying the actions of their abusers, rather than confront them, or seek help. At least 25% of females in the US have been sexually abused as children, by family members, or other adults known to them.

Since many males consider a marriage certificate, and birth certificates as property deeds to their wives and children, abuse and/or indifference, and insensitivity has become the norm. The problem is deeply embedded within our society, and will not respond to first measure thinking or solutions. but it does deserve the highest priority for our healthcare and educational systems now."

READ ABOUT THIS HERE

Webb: Bush Would be First to Veto Veterans' Benefits

President Bush you should be ashamed of yourself. You are all about sending human beings into war, with the distinct possibility that they may be maimed and/or killed while serving our country, but when it comes to them wanting benefts once they DO manage to come home alive, what do you do?

You want to veto them away without a thought to their futures.

People are right...you ARE indeed proving yourself to be one of the worst U.S. Presidents we have ever had.

READ ABOUT THIS HERE

Google Makes Health Service Publicly Available

Google Inc. is now offering the general public electronic access to their medical records and other health-related information.

Here is their FAQ.

In theory this sounds wonderful, but in practice I think it's dangerous.

Why?

One word.

Hackers.

READ ABOUT THIS HERE

May 18 is Tweet4Peace Day on the Twitter Social Network

Are you a member of the twitter social network? I am (my name there is badthing and this is my page).

If you're not a member, well then now is the perfect time to join! ;)

Their website address is: http://www.twitter.com/ and the reason for this post is that tomorrow is Tweet4Peace Day (Sunday May 18th), and this means that if you are interested in talking (via their instant messaging service) about anything relating to peace in our world, you are invited to join us and follow the member called tweet4peace.

If you have problems understanding how to do anything there, just e-mail me at badthing_1 at yahoo.com and I'll do my very best to help you navigate around.

I hope to see you over there!!!!

President Bush Marks Israel's 60th Anniversary

I am thrilled beyond words that President Bush acknowledges America's support of Israel, but I did not like the part of his speech that seemed to single out and put down, "those who advocate negotiations with terrorists and radicals," OR the fact that the media quickly pounced upon it as being "an apparent allusion to the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, who has called for negotiating with Iran."

Although I do not yet trust Barack Obama, I do agree with his desire to want to use conflict resolution with any and all of our present enemies rather than march right into a violent confrontation where countless lives can and would be lost in the senseless process that we call war.

READ ABOUT THIS HERE

California Supreme Court Says Gays Allowed to Marry

This is excellent news from my state's Supreme Court!!!!!!

I can't say that I'm too surprised, however, since I knew that one day this would happen here. After all, this is California...a place that I consider to be this country's most tolerant and diverse state.

Thus far, 27 states have passed constitutional amendments banning gay marriage in the United States. Hopefully as time goes on and we become more open-minded, there will one day be 50.

If I live to be 100 I will never comprehend why Ron Prentice or any other individual would even feel the NEED to stand between two mature human beings who have the desire to legalize their love.

READ ABOUT THIS HERE

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley Asks People to Turn in the Guns

Mayor Richard M. Daley was unable to attend the town hall meeting, but he gave his response to guns via video: "I ask everyone in the City of Chicago -- turn in the guns. Get rid of the guns. Secondly, if we can ban smoking in every restaurant in Chicago, why can't we as citizens, not only of Chicago but of America, say we don't need guns in our community? Automatic weapons, AK47s, .357 Magnums are going to solve our issues? If you think a cigarette is dangerous, realize how dangerous a weapon is on our community. It is about time that you tell your Senator or Congressman. It is about time we ban these weapons."

I only wish everyone in every government and state all across this planet of ours would do exactly as Mayor Daley asks and stop relying upon lethal weaponry to solve our world's differences and problems.

READ ABOUT THIS HERE

Should The United States and Other Countries Invade Burma and Give Aid?

Even before the terrible cyclone has destroyed so much of Burma, it is well known that their people are suffering and losing their lives under a military regime. It's been a week now since the cyclone and the people's suffering is getting worse.

They are in desperate need of medical supplies and food.

I seem to remember something about an invasion of another country without the United Nation's permission....let's see...which country was it?

Oh yes...Iraq.

There are human rights groups now pondering the very same question:

How can the world sit back and not do SOMETHING? We need to act now in a non-violent manner, in the name of decency to save these people's lives!!!

READ ABOUT THIS HERE

Three Teens Suspended from School for Not Standing for the Pledge of Allegiance

My comment as I posted it to this story:

This is Not George Orwell's 1984

Before I say another word please let it be known that I love my America and am very happy that I live in this country of mine. This, however, has nothing to do with the fact that I believe that there are many, many rules that are unnecessary to our existence as a FREE-THINKING society and this one is a prime example of one of these rules.

These are 13-year-old kids that we are talking about here. Remember being this age? their hormones are all over the place...their rebellious nature as they spread their wings. Perhaps they've been easily influenced by what they see/hear in their environment. They weren't being violent...they didn't break a law...if they didn't feel like standing up, so what? let them sit down as long as they're quiet and not causing trouble. Reminds me of another unnecessary school rule - the one about not chewing gum while attending a teacher's class.

There are much more vitally important issues in this country for us to be focusing upon than these trivial, controlling, unnecessary ones.

READ ABOUT THIS HERE

Holocaust Remembrance Day

When I lived in South Beach, Florida I stood before this sculpture crying my eyes out. In case you can't understand what the photo represents, it depicts the millions of people who had suffered and/or lost their lives during hitler's despicable nazi regime.

It is difficult for me to sit here and type these words to you, as not only can't I understand how this took place while so many participated, but I myself have lost some family in this "final solution."

Others of my family have escaped during this atrocious time and have been living in Israel, where they've been happy for the most part except for the fear of suicide bombings, of course. Hopefully very shortly there will be peace in the Middle East.

Astonishing as it seems, there are some who still deny that the Holocaust ever happened in this world.

Perhaps these links will convince them of something that should NEVER BE FORGOTTEN nor ever BE REPEATED AGAIN.

Note: Some of the stories and images presented within the following links may not be suitable for children nor to those who feel that for personal reasons they may be too difficult to read.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Simon Wiesenthal Center

Holocaust Memorial

Museum of Tolerance

The Holocaust History Project

Anne Frank Museum Amsterdam

A few days ago I read an article entitled, "Trial will kill me, says nazi suspect."

I do not believe that a person's age has a bearing upon being brought to justice if they commit any crime, especially one that is so heinous that it cannot be ignored.

Sean Bell Supporters Want Justice via Non-Violent Protests

If I were still living in New York City I would be right there marching in protest.

An "I'm sorry" in this horrendous police brutality case is nothing more than an insult.

I will be following this case very closely as it develops, in the hope that justice WILL be served as it SHOULD have been in the first place.

READ ABOUT THIS HERE

Parents Turn in Son to Police After Finding Bomb-Making Materials

Only someone who is a parent can truly understand the anguish of having to come to the unimaginable decision to make that nightmarish phone call that ends up placing your beloved child into custody for whatever reason.

In THIS particular case, it happened to the parents of 18-year-old Ryan Schallenberger, who had been planning to blow up his High School in Chesterfield, South Carolina.

There is no question that they are the heroes, but at this moment they are suffering greatly and my heart is aching for this entire family, as they begin their struggle towards a healthy life.

READ ABOUT THIS HERE