Good morning. Here’s a look at opinion content published in The Journal News today, Tuesday, Feb. 22:
John Falcone: Editorial
We comment on the death of Poughkeepsie Police Officer John Falcone, a native of Carmel, who was gunned down in the pursuit of Lee M. Welch on Friday. Welch fired on Falcone with a .38 caliber handgun, for which there appears to be no permit. The incident serves as yet another reminder that stricter gun-control legislation is in order, we conclude. We write:
… How the weapon recovered by police — a .38 caliber handgun — came into Welch’s possession was not yet clear. The Poughkeepsie Journal reported Monday that there appeared to be no permit for the weapon. However it was obtained, it helped spell a familiar doom. According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, women are more than twice as likely to be shot to death by their male intimates as they are to be shot, stabbed, strangled or killed in any other way by a stranger. In two thirds of battered women’s households that contained a firearm, the intimate partner used the gun against the woman, usually threatening to shoot/kill her (71.4 percent of the cases), or to shoot at her (5.1 percent).
Having fewer guns would probably save women’s lives (and no doubt police lives, too): Gun owners are 7.8 times more likely than non-gun owners to have threatened their partners with guns, according to Brady. An abuser’s access to a gun is associated with an eight-fold increase in the risk of homicide. State legislatures, however, after a string of Supreme Court decisions favorable to individual gun owners’ rights, are likelier to put more guns on the street than to take any away.
Texas is poised to pass legislation allowing concealed handguns on university campuses; other states are bolstering carrying laws. Congress has been in no rush to intervene, no matter how many police or members of Congress are shot. “Let’s be honest here,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told Meet the Press after the Tucson shootings. “There haven’t been the votes in the Congress for gun control. We’re looking for some things where we can maybe find some common ground.” That common ground remains elusive.
More opinion
Cutting the waste: Editorial, The Buffalo News
Albany draws a line on charters: Editorial, Albany Times Union
Cuomo should introduce his own ethics reform bill: Editorial, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Wisconsin sends national signal: Editorial, Newsday
An irresponsible budget plan: Editorial, Times Herald-Record
1 Comment
Let’s not use The Honorable Death of a Police Officer to discuss the ‘vested interest’s” Gun or It’s Control’ I think this is a wrong and highly objectionable time to mix the two where even the Wake and The Burial is not even passed. Let be ashamed and Remained Ashamed upon Ourselves; A Brave Officer was Shot Death. Ask! Why was the “No Shooting Order” given? Don’t ask to “control the Gun” –Ask “How can we equip Our Law Enforcements across the Country with this new waves of crime and its justifications from the Supporters of the Criminals and more concerned ones of a Criminals Rights versus The Laws of Our Land; A Life is Lost of a Uniformed Officer!
Please have some common sense – It’s available in Our Country Free of Charge! Use it! We must consider [specially those who call themselves Law Makers; but unfortunately cannot even spell the spelling of “Law” . . .not to talk about what they know regarding the “cannons of Justice” must start considering How can we equip Our Local Law enforcements Across The Country with Semi-Automatic Weapons! This is where Our Focus should be – After all the “Criminals” have more advanced Guns than Our Law Enforcements!
Ask yourself with Honor and Trust of The Offices that you are occupying under False Pretexts of Political Parties Agenda – Ruling absolutely! Without any concerns towards the intents of The Frames of Our Laws! Is that Fair!
Please let the Officer Killed Rest in Peace –Please do not use the Honorable Man’s loss for your Political Debates! That is wrong to do.
HABIBHASAN – An American Storyteller