On Why gun owners are running scared

Posted on November 29 at 11:19 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Obama will have his hands full with the current economic disaster to worry too much about gun runner joe selling ak47's from the back of his pick-up truck. 8 years of Repubs made that possible.

I don't believe Obama will move to heavily in that direction regardless. The majority of violent crimes are committed with small caliber hand guns, not assault rifles, bayonets and grenade launchers. Coming from Chicago, I think he has a pretty good handle on what type of guns are used, and who is using them.

Firearms can be a great hobby. I enjoy target practice with handguns, some enjoy trap shooting, etc... That being said, I also understand the only uses for a handgun are target shooting and self protection. There is some hunting with handguns, but is relatively unpopular for obvious reasons.

Assualt weapons, or rifles/shotguns that have that urban assualt SWAT team look can still used for hunting, BUT everyone knows what their main use is. Mainly gun enthusiasts, military buffs/para-military types are drawn to these.

One also has to take into consideration the Columbine effect as well. The tragedy that began to unfold in our schools in the mid 90's is still relevant today, even though it's been a while. Video games do glamorize weapons and many boys (and some girls) are drawn to the dangerous/cool side of them. Walk down an isle of bb guns or paintball guns with a small boy in he'll go gaga. Why, I don't know.

I hope that what ever attention the firearms issue gets is focused on education. Hunter safety is a great way for kids to learn and understand the danger of guns. I think it should be mandatory for all kids, whether they ever hunt or not.

On Two injured in Beloit shooting

Posted on November 29 at 10 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

TheJoker: You won't get jobs here without giving a reason for business to start up or relocate here. Quality of life does matter.

Frankly, the violence here will continue to increase as the economy worsens, that includes the entire stateline area. People become more desperate to make ends meet and some will turn to gangs, drugs and violence.

As for the comments that they are just shooting themselves, well whomever is on the receiving end of those bullets is a brother,sister, son, daughter, father, mother....to somebody. The day will come when it's somebody you know and I think those smug comments will ring a little hollow.

Happy Holidays.

On Rare albino deer shot in Rock County

Posted on November 18 at 8:26 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

I see this has turned in to a referendum on hunting in general. I don't have a problem with hunting, however it is unfortunate this particular deer was taken. Hunting and using the animal for food is an important lesson all people should learn, whether they choose to be a hunter or not. Having an idea of what it is like to kill another living thing to eat it is a powerful lesson. Shooting it because it was an albino deer is trophy hunting, which in my book shows little respect for the animal, whether he was going to eat it or not. I'm sure if he hadn't shot it, somebody else would have. Unfortunately I know many hunters who are more interested in blowing something away (or flinging an arrow at it) and filling tags, than in the art of the hunt, but that's just my opinion.

On Auto bailout backers offer to cut $25 billion size

Posted on November 15 at 1:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Maybe they should wait to hand out the cash until the domestic car makers actually design cars people want to buy, and I don't mean the GM faithful. Back to back every American car I've had pales in comparison with a foreign vehicle. Why is that?

On Beloit College announces layoffs

Posted on November 9 at 5:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Beloit College is one of the brightest spots about Rock County, too bad most folks are too ignorant to know.

On McCain attacks Obama in final presidential debate

Posted on October 16 at 5:20 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Yes, we can see how will free market capitalism (the repubs mantra) is working can't we? For for a free market economy to work, you need to have people who are rich, and people who are poor, with a nearly non existent middle class. Who want's to be poor, raise your hand? Well somebody has to right? No, better idea....pay people in China to make worthless doo dads for pennies on the dollar so we can go to ____mart to charge up our credit cards. If you want a continuation of the last 8 years with an administration that blew every last penny of a budget surplus that was projected to be 4 trillion dollars by 2010, then by all means, vote for McCain/Palin. If you want a continuation of preemptive wars in countries that had absolutely NO way of harming us, then vote for McCain/Palin. If you like a large chunk of your civil liberties chipped away under the guise of "protecting" us from those bad people, then vote for McCain/ Palin. If you favor an administration that attempted to run a two front war, cut taxes, but at the same time ballooned government (what ever happened to those "small government" repubs? Guess they stayed home in 2000 and 2004.), then vote for McCain/Palin. If you want a vice prez that entertains the notion that humans walked with dinosaurs and some other fairy tales, then vote for McCain Palin.

In the end, just vote. Hopefully more Americans will participate this time. (one more thing the conservatives don't like...let's purge all those people with funny addresses)

On Hunters stumble upon massive marijuana crop

Posted on October 16 at 5:01 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

boy these comment sections go off don't they? Number one, who calls it reefer? I haven't heard that one since the '70's. Number two, the only reason we knew it was there was because someone stumbled on it, so chalk one up for the local constables, right? I'm so glad the war on drugs is working. Number three, people will always want to smoke/drink/inhale/shoot up all kind of things. We have since the dawn of civilization. As a parent, I don't want my children to experience the dead end that is drugs, but the same goes for alcohol. I see no difference.

The most disturbing issue is the booby traps. I don't think there is much to do but be more vigilant if you own land, and be careful of who you meet in the woods. It's a sad day, but is something that many parts of the country have been dealing with for years.

On GM plant to end SUV production by end of year, source says

Posted on October 11 at 10:46 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Part of the problem was a stable of vehicles that were well over $25,000. The new "Traverse", which looks very nice, has a base price of around $29,000. The much exalted "Volt" is about the same. Granted, Toyota and Honda's are around the same price, so whatever happened to affordable cars? Who the heck can actually afford a $30,000 car and pay cash for it, with is what we should be doing. You can't. We have made it impossible to buy anything without credit, and convinced ourselves we constantly need new things all the time. GM as well as other big companies were instrumental in perpetuating an economy that was not self-sustaining. That does not even get into their total disregard of vehicles with a decent MPG, but then that's American's fault as well. Don't tell us we shouldn't or can't drive whatever we want...so we pay the piper.

On Palin revs up Republicans for McCain

Posted on September 20 at 9:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

After reading all or your guy's insightful comments, I'm voting for that Sarah Palin and her running mate....ummmm, what's his name again? You know the old guy, calls himself maverick, but spent 26 years in the Senate voting down the party line on almost everything? What's his name again...nope, slips my mind every time, but gosh! Isn't that Sarah Palin exciting?

On Council chooses Sedona man as likely city manager

Posted on September 18 at 3:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Why on earth would one want to leave Sedona for Janesville? Ughhh!