SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
June 23, 2016
Sullivan’s
Salvos 6/28/16
In this edition:
*Happy Independence Day!
*An Apology…
*Guns
*Celebration of Community Partners
*Did You Know?
*Happy Independence Day!
Happy
Birthday to the USA! 240 years old and going strong! I hope you and yours enjoy
a great Independence Day!
Looking
for ways to celebrate? The Jazz Festival is in downtown Iowa City, and the 4th
has parades in Coralville, Sharon Center, Oxford, and Hills.
*An Apology…
I
ran into local politico John Balmer the other day. For those of you that might
not know, John is a local business owner, a former Mayor of Iowa City, and a
man once known locally as “Mr. Republican” in Johnson County.
John
was disappointed in something I had written in a previous edition of Salvos. I
wrote, “GOP stalwarts like John Dane, John Balmer, and the rest are trying to
steal a Democratic Party Primary.”
John
objected – and rightfully so – to the idea that he was somehow “stealing” an
election. Getting Republicans to register and vote as Democrats is perfectly
legal, and the only way John can have any influence in a local election.
It
is also perfectly legal for John to recruit his fellow conservatives to run in
Democratic primaries. I get frustrated by it, but it is legal (and smart) for
him to do so if he can. He had an excellent candidate this time around; he
often does.
My
point – inartfully made – was that Democrats should turn out, lest Republicans
decide our primary for us. While I stand by that sentiment, it was wrong of me
to insinuate that John had attempted to “steal” something. All of his actions
were legal and logical. I apologize if I made it seem otherwise.
*Guns
The
recent mass shooting in Orlando cut many ways. It laid bare our homophobia
problem. It called into question the efficacy of the terrorist watch list. And
it once again brought to the fore the issue of guns in America.
According
to Politifact: There have been 1,516,863 gun-related deaths since 1968,
compared to 1,396,733 cumulative war deaths since the American Revolution.
That’s 120,130 more gun deaths than war deaths -- about 9 percent more, or
nearly four typical years worth of gun deaths. And that’s using the most
generous scholarly estimate of Civil War deaths, the biggest component of
American war deaths.
Are
we really OK with this? Do we really feel satisfied shrugging our shoulders and
saying, “There is nothing we can do.” I, for one, am not OK with the status
quo.
I
can read, so I understand full well that the Constitution says the Second
Amendment, “shall not be infringed.” But it IS infringed. It has been infringed
since the day it was written. Every part of the Bill of Rights has been
infringed in some way. That is how our form of government – with the Judiciary
a coequal branch – was designed to work.
Allow
me to cite some examples. Even back in the 1700s, prison inmates were not
allowed to have arms. Why not? Because it would be stupid! Prisoners with arms
would not work. So our founders did not allow it. They purposely infringed upon
the Second Amendment.
Then
there is the issue of age. Should two year olds be able to own/operate guns
without adult supervision? Of course not! But isn’t requiring adult supervision
an infringement? Of course it is!
How
about the type of arms? That is not spelled out in the Constitution. Can every
person reasonably expect to own a nuclear weapon? Of course not! But isn’t limiting
nukes an infringement? Of course it is! (Noted liberal Antonin Scalia actually
made this argument!)
We
infringe upon the Second Amendment already, and 99% of all Americans agree. Now
we need to go a bit further, and infringe a bit more.
Specifically,
I support the following changes:
1.
Allow
the Center for Disease Control and other scientific organizations to thoroughly
study gun injuries and gun deaths.
2.
Require
thorough background checks for all gun purchases – even between family members.
Close EVERY loophole. (87% of NRA members agree!)
3.
People
with histories of violence in their backgrounds do not get permits – period.
Neither do people with histories of serious mental illness. Yes, there should
be due process; but let’s do this! (75% of NRA members agree!)
4.
Ban
sales to people on the terrorist watch list. Again, with due process. (74% of
NRA members agree!)
5.
All
guns should be registered with the federal government.
6.
Ban
“cop-killer” ammunition and hollow point bullets.
7.
Repeal
the protection from liability laws that currently cover gun manufacturers. This
will undoubtedly push manufacturers to produce safer products.
Would these changes solve every problem? No. But just because you
cannot solve every problem does not mean you do nothing! Would these laws be
“infringements”? Yes. Would they save lives? Yes. Are they common sense? Yes.
*Celebration of Community Partners
On Wednesday, June 29, 2016, the Johnson County Board of
Supervisors will host the event “Enhancing Quality of Life in Johnson County: A
Celebration of Community Partners,” at the Johnson County Health and Human
Services Building, 855 South Dubuque Street, Iowa City, in second floor
conference room 203. A reception catered by Shelter House’s Culinary Starts
program begins at 4:30 pm; a brief program will start at 5:00 pm.
The event is an opportunity for the Johnson County Board
of Supervisors to recognize and thank community organizations that receive
county funds. Those organizations’ staff, volunteers, boards of directors and
individuals who have benefited from the programs are invited to attend. The
public is also welcome.
For fiscal year 2017, the Johnson County Board of
Supervisors allocated more than $2 million through various grant and fund
allocation processes to more than three dozen community partners, including
social services organizations, libraries, and economic development groups. In
fiscal year 2017 the Board will also direct $600,000 to address critical
affordable housing needs.
The Board of Supervisors has awarded additional funding to
social service agencies to meet emergency needs and implement innovative programming.
Unlike many grant
programs, county funding can be used by organizations for critical operating
expenses, helping build financial stability. In addition, county funds can be
used to leverage additional money from federal, state or private resources.
*DID YOU KNOW?
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley opposes a ban on terrorist suspects buying
guns. WTF, Chuck? Iowa Senator Joni Ernst said, ”gun control takes our
attention away from our top threat – radical Islamic extremism.” Yet Muslims
have killed less than 5,000 people in the US dating back to our country’s
origin; Christians have killed over 1.5 million – mostly with guns. So is it
really our “top threat”?
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
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serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 2:12 PM
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