Gun control
Gun control
Interpreting the Second Amendment
The NRA has blood on its hands and still screams for more guns. Enough.
Our Founding Fathers were wise and framed a wonderful constitution for its time, a time in which America had no standing army. Then it was necessary for citizens to be armed in order to create a spontaneous militia to defend against invading armies.
Now we have a military more powerful than all the other forces on earth combined. Individual citizens will not be called to fight any invading armies in the real world of today.
Remember also that the Founding Fathers gave everyone the right to possess single-shot pistols and rifles. They could not possibly have envisioned the weapons of mass destruction now defended by the NRA.
So what do we do? Australia is a gun-friendly country very much like our own. In 1996 they experienced a heart-breaking brutal mass murder committed with a semi-automatic assault rifle.
That country quickly passed legislation banning military assault weapons and bought back all such guns. Since then they have not had a single mass murder.
All rights have restrictions and responsibilities. The right to free speech does not allow us to holler “fire” in a crowded theater. The right to bear arms should be restricted to guns that are deemed necessary for hunting or for self-defense.
Allowing civilians to possess weapons of mass destruction is a formula for disaster.
Charlie Webb
Kailua-Kona
Teacher skills
Evaluation program pilot appreciated
I have been a teacher for nearly 40 years — 16 years in the classroom — and I am excited about having a system in place that allows teachers to evaluate their skills, be deliberate in their practice, and help them move forward as effective teachers. Mountain View Elementary is one of the 81 schools that have piloted the new system for over a year now.
Like any professional who takes pride in his work, I know my skills are always evolving.
Through use of the research-based Charlotte Danielson classroom observation framework, I am doing two things: assessing myself and moving forward — looking at the characteristics of the next level.
I appreciate that it is targeted at educators and is therefore designed to help encourage teachers to reach that distinguished level.
I commend the Department of Education for recognizing the complexity of the profession and the efforts put forth to improve the art and science of teaching.
Judy Courtot
Mountain View