Newspapers more vital than ever
The weekly newspaper in my wife’s hometown in southwest Arkansas published its final edition recently after 121 years. For about 50 of those years, it and another weekly which eventually merged with it were owned and operated by her family. My late father-in-law was editor and publisher when my wife and I met and married. It’s like losing a family member.
So many local newspapers have disappeared. In my hometown in southwest Arkansas, the daily newspaper went belly up many months ago. It has been replaced with a new publication by folks I’ve known for decades; I wish them every success.
My dad’s first job after returning from World War II service and finishing college was as a sports writer for the San Antonio Express in Texas. He went on to a career as a high school English and journalism teacher and later as a professor of journalism at two small colleges. He sent many of his students to successful and distinguished careers in the field. Journalism and newspapers have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I can still smell the printer’s ink and hear the clatter of the presses.
I cannot imagine starting my day without coffee and the local newspaper. Lynchburgers should know that their local paper, The News & Advance, is one of the best around. I have relatives in much larger towns whose papers carry only national wire service news, leaving their readers uninformed about local issues that matter most to them. The News & Advance does a superb job of informing residents of the city and of the surrounding counties. The editorial page publishes letters, columns and political cartoons from all sides of the spectrum. The N&A sports editor writes clever headlines that make me laugh regularly.
Yes, you can read articles online for “free” (although every click generates revenue for the business). But a subscription brings you more and helps support something that is definitely worth supporting. You need the news. But the news needs you, too.
A citizen of a participatory democracy should be an informed citizen, and a good local newspaper is the best way to become one. Support your local newspaper, wherever you are. Subscribe!
NEAL SUMERLIN
Lynchburg
Safe haven for guns
I’d like to commend Campbell County and numerous others for taking swift action in declaring themselves a Second Amendment sanctuary in anticipation of the oncoming anti-gun insanity from state Democrats. I’d also like to thank Rosemary Urban for reminding us all in her Nov. 21 letter to the editor that we did in fact “do this dance” when Obama was in office ... and it worked. His radical gun banning agenda was successfully stopped. Now, this fight will continue in Virginia.
Fresh off their election win, Virginia Democrats are wasting no time showing mega donor Michael Bloomberg what he got for his money. As expected, they’ve pre-filed Senate Bill No. 16, and it is every bit a piece of tyrannical, oppressive, anti-freedom trash as one can imagine. The same anti-gun hysterics of Gov. Ralph Northam and Democrats have already been seen in New York and California. Arbitrary restrictions on cosmetic features of weapons or magazine limits have absolutely no effect on crime whatsoever.
Additionally, see the Virginia State Crime Commission’s Final Report on Mass Killings and Gun Violence dated Nov. 12 which states: “Our commonwealth is one of the safest states in the nation. Our firearm mortality rate is below the national average. We have the fourth-lowest violent crime rate in the country.” It also goes on to say: “We have achieved this ... by enacting sound, evidence-based public policy through thoughtful legislative dialogue.”
Virginia is not New York. Virginia is not California. Virginians will show Bloomberg he has wasted his money.
DONALD GRAHAM
Rustburg
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(31) comments
What many liberals don’t seem to realize is that being a gun owner is not reserved only for Republicans. Many democrats, Independents and Libertarian voters are gun owners.
There are many democrats that don’t want the thief or murderer on the corner to be better armed than they are.
In spite of what liberals on this page say there is still a very close margin in the Virginia Legislature. Democrats do hold the majority but it will only take two democrats in the Senate to derail legislation.
Let’s hope clearer heads prevail this January in Richmond.
Virginia Citizens Defense League
https://www.vcdl.org/
Great letter Mr. Graham. I would like all gun owners and supporters of the Constitution of the United States of America to join and support the Virginia Citizens Defense League. One of their slogans is “Defending your right to defend yourself.” The VCDL is all Virginians fighting for your gun rights in Virginia. Only two employees out of hundreds are paid anything, all the rest are volunteer. No money is wasted on frivolous items, only informative literature and advertising. You do not have to be a resident of Virginia to join. If you have ever seen a round, orange sticker that says “Guns save Lives” the VCDL prints and distributes them.
You can join their online website for free and you can become a member by paying 25 dollars and receive their newsletter in the mail. You can always contribute more to help. You will learn about gun safety and the legislature proposed by the gun grabbing liberals.
Please join and contribute because outside influences and New Yorker billionaire Michael Bloomberg are spending millions to try to twist our state to fit their will and we need someone fighting for our side.
Mr. Phillip Van Cleave is the Administrator of VCDL and knows what every Virginia legislator stands for, knows many personally and has lobbied for gun owners for years.
