Help Us Safeguard the Second Amendment – Yahoo News

There are many great reasons to contribute to the National Reviewwebathon, but I believe that none is more important than the publications steadfast defense of the Second Amendment.

After the outbreak of the coronavirus, millions of Americans, feeling helpless and besieged by forces outside their control, began purchasing firearms to protect their families, property, and community. Once the lawlessness and fanaticism of the Antifa protests began spreading across the country, the number of gun owners continued to climb. When Democrats began embracing the notion of defunding the police, even more citizens saw gun ownership as a necessity of contemporary life.

All of this has added up to the largest surge in gun ownership in American history. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, gun sales have nearly doubled in the first six months of 2020 compared with sales a year ago. If gun manufacturers could keep up with demand, there would probably be an even bigger buying spree.

The spike in gun ownership has occurred within diverse populations, creating millions of first-time gun owners, many of them women and minorities. All of which means that making the philosophical, legal, and historical case for the Second Amendment a right that undergirds all our other liberties has never been more important.

No one does it as well as National Review. And were busy. Attacks on the Second Amendment have been coming from all sides. As Mairead McArdle recently reported, it is likely that conservative justices declined to take up an important Second Amendment case after John Roberts signaled he would side with the left-wing faction of the court. Even before the pandemic broke out, David B. Kopel, one of the nations leading intellectuals on gun issues, warned that District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court decision that reaffirmed the Second Amendment as an individual right, was in a precarious legal situation, as courts abdicate their responsibility to uphold the rights of gun owners around the country.

Story continues

As the pandemic spread, and states began using COVID-19 as a pretext to shutter gun shops, attorney Howard Slugh made the case that such intrusions were unconstitutional, especially given that Americans had an even greater need to protect themselves in the middle of a national emergency.

The gun historian and lawyer Stephen P. Halbrook warned that history has proven that tyrannical government diktats, like the ones being signed by governors and mayors in many municipalities, might long outlast the crisis that inspired them.

Second Amendment champion and editor of NRO, Charles C. W. Cooke, argued that only the cops need guns and cops are racist and will kill you are irreconcilable positions. The right to defend your life and property, whether you are abandoned by the authorities or not, should be nonnegotiable.

One of most vital ways that National Reviewfights against gun restrictionists is by exposing the torrent of misleading coverage from the corporate media. As I recently noted in a piece about Politicos coverage of background checks, there is no issue in political life that is covered as poorly and dishonestly as guns, with the possible exception of religion. Reporters might let the mayor of Chicago deflect from her incompetence by blaming law-abiding gun owners. We dont.

If we dont debunk the New York Times 1619 Project fabulists, who now claim that the Second Amendment was adopted only so that Southerners could use guns to subdue slaves, who will?

With an election coming, its also crucial to point out the increasingly radical position that Democrats have staked out on the guns issue. At National Review, we understand that Joe Bidens often hysterical and inaccurate rhetoric on firearms is merely a warning sign for the type of harmful policies he and his party would support if Biden were to become president.

Since National Reviewhas no sugar daddy, no giant corporate sponsors, we rely on your generosity to keep doing our work. Please support us here, knowing you have our deep appreciation.

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Help Us Safeguard the Second Amendment - Yahoo News

President Donald J. Trump’s Message on National Shooting Sports Month 2020 Says Since My First Day in Office, I Have Made Clear That My Administration…

August 2, 2020 -President Donald J. Trumps message on National Shooting Sports Month 2020.

During National Shooting Sports Month, we commemorate our Constitutional right to bear arms by celebrating Americas cherished past time of recreational and competitive shooting sports.

Our great Nation has a rich history of fostering responsible gun ownership. In the early days of our Republic, turkey shoots encouraged community engagement and brought families closer together. As our country grew, these local events developed into large regional and national events and competitions that drew thousands of spectators. By the late 19th century, sharpshooters such as Pawnee Bill and Annie Oakley established popular shows with Wild West and other themes, touring the country with acts featuring their talent with firearms. These pioneering American folk heroes demonstrated the courage, skill, and persistence necessary to excel in shooting sports and that reflect our founding values. Today, we continue to promote interest in such social pastimes that celebrate our rich and unique history of shooting sports.

As we encourage our fellow Americans to take part in learning more about firearms this month, including safety and proper instruction, we also pledge to continue doing our part to ensure that our rights are never infringed upon. Enshrined in the Bill of Rights, our Second Amendment protects the individual liberties of Americans to keep and bear arms. Since my first day in office, I have made clear that my Administration will always protect and defend the Second Amendment. We will continue to oppose those individuals and policies that attempt to tread on this essential and cherished liberty.

