A4
Opinion
Blue Mountain Eagle
Removing guns
does not solve
suicide problem
W
hile the state Senate
bill allowing the
removal of guns from
people deemed threatening to
themselves or others certainly
has good intentions, it would
not address the underlying
problems.
If passed by the House of
Representatives, after passing
in the Senate Monday, the
bill would allow a family
member or law enforcement
offi cer to petition the court for
an “extreme risk protection
order” prohibiting a person
from possessing guns and other
deadly weapons, if the court
fi nds the person presents risk
of suicide or injury to another
person in the near future. The
person would have 24 hours to
surrender their guns.
On its face, the bill seems
as if it would be benefi cial
to public safety and health.
And the aim of preventing
people who truly are threats
to themselves or others from
possessing the means to carry
out those imminent threats is
noble.
But the bill is pretty unclear
on what constitutes an extreme
risk. And it would allow to
the court system to remove
property from someone who
may never have been convicted
or accused of a crime .
When an order is issued,
the bill requires the person to
be entered into the state Law
Enforcement Data System and
the National Crime Information
Center, whether or not they
have done anything wrong.
The order would last 12
months, regardless of the
circumstances, and the person
can only request one hearing to
terminate the order during that
12-month period.
The bill defi nes “deadly
weapon” as any fi rearm but
also anything designed for
and capable of causing serious
injury, which could be broadly
construed.
The bill would mandate a
confrontation that could set
off the very thing it is trying to
prevent. If a person refuses to
surrender their weapons, what
then?
Worst of all, this bill does
nothing to address serious
problems in our society with
mental illness and suicide.
By implementing new rules
and classifi cations for people
without addressing the
problem, the bill would only
further stigmatize mental
illness.
People may not seek help
for fear of repercussion through
a court order removing their
property.
People may feel less inclined
to speak to others about their
problems when they are most in
need of support.
Isn’t help and support what
we should be providing?
This bill will clearly have
unintended consequences and
will not necessarily prevent any
of the tragedies it is intended to
address. It certainly won’t solve
the problem.
The real issue is mental
health and how our society
views it. Suicide is a
glaring problem across our
communities. Yet, discussions
about it are taboo.
Rather than pass a bill that
tramples on constitutional
rights, maybe we should talk
about the actual problem.
Until we do, the tragedies
will continue.
W HERE TO W RITE
GRANT COUNTY
• Grant County Courthouse — 201
S. Humbolt St., Suite 280, Canyon City
97820. Phone: 541-575-0059. Fax: 541-
575-2248.
• Canyon City — P.O. Box 276, Canyon
City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0509. Fax:
541-575-0515. Email: tocc1862@centu-
rylink.net.
• Dayville — P.O. Box 321, Dayville
97825. Phone: 541-987-2188. Fax: 541-
987-2187. Email:dville@ortelco.net
• John Day — 450 E. Main St, John Day,
97845. Phone: 541-575-0028. Fax: 541-
575-1721. Email: cityjd@centurytel.net.
• Long Creek — P.O. Box 489, Long
Creek 97856. Phone: 541-421-3601. Fax:
541-421-3075. Email: info@cityofl ong-
creek.com.
• Monument — P.O. Box 426, Monument
97864. Phone and fax: 541-934-2025.
Email: cityofmonument@centurytel.
net.
• Mt. Vernon — P.O. Box 647, Mt.
Vernon 97865. Phone: 541-932-4688. Fax:
541-932-4222. Email: cmtv@ortelco.net.
• Prairie City — P.O. Box 370, Prairie
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
P UBLISHED EVERY
W EDNESDAY BY
City 97869. Phone: 541-820-3605. Fax:
820-3566. Email: pchall@ortelco.net.
• Seneca — P.O. Box 208, Seneca
97873. Phone and fax: 541-542-2161.
Email: senecaoregon@gmail.com.
SALEM
• Gov. Kate Brown, D — 254 State
Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-378-
3111. Fax: 503-378-6827. Website: www.
governor.state.or.us/governor.html.
• Oregon Legislature — State Capitol,
Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986-1180.
Website: www. leg.state.or.us (includes
Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised
Statutes).
• State Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario (Dis-
trict: 60), Room H-475, State Capitol, 900
Court St. N.E., Salem OR 97301. Phone:
503-986-1460. Email: rep.cliffbentz@state.
or.us. Website: www.leg.state.or.us/bentz/
home.htm.
• State Sen. Ted Ferrioli, R — (District
30) Room S-223, State Capitol, Salem
97310. Phone: 503-986-1950. Email: sen.
tedferrioli@state.or.us. Email: TFER2@aol.
com. Phone: 541-490-6528. Website: www.
leg.state.or.us/ferrioli.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
An eye-opening experience
By Shiranne Carter
For the Blue Mountain Eagle
Job shadowing Blue Mountain
Eagle staff has been defi nitely an
eye-opening experience in terms of
learning about what it takes to be a
journalist. I know for a fact when
I fi rst thought of journalism I pic-
tured nothing but writing, or a ro-
manticized version of what a jour-
nalist’s job is, that was further from
the truth. Through my job shadows,
I was able to see how much a re-
porter, editor or anyone else that
works for a newspaper has to do.
Reporters like Rylan Boggs and
Angel Carpenter have to research,
photograph and write their topics
before the public ever sets eyes on
the story. To be a reporter, some-
thing that is my main career goal, is
to be constantly working with peo-
ple and meeting deadlines. Which
can be hard since there has never
been a schedule for new news.
Besides my job shadows with
the staff of Blue Mountain Eagle, I
also was able to do
research into what
to expect and how
I should prepare
myself to reach
my intended goal.