We must fight the madness that will disarm lawful citizens while allowing criminals to only become more powerful and better armed.
HS: Old Van Cleave almost (almost) makes La Pierre seem like a tolerable man. I cannot emphasis 'almost' enough.
And I wonder how much in legal fees VCDL wasted in losing the VCDL vs. Couric case? On May 31, 2017 the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division dismissed the case. The opinion of the Court states "Because the film is not false or defamatory, the Court grants the defendants' motion."
Dave, They didn't lose the case, it was dismissed by a liberal judge. They won in the court of public opinion and embarrassed Couric.
When you have National Public Radio condemning your manipulative "journalism" you know you have a problem.
Intentionally lying and producing false situations is exactly why it is called FAKE news and Katie got caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
It put national attention on the fact that liberals in the media lie everyday and took away more of the tiny amount of respect Katie Couric may have had left as a journalist.
The case played on nationwide news at the time and had its intended lesson.
https://www.npr.org/2016/05/26/479655743/manipulative-editing-reflects-poorly-on-couric-and-her-gun-documentary
Serious question. Why do gun advocates oppose a civil fine for not reporting lost or stolen guns to law enforcement? Seems like common sense.
I don’t know Walter but if I did explain a few reasons you would not be able to understand them. Here are a few.
1.Many areas of the country require firearms to locked away so they couldn’t be stolen. As if criminals don’t always find a way around most locks. By calling the law to report the crime some liberals might want to charge the victim.
2.Maybe the firearm owner did not know exactly when the item was stolen, now there is a problem about not reporting it “timely”.
3.In order to prove ownership you have to provide proof of purchase. Do you have a receipt for everything you ever bought? Even twenty years ago?
4.Why should anyone be fined for being a victim? Law enforcement files a report and that is the end of it. Even a known criminal will not be sought out. They might ride by his house once but they just usually wait for him to cross the law in order to be picked up.
5.Why worry about stolen firearms? Criminals know they must pass a background check before stealing any firearm, they can’t pass the check so that will stop the theft.
That is liberal thinking at its best, just stupid laws requiring criminals to follow something that they have no intention of doing.
Howard, Howard, Howard... on something as dangerous and deadly and as expensive as firearms... no responsible owner should lose track of what, when, where and how, etc. Records should be detail and retained as if they might be needed on an insurance claim or an audit by a government agency. With the purchase comes much responsibility.
Dave they are nothing but a paper weight without ammunition.
They are not dangerous or deadly unless someone decides to make them that way.
I have several in the room with me now and I am not the least bit afraid of one of them jumping up and harming anyone or anything.
A kitchen knife will cut every time you touch it wrong.
You are right about them being expensive, some of them are scary expensive.
Unless you have a special rider that you pay extra for an insurance company is only going to provide enough money to pay for a couple of guns, that's another way they get you.
There is no such thing as a firearm audit, that would be unconstitutional.
I did see something a few minutes ago I have never seen in my life. On WDBJ 7 TV Safeside Tactical was showing closeups of many rifles, handguns and advertising their sale prices for the Holidays. They even showed a closeup of a dreaded "assault rifle". I immediately thought of you and many liberals who would think it was pornographic and have a fear meltdown.
[unsure] What? No surprise firearms government audit? Man... we got more work to do than I thought. [huh]
VCDL.org is a great organization. I've been pumping money to them. Another great organization is NAAGA. National African American Gun Association. NAAGA understands what happens every time blacks are disarmed and they are ready to fight Richmond aggressively. Both are great organizations to send money to and to become a member of. Northam and his cronies are the best thing to happen to the GOP in 50 years. He has woke up some people that have been sleeping that long. His confiscation plan has shown the true colors of democrats. He cant do it because of our state constitution, but him talking about it is a huge talking point and will be used for years all over the country.
Virginia Citizens Defense League
https://www.vcdl.org/
Virginia Citizens Defense League
https://www.vcdl.org/
Serious question. Why do gun advocates oppose a civil fine for not reporting lost or stolen guns to law enforcement? Seems like common sense.
I guess you also believe a rape victim should be fined every time they are abused and dont report it.
DH you never fail to disappoint.
Seriously. What is the difference? Forcing a victim to report anything violates the right to privacy in the constitution.
Virginia voters went to the polls on Nov. 5th knowing that the election was a referendum on two things: 1. gun control and 2. Trump. Gun control won and Trump lost.