This National Shooting Sports Month, I ask those Americans who currently participate in shooting sports to share this cherished tradition with others. Together, we can proudly ensure that the next generation knows how to safely and responsibly enjoy their Second Amendment freedoms.Source: Office of the White House

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President Donald J. Trump's Message on National Shooting Sports Month 2020 Says Since My First Day in Office, I Have Made Clear That My Administration...

7 races to watch on Election Day in Kalamazoo County – mlive.com

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Voters filing absentee ballots and headline to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 4, will decide a number of primary contests and tax proposals in Kalamazoo County and across the state.

Absentee and in-person votes will be tallied Tuesday in several contested primary races in Kalamazoo County, including for the 60th District state House seat, the 6th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, sheriff, county clerk and for six of the 11 county Board of Commissioners districts.

Related: A guide to Kalamazoo-area candidates, tax proposals on Aug. 4 primary ballots

Many voters have chosen to vote absentee for this election, amid the coronavirus pandemic. County clerks have encouraged voting absentee rather than in-person to slow the spread of COVID-19, though voters still can go cast a ballot at designated polling locations on Tuesday. Residents can also still obtain ballots or register to vote, through Election Day, by visiting their city or township clerks office.

Ahead of Tuesdays primary election, here are seven key races to watch in Kalamazoo County:

60th District Representative in State Legislature

Kalamazoo County Commissioners Stephanie Moore, left, and Julie Rogers, right, are Democrats seeking their party's nomination for the District 60 state House seat in the upcoming Aug. 4 primary election. (Photos provided by candidates)

Two current members of the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners are running for the Democratic nomination for the District 60 seat in the Michigan House of Representatives. Commissioners Julie Rogers and Stephanie Moore will face off on Aug 4. The candidate who wins the primary will face off against the lone Republican candidate Gary Mitchell in Novembers general election.

Related: 2 Kalamazoo County commissioners compete for Democratic nomination in state House race

Rogers, 44, is a former board chairperson and is serving her fourth term on the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners. She serves as the vice president for the National Association of Counties (NACo) Health Steering Committee and sits on the Michigan Assoc. of Counties Board of Directors. She works as a physical therapist at Ascension Borgess.

Moore, 48, is a former chairperson of the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, and has served on that board for seven years. Prior to the county board, Moore served on the Kalamazoo City Commission for eight years.

Rogers resigned as the boards chairperson on July 7. The newly elected board leadership said Rogers was asked to leave because of past behavior. Rogers denies the claim, calling the information released by fellow commissioners a politically motivated smear campaign.

The 60th District seat, which is currently held by state Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, includes all of the city of Kalamazoo as well as portions of the city of Portage and Kalamazoo Township.

6th District U.S. Representative Republican primary

Republicans Elena Oelke and Fred Upton will be on the Aug. 4 ballot for the 6th congressional district.

In the Republican primary, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, will face challenger Elena Oelke in the race for Michigans 6th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Related: Businesswoman will challenge U.S. Rep. Fred Upton in Republican primary for Michigans 6th District

Oelke is a self-employed real estate agent. According to her website, Oelke, 49, of St. Joseph, grew up in the Soviet Union and became an American citizen in 1998.

As for the issues, Oelke cites several positions including being pro Second Amendment, opposed to red flag gun laws, pro education with more individual choices, against illegal immigration with incentives and supportive of border security.

Upton, 67, R-St. Joseph, is running for an 18th consecutive term. He was first elected in 1986. Prior to his election to Congress, Upton worked for President Ronald Reagan in the Office of Management and Budget.

According to his campaign website, Uptons focus remains on passing important legislation to encourage job creation, protect taxpayers, help our community and enhance the quality of life for everyone in Southwest Michigan and throughout our country.

Michigans 6th congressional district encompasses Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties, plus most of Allegan County.

6th District U.S. Representative Democratic primary

State Rep. Jon Hoadley and science teacher Jen Richardson will face off in the Democratic primary for the U.S. House District 6 seat on Aug. 4.

On the other side of the aisle, state Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, and Jen Richardson, a research director and a science teacher at the Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center, will face off for the Democratic nomination in the 6th District race.

Related: Kalamazoo teacher and state lawmaker face off in U.S. District 6 Democratic primary

Hoadley, first elected to represent the 60th state House district in 2014, is currently serving his third and final term in the Michigan House of Representatives. He serves as minority vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and is also a member of the National LGBTQ Task Force, National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, the American State Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention.

Richardson is the research director and a science teacher at the Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center. She has a bachelors degree in biology from Western Illