Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 2017)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2017 Opinion The original intent of the Second Amendment What does the Second Amendment mean? This has been debated over the years, and most recently as a result of the murderous Las Vegas shoot- ings. My thoughts on guns and the Second Amendment have noth- ing to do with hunting or other shooting sports, although those are very popular pursuits. One must understand the Declaration of Independence was written to sever the colonists’ bonds with the English ruling government. Following many attempts to reconcile their differences, they failed. When the Declaration was written, the signers knew this revolution against England would be met with forceful repression. And they were correct. It’s what happens when peo- ple revolt if other means no longer work to settle serious differences. The Second Amendment was included in the Bill of Rights. None of the Bill of Rights grant power to government; they limit government and describe natural or “God-given” rights which mankind basically inher- it at birth. They are not granted by government but are natural preceding even the existence of government. The Bill of Rights is about the preservation of freedom, justice and liberty. I think the Founders feared unchecked government power. This is where we find the Second Amendment. Where the limits to government power are clearly stated. So, when the Second Amendment refers to a well- regulated militia and the indi- vidual’s right to bear arms, it’s a specific mandate providing a citizen’s right to arms beyond that of the National Guard, the standing army or other armed forces “of the government.” While it protects the ability of citizens to maintain arms that might be needed to assist their government in fighting an enemy, it also — and maybe more importantly — it also allows citizens to resist their own government and protect themselves and their freedom if GUEST VIEWPOINT D AVE P ECK F LORENCE it ever becomes necessary against their own government. If that unfortunate day comes, instruments of the state like the U.S. military forces or even National Guard may not be your friends — just as the British army (the colonists’ government at the time) became the enemy. We often hear statements that the Second Amendment was authored with only muskets in mind and modern firearms should not be considered in the same light due to their techno- logical superiority. I don’t agree. At the time, muskets were modern, state-of-the-art weapons on par with the best weapons available (the excep- tion being heavy weapons like cannons) to the British army or any other army of the time. Had even more efficient firearms been available, I’m certain the citizens and soldiers would not have hesitated to keep or use them. Semi-auto- matic firearms certainly fall into that category. No doubt, even in those days, some used firearms crim- inally. But the Second Amendment remained intact. So in the spirit of that amendment, The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, I don’t think we should suppress the rights of the majority as a reaction to individual criminal acts, as hor- rendous as they may be. Today, we live in a Republic with strong democratic values. We have a system of checks and balances. We can vote. Though it seems we could never loose it or fall into the chaos of some kind of dictator- ship, it has happened many times in world history; we would be naive to think we are somehow immune. The Second Amendment provides a final critical protec- tion or “check” against tyranni- cal government, crime, terror- ism or anarchy for American citizens. I don’t think exercising our Second Amendment rights should be taxed like the “sin” taxes on alcohol or marijuana. After all, taxing another right — voting — through poll taxes is prohibited. While some limits to the Second Amendment may be necessary, such as the ban on fully automatic weapons or the bump stock device used in the Las Vegas murders, it’s impor- tant these restrictions be kept to an absolute minimum in order to preserve our freedoms and Constitutional rights. Finally, if some people or some in government have the ultimate goal of diluting the Second Amendment to the extent it becomes meaningless, they should proceed using the process prescribed in the Constitution to actually amend or repeal it if they can. I would oppose this but it would be a far more honest approach than trying to regulate our Second Amendment out of existence. LETTERS C OMMENDING THE C HANDLERS I wanted to commend Mark and Cynthia Chandler for taking an action which they feel is appropriate in terms of reducing gun vio- lence in our country. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” If each of us tried to do something to reduce gun vio- lence we might find ways to make a difference. —Bonnie Rose Allen Florence J OIN U S I N W ORSHIP WATCH! 3 ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST (3ABN) TV UHF Channel 48. 24 hour Christian TV highlights Bible studies of prophecy, inspira- tional music, health lectures, healthy cooking and more. 4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951 Worship on Saturday 10:30 A.M. Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 9:15 A.M. FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP BAY BERRY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP SINGSPIRATION You are invited to come and sing your favorite old time gospel hymns Every Friday night at 7pm • Non-denominational Bay Berry Square; 101 at Sutton Lake Dr. /milepost 185 N. For more information , please call 541-997-2681 THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Located at Munsel Lake Road and North Fork Road Worship Services 10:00 AM Sunday All are welcome! 