August 27, 2008 08:14 pm
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Ticket threatens 2nd amendment
If Barack Obama and Joe Biden are successful in their bid for the White House, they will attempt to deny law-abiding Americans their Second Amendment rights.
Barack Obama wants to ban the use of firearms for home defense. He would have homeowners prosecuted if they use a firearm to prevent home invasion.
Obama wants to pass federal laws eliminating a law-abiding citizen’s right to carry a concealed weapon for protection. He would rather allow criminals the opportunity to rob, assault or even kill law-abiding Americans. Crime rates have dropped in every state where lawmakers have passed legislation allowing law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons for protection.
Obama wants to ban the manufacture, sale and possession of all handguns. He wants to prosecute law-abiding citizens who keep a handgun to protect his family.
Despite what the gun-ban lobbyists would lead you to believe, home invasions, rape, assault and murder rates have increased in any country where private firearm ownership has been banned.
Obama’s Illinois Senate voting record provides insight of his desire to deny Second Amendment rights. On Illinois legislation allowing gun ownership rights to law-abiding citizens, Obama voted, “No.” But on a bill requiring adult prosecution for anyone discharging a firearm on or near school grounds Obama voted, “Present.”
If elected, he wants to give voting rights to five million criminals including those who have been convicted of using a firearm to commit violent crimes. I would rather have a firearm and never need it than need a firearm for protection and not have one.
Obama's plans for “change” is not good for Second Amendment rights. Those wanting to preserve their Second Amendment rights should not vote for Barack Obama.
Randall Mitchell, Flatwoods
Party’s primary process is flawed
As the Democratic National Convention concludes, we can reflect upon the historic primary election that brought us to this point.
A record 35 million Americans turned out to participate in their primary. We had two minority candidates — an African American and woman. And the length of the campaign allowed voters in every state the opportunity to vote in contested elections.
But in what should have been a golden year for Democrats, our entry into the general election is marred by the failure of our nomination selection process. Although more people voted for Hillary Clinton than any other candidate in this and any other primary election, she did not receive the nomination. Instead the complex delegate allocation guidelines — particularly those giving more weight to caucuses — combined with the “superdelegates” overturning the will of the people resulted in Barack Obama being crowned the nominee.
Just as our nation is guided by our Constitution, the Democratic Party is guided by our charter. The charter affirms the principles of the party and the minimum requirements for our organization and nomination process. Included among those requirements is the principle of fair reflection; that is, the nomination process must fairly reflect the will of the voters who participate.
Had our delegate selection process and our party leadership upheld those principles, we would be going into the November election with Hillary Clinton as our nominee. But alas, the primary process was anything but fair and obviously didn’t reflect the will of the people.
It’s too late to correct the many errors found in our selection process for this election year. However, the Democratic Party should commit itself to revising our primary election process so that we can actually abide by the principles outlined in our charter and place the selection of our nominee in the hands of the people.
Tyler Murphy , Flatwoods
Plays at ACTC should be resumed
I read where Ashland Community and Technical College has suspended its theater program following a minor pre-show incident. Though ACTC’s president says the stage will be used again for performances, he does not commit to a re-opening of the program.
In the past few years, I have attended many productions at ACTC. The talents and interests of a very enthusiastic and active theater group are now being wasted for very trivial reasons. Could it be that the ACTC’s president feels that arts programs are expendable?
Was the collapse of a piece of a set just a pretext for saving a few dollars? I have never heard of an athlete’s minor injury causing the suspension of an entire football or baseball program. I hope ACTC will resume the theatre program without delay.
Dawn Norman, Huntington
ACTC theater deserves support
I’ve had the the opportunity to share stages of all sorts, with lots of wonderful people, but I remember a time several years ago, when I was just a kid auditioning for a theater production at Ashland Community and Technical College (then ACC). That experience taught me culture, discipline and service.
I became more involved with the program for several years and enrolled as a student of the college after high school because of the theater department. Although my focus has changed, my family and I still support ACTC theater spearheaded by director Ed Figgins, who continues to build a successful program.
After reading an “In Your View” letter earlier this month, I was shocked to hear college officials were considering cancelling the theater’s season, forcing the program (both on an educational and community standpoint) to suffer greatly.
Ashland is nationally recognized for the Country Music Highway. The arts and entertainment community is at an all-time peak with programs at the Highlands Museum, Paramount Arts Center, Pendelton Arts Center and with the city's First Friday Program. At a time when our economy is suffering — causing people to travel less — it is essential that we support the entertainment outlets in our own backyards, including ACTC theater, to ensure a brighter future.
Stephen Salyers, Nashville
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EDITOR’S NOTE: According to Ashland Community and Technical College President Greg Adkins, the school’s theater productions have been temporarily suspended in order to make repairs to the stage in the J.B. Soward Theater. The collapse of a stariway led to the cancellation of “Sweeney Todd.” Adkins says the theater productions will resume at a later date. Despite cuts in state funding, Adkins said the theater budget at the school was not cut.
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