The main consen-
Shiranne
sus I got through
Carter
my research is
that journalism is
an ever-changing career because
of how our media is evolving. In-
stead of getting our news from the
local paper, which we still do, we
also get the news from the internet,
radio, television and other forms
of multimedia. Because of this,
job opportunities for reporters, or
just journalists in general, tend to
fl uctuate continuously, making be-
coming a journalist not as easy as
one would think. The best way to
become a journalist is through in-
ternships or having experience with
a high school newspaper and having
at least a bachelor’s degree focus-
ing on journalism or some degree of
training.
Through my research, I found
that the key skills for a journalist
to have are obviously good writ-
ing, speaking and, surprisingly,
good people skills. Which will be
areas that will need improvement
if I am going to pursue this career
path. Besides that, I gained cool
tricks to actually help when in-
terviewing people besides taking
concise notes. Always to remem-
ber to take off the cap covering
the camera lens, and to record the
people talking instead of writing it
down and just record the minutes
so there are no words forgotten in
the interview. I was able to see how
many steps it takes to actually get
the newspaper ready and become
what you are reading before you.
Although, my idea of a journalist
wasn’t as cookie cutter as I origi-
nally thought, it is still the career
that I wish to pursue.
Shiranne Carter is a senior at
Grant Union Junior-Senior High
School who performed a job shad-
ow at the Blue Mountain Eagle.
L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR
Support our
local offi cials
To the Editor:
While the debate over federal
land management has not changed
over time one thing that has gained
momentum is the slander and ha-
rassment of our local Federal Land
offi cials. Most notably the Forest
Supervisor. While it’s hard to get
agreement on any topic about Fed-
eral Land Management, our super-
visor in my opinion has always tak-
en the time to listen and try to come
up with solutions to problems that
managing federal land presents.
His transparency and ability for
open dialogue should be appreciat-
ed. If there’s an issue on the forest,
meetings will take place, discus-
sions will happen, and, if possible,
solutions will be found and then all
involved move forward, knowing
both sides had to give a little in the
process.
In a perfect world Grant County
would have a mill in every commu-
nity and the restrictions on logging,
recreation and grazing would be
less. But there isn’t and they are not.
Can we support our Forest Ser-
vice leadership and look to the fu-
ture to keep Grant County alive?
Can we give the collaboration pro-
cess time to improve the health of
our forests? Can we keep our last
mill running and thriving? Keep-
ing Grant County a great place to
live, work and raise a family. All
the while knowing the problems we
face today are here and understand
that we need cooperation and coor-
dination of all involved especially
our Forest Service staff and Super-
visor to maximize our federal lands
for generations to come, to keep
Grant County what it always has
been and always will be, a very spe-
cial place to a wide range of people.
Ben Holliday
John Day
Collaborative
funding ‘should
prove interesting’
To the Editor:
Mark Webb, executive director
of Blue Mountains Forest Partners,
stated in a letter to the editor that
John George has a “deep misun-
derstanding” of the 501(c)(3) sta-
tus they operate under and are not
required to release any information
concerning their fi nances. Yet, Mr.
Webb also said by IRS rules they
are “only” required to release their
last three years’ fi nancial records. I
am requesting the last three years
of the BMFP records as Webb indi-
cated they are bound to do by reg-
ulations as operating as a 501(c)(3)
organization. I am anxious to share
the forthcoming and timely deliv-
ered information with others that
are wondering how the BMFP, a
volunteer-based nonprofi t, can pay
Mark Webb a salary of $50,000.
The sources of funding for the col-
laborative group should prove inter-
esting.
Roger McKinley
Prairie City
Practice what
you preach
To the Editor:
Being a citizen and taxpayer
in Grant County, I request Judy
Schuette pay the bill for the time
charged and travel expenses in-
curred for the Grant County at-
torney to travel to facilitate the
recent hearing called by County
Clerk Brenda Percy regarding the
residency of John D. George of
Austin, Oregon.
Schuette filed a complaint
against George (my nephew), and
Schuette needs to pay this bill, not
the citizens of Grant County.
Schuette brought this expense
on the people of Grant County;
the cost should be laid directly
at her feet. Because his residen-
cy was not withdrawn and there
was no need or reason to have the
hearing because Percy made a fa-
vorable determination earlier on
this exact situation.
I find it sad that the County
Court will not put money toward
an investigation of the Canyon
Creek Complex fire, but they
will pay the bill for Schuette’s
complaints about my nephew, in
an obvious attempt to silence his
questioning of the Blue Moun-
tains Forest Partners and the Grant
County Court.
Anyone want to bet what
Schuette’s response will be? Only
when Julie Carr pays for the recall
attempt against County Commis-
sioner Boyd Britton? The differ-
ence is, 500 plus residents partic-
ipated in a democratic process to
attempt to remove an ineffective
commissioner in Britton. Howev-
er, in Schuette’s case, she is trying
to punish a man that does noth-
ing more than ask questions and
share information with the people
of Grant County.
Frances M. Preston
Prairie City
L
etters policy: Letters to the Editor is a forum for Blue Mountain Eagle readers to express themselves on local, state, national or world issues. Brevity
is good, but longer letters will be asked to be contained to 350 words. No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the person. No thank-you
letters. Submissions to this page become property of the Eagle. The Eagle reserves the right to edit letters for length and for content. Letters must
be original and signed by the writer. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers should include a telephone number so they can be reached for
questions. We must limit all contributors to one letter per person per month. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Send letters to editor@bmeagle.com, or Blue
Mountain Eagle, 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845; or fax to 541-575-1244.
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