When Bad Things Happen to Bad People...

I feel bad for people who were abused, neglected or mistreated as children... I really do. But because a person was a victim as a child should not give them a hallpass out of punishment for crimes they commit as adults. Cary Kerr feels that his impending execution should be appealed (again) because he feels like his maltreatment in his youth caused him to brutally rape and murder a woman in Fort Worth. I'm sorry, but every person who has a bad background doesn't kill people. I'm not saying that I don't feel for the guy, if he really was sexually abused as a child, but he was tried and convicted of his crime. The appeals process has been exhausted and now he is seeking a backdoor out of his execution through the new Office of Capitol Writs. This office was written into legislation to provide legal support for death row inmates in Texas. Kerr's attorney seems to be trying to say that there wasn't enough evidence admitted into trial to help make the jury sympathetic for the killer. I looked up the 2003 murder details, and it was brutal. If I was sitting on a jury, I would undoubtedly convict him based on his confession and the gruesomeness of the crime. Now, I'm not a death penalty proponent, but there has to be some point in the appeals process where enough is enough, and tax dollars can be put to rest on a convicted, and confessed murderer.

Re: Guns In Campus

I have a lot of respect for this argument, and my last blog was on the same subject matter. I agree that it is a ridiculous proposal, and that there is no place in our schools for people to be carrying weapons. I have sincere appreciation for this line of thinking regarding the dangers of students possessing weapons on university campuses. It is doubtful that any student wants to think about a person coming onto campus with the intent to kill themselves or another person, but bringing armed (and inexperienced) persons seems to defeat the purpose of a safe, educational environment.

Source:
http://caro23-withinthelaw.blogspot.com/2011/04/guns-in-class_05.html#comment-form

Stop! Or My Classmate Will Shoot!

Call me crazy, but the idea of sitting next to my peers in a classroom at ACC, and knowing that they may be carrying a firearm makes me a little nervous. In fact, it makes me reconsider my decision to return to college after a 6 year hiatus. With the proposed bill in the Texas Legislature, this idea could soon be reality. House Representatives Simpson, Driver, Huberty, Taylor and Gooden have all proposed legislation to the Committee of Homeland Defense & Public Safety for review. All of the bills include provisions to allow students and faculty who have Concealed Handgun Licenses (C.H.L’s) to carry their weapons onto university and college campuses in the state of Texas. I find it strikingly bizarre that someone who has taken a 10 hour class, for under $100 could possibly have the option to carry a weapon into the classroom where 35-300+ students are trying to learn. How am I supposed to concentrate during an exam knowing that the guy sitting next to me may or may not have a Glock or Baretta in is backpack?!

The Representatives and Senators that are proponents of this type of legislation claim that in the event of a school shooting, students would be able to protect themselves from an assailant. I can only imagine the disaster looming on the day a deranged person comes onto campus, starts shooting, and the student body begins firing back. This sounds like a bad case of “friendly fire” just waiting to happen. Also, in my opinion, this type of law would make it unbelievably easier for aforementioned deranged person to get their weapon onto school grounds. This is a very unsettling thought. As things are now, if someone in class opened their backpack to pull out a book and a gun dropped out, it would get reported. I will drop out of school, without second thought, the day this happens and no one says anything.

I say this legislation should be dumped, and we should leave the gun carrying to the campus police, not put it into the student body’s hands.

Sources:
http://www.txconcealedhandgunclass.com/general-information

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/schedules/html/C4202011031614001.HTM

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-issues/campus-carry/lawmakers-get-an-earful-about-campus-carry/

The Pink Lady Takes on Voter ID Debate

Satire, cynicism, and obnoxiousness are my favorite icebreakers, joke techniques and resorts to ridiculous situations. I think that is why I have a sincere appreciation for Eileen Smith’s “In the Pink” blog. She readily hands a satirically opinionated response where a slew of other, every day writers would puke up a story and argue with an obvious lack of sense of humor. I think that the intended audience for “In the Pink” is a left winged audience with reasonably thick skin, and that retains the sense of humor lacking in so many people. Being an award winning blogger, coupled with the fact that she has many faithful readers, I feel that “The Pink Lady’s” credibility is substantial.

That said, in one particular post she wrote about the proposed Voter ID bill that is a hot topic in the Texas Legislature, she talked about the Republican Party’s overwhelming desire to pass the bill. Also, she spoke about the Democrats wanting to push back and stall this bill out as long as possible. I personally would have liked to read a more vested interest from her, but she still tells the news in a very readable and funny way that – to me- keeps me reading her blog on a regular basis. Because she didn’t take a stance on either side of the debate, my assumption is that she sides with the Democrats because she tends to write left leaning blog posts.  

The Only Solution For Pollution is Dilution? Wait...

With the counts of last year’s census complete, it is time for the Texas Legislature to begin to redraw the district lines for state representatives. In an article from The Austin American Statesman, the issue of redistricting is examined by the Editorial Staff, and important questions are brought up. Some of the issues at hand include the dominating Republican Party’s likelihood to re-draw the district map in order to combine two Democratic incumbents into the same district, thereby booting an official currently serving, out of office. The authors argue that this is a prime example of blatant politics diluting the voice of the minority, and I completely agree. The Texas districts have been mangled and “gerrymandered” so much under Governor Perry that just by looking at the map, anyone would be drawn to say “huh?!” Because the results of the census indicate that Texas is due to gain four more seats in the House, redistricting obviously is necessary. Playing political games that would remove high quality leaders that affiliate with the national Democratic Party would be a serious injustice to the citizens of Texas. Kirk Watson and Lloyd Doggett have done great things in legislature for the state of Texas, as well as the nation during their terms. I do not believe that people who are making progress and improvements for communities and the country should be removed from office simply because the Republican Party has monopolistic goals. Diluting the minority is in no way democratic. It is not America. It should not be ignored nor allowed without insightful investigation and prudent thought.

Source:

The Austin American Statesman

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/redistricting-blatant-politics-should-not-target-incumbents-or-1172782.html?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4d6443d5d28320f3%2C0

"Redistricting: Blatant politics should not target incumbents or dilute minority voting"

Editorial Staff - 1-8-2011

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

In an article on Statesman.com, I read an article about Travis County proposing a 2% tax increase on hotels and motels in hopes of recouping some of the money that is going to be spent on road and water drainage improvements in the area surrounding the new Formula 1 Racing Series track, which is scheduled to hold its first grand prix in 2012. This proposed tax would pertain to all of Travis County, not just the hotels that are expected to service traveling spectators near the race track. If this tax increase is passed, Austin would be at the top of the list in the nation with the highest percent of hotel taxes.

I would suggest that people read this article because the impact would be felt by Austinites who have visiting relatives, and other, possibly business related travelers. Austin isn't typically seen as a tourist destination by people across the country; however, there will certainly be a boost in Austin tourism with the construction of the new facility. Some benefits this will surely bring is an increase in consumers of restaurants and retail stores, and more money coming into local businesses. That said, however, this would only occur during the annual event dates. I agree with the proposition by commissioners that the F1 executives should at least help foot a portion of the bill to widen county roads and improve drainage. The earliest the proposed increase could see a vote would be in 2012.

Source:
The Austin American Statesman
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/county-considers-hotel-tax-to-pay-for-f1-1254272.html

"County considers hotel tax to pay for F1"
Author: Suzannah Gonzales
Published: 2-14-2011