News flash: Virginia has moved from a purple state to a blue state like California and New York and we, the majority, want (expect) the same benefits, advantages and protections. No minority special interest group is going to overturn the election. As Mulvaney is fond of saying, "get over it".
Isn’t “get over it” exactly what Trump supported said after 2016 election.
They aren’t hypocrites are they ?
Gun control first. Lynchings of unarmed people second. The democrat way throughout history. Northam is probably ordering a new hood now!!
Common sense gun control-I am all for it. Indiscriminate confiscation-I am totally against it. I have never been intimidated by gun owners and I think the NRA is getting a bad rap brought on by many Democrats. The NRA promotes responsible ownership of guns-isn't that what common sense gun control laws will do? Or is the NRA's fear that the gun control laws advocates' goal is gun confiscation hold water?
As far as the November 5th election goes, I didn't see Trump's name on the ballot. You can wish, pray, hallucinate for Trump's removal, but national polls are showing that Americans are leaning away from impeachment. The sad reality for Democrats is that not liking the president should not be grounds for impeachment. 2020 may well be a wake up call for America and it won't be in the form of a blue wave.
Can you describe common sense gun control measures you would support ?
I would support universal background checks like sweden does. I would support automatic death penalty for any crime and injury committed with a gun. I would support allowing teachers in the classroom to take training and keep defensive weapons in the classroom locked up as 20 states have done and no mass shootings have occurred in those states after passing. I would support the 14th Amendment and equal protection for all and allow conceal carry license holders to carry in all states. I would support elimination of gun free zones as 95% mass shootings happen there. I would support property confiscation from the offender and distribute to the victims of gun crime. I would support using the National Guard to go into high crime areas and take illegal guns out of the hands of known criminals. I would eliminate any HIPPA protections for any mental illness and have it part of the background check system so that it isnt protected illness. There are some more but you get the idea.
Walter: The first thing would be for everyone who wants gun control to be fully versed on the gun laws that currently exist. Having that knowledge, proposals to improve the current laws could be made. My fear is that some folks are so consumed with banning guns that they ignore the current laws and just demand confiscation. They fail to see that once the legal guns are confiscated, only the non law abiding people(i.e., criminals) would have guns.
The other fear that I alluded to in my initial comment is that extremists use incrementalism to get ultimately what they want. That is why the NRA opposes their proposals because they know what the extremists end game is.
I will not specify common sense proposals, because that is the job of our legislators. I just hope they know what they are talking about before unleashing the power of the state on legal gun owners.
Just when you thought you might be able to give your TV some down time, The Judiciary Committee announced it had scheduled the hearing, “The Impeachment Inquiry Into President Donald J. Trump: Constitutional Grounds for Presidential Impeachment,” for Dec. 4 without specifying witnesses. But Democratic officials, speaking on condition of anonymity before the witness list was finalized, said it would feature prominent legal experts who could testify about constitutional precedent and the history of impeachment. Tick-tock. [wink]
Please get help. Medication. Counseling. Anything. We arent laughing with you. We are laughing at you. Tick tock. Mueller time. Russia russia russia. Popcorn. Its starting to make me really sad.
Yes sir Mr. Graham, you folks here in "Eden Parish" and elsewhere in SWVA will show 'em Libtards what for. They are chomping at the bit to gut "The Dillon Rule" and your going to give them the ammo they need. With the "Dillon Rule" vanquished Campbell county residents can proudly carry their machine guns wherever they want within Campbell County. NOVA can restrict them as much as the US Constitution will allow. Which isn't much. BOGO, with the "Dillon Rule" vanquished the wealthy Libtards in NOVA and on the coast will no longer be obligated to finance the charity case west of Charlottesville. Localities will now be responsible for financing in full, education, public safety, and roads. Of course, this is drop in the bucket for the wealthy part of the state who have historically financed all their own needs and about half of everyone elses, but Campbell County... Let's just say that the meals tax last spring is a joke compared to what's coming... But you get to carry your machine guns to buy bubble gum at the corner market...
🐁
Well said, Donald Graham. The Democrats in Richmond will soon learn what "resistance" really means. Regarding guns and the Second Amendment, the blue leftist enclaves in Northern Virginia and Tidewater are not going to call the shots.
Sabrina you don’t support fair and free elections?
I sure do. I dont support taking rights away from law abiding citizens protected in the constitution. Democrats won the election. I dont like it, but I understand that is our system and I'm ready to work hard for the next one. I dont support. Liberals using that win to trash our Bill of Rights and I dont believe any intelligent person would support that. If either party can trash one right, what prevents the opposing party from trashing a different right?
What’s been trashed? Aren’t their limits to all rights ?
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