541-997-7268 87738 Hwy 101 at Heceta Beach Road RUAUU? All are welcome to explore the answer. Sunday Worship Service ~ 10:00 a.m. www.FlorenceUUF.org - (541) 997.2840 FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Worship Services 10:30 on 1st Sunday of each Month 9:00 and 10:30 each following Sunday Adult Classes at 9am; Children’s Sunday School at 10:30m Coff ee Fellowship Following Service 2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025 FOURSQUARE CHURCH 1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337 Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family. Sun. Services: 10:45 a.m., Wed. Bible Study 7 p.m. Website:fl orence4square.com COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418 Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45 Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. –Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m. NEW LIFE CHURCH-UPC Senior Center, 1570 Kingwood • 541-991-9398 Sunday Services: 10am and 6pm CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD Wednesday Bible Study 7:00pm Corner of 10th & Maple –997-3533 Wednesday, 7 p.m. - Family Connections Adult Bible Class, 9:30am on Sundays. Sunday Services, 9am and 10:45am. fl orencecrossroad.org • offi ce@fl orencecrossroad.org NEW LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH, E.L.C.A. 21st & Spruce Street – 997-8113 Adult Forum 9 a.m. – Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship services; Sun. 10:30am & Mon. 5pm Pastor Lori Blake www.lutheranchurchfl orence.com FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - SBC 1935 25th St. – 997-7660 • Pastor, Dr. Marvin Owen Series “People of the Bible.” on Wednesdays 6 p.m. A friendly place to worship, vacationers welcome. Sun.; 11am & 6pm, Sunday school 9:45am. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW Traditional Worship Service 10:00 a.m. , Reverend Greg Wood Sunday School and Nursery – Organ and Choir All Welcome. Come as you are. 3996 N Hwy 101 997-7136 FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 2nd & Ivy – 997-2961 –Non-Denominational RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS) Worship Service: 9:00 am & 10:30 am “War is still not the answer.” FCNL We worship in homes at 11am Sundays Call 997-4237 or 902-9511 for locations. Middle School and High School youth groups meet on Wednesday. RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, L.C.M.S. FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16) 1833 Tamarack Street (2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.) Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m. www.churchofchristfl orence.org Every Sun., Bible Class 9 a.m., Worship Service 10 a.m. 85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038 DVD of Weekly worship service available. Pastor Randy Benscoter FLORENCE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 12th and Nopal –997-9020 Worship Service 10:30 a.m. 10 am Wed., Women’s Bible Study Saturdays, Mens’ Breakfast @ 8 a.m. Online Worship Service@ www.fl orencenaz.com 2135 19th St. –- 997-6600 8:30am, Tuesdays, Morning Prayer Sunday Services: 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. - Wed, 11 a.m. Everyone Welcome – Come walk our Labyrinth. FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH 1318 Rhododendron Dr. –- 997-2523 – Worship at 11:00 AM –- Sunday School at 9:30 AM – Variety of Sunday evening activities - 5 PM Wed. Bible & Children classes at 6:00 PM Call for details. Join Us In Worship 4 lines, approx 15 words, $10 a week 4 week Minimum Deadline 3 p.m. Mondays. SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE DUNES CATHOLIC CHURCH Masses: Sat. 5:30 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m. 1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312 To be included in this directory contact the Siuslaw News at 997-3441, or drop off information at 148 Maple St., Old Town, Florence. UNDERSTANDING MILLENNIALS , LGBTQ In the three-part series in the Siuslaw News about mil- lennials (Sept. 30, Oct. 4, Oct. 7), I never gave a thought about what young men and women in our com- munity workforce did for entertainment. At times, I did wonder what teens did if they did not have after-school activities. I grew up in the Southern Coastal town of Ventrua. After school there were foot- ball or basketball games and afterwards we had sock hops (school dances where you danced in your socks), a great recreation center and of course the beach — so there was so much to do, even dragging (cruising) main street in your car was an activity (See “American Graffiti”). For millennials, however, there is almost nothing to do or any place to meet someone in their age group. Part of the reason could be that the pri- mary focus has been on mak- ing Florence a retirement community. The problem is, without a younger workforce, the city will die. As for the first part in the Siuslaw News series on our LGBTQ community (Oct. 11), I grew up not knowing what a gay person was. It was in 1960 while at art school in Los Angeles that I had my introduction to the LGB culture. During my first two months I had one gay roommate that became open- ly effeminate, and then anoth- er roommate for two years who was in the closet. I went to classes with gay men, lesbians and bi-sexuals and most were out in the open. We studied and partied together and I never gave it a thought. While my wife and I were living in San Francisco, I worked along side a young gay man for two years before, eventually, I found myself at his bedside the night before he died of AIDs. It is not tolerance but acceptance of everyone that makes a difference. Although I admit that I have difficulty with the Religious Right and have no tolerance for hate groups. I give hugs to Jennifer French for speaking out and who I haven’t hugged in sometime. —Win Jolley Florence W ALL S TREET CORE OF P UERTO R ICO ’ S W OES Donald Trump seems to hold Puerto Rico solely responsible for its financial disaster. However, Wall Street just may be the real culprit. Puerto Rico lost its status as a Wall Street tax haven in 2006. Investments along with thousands of skilled laborers departed, resulting in tax loss to the country and contributed to an economic recession. Prior to this, an amendment to bankruptcy laws specifically excluded Puerto Rico from filing Chapter 9. Without transitional help from Washington D.C. after the law change, and unable to meet the budget, Puerto Rico borrowed — with some of the loans at higher rates than what are considered legal under U.S. law. The loans required priority of payment over other finan- cial obligation, such as schools and infrastructure. This status raised the Wall Street bonds from junk status to triple tax exempt and a huge profit for Wall Street and hedge fund operators. Puerto Rico, still stalled in recession and unable to pay the obligations, was “helped” this year by Washington D.C. by stepping in and imposing a fiscal board appointed by the Supreme Court to control the economy so Wall Street obli- gation could be paid, under the duress of investors suing hedge fund operators. The stringent measures are raising costs while eliminat- ing benefits and services, including the closure of many schools in a country where 46 percent of the population now lives below poverty level and unemployment is at 11 per- cent. Now Puerto Rico is left to deal with the hurricane dam- age. —Karen Mahoney Florence 5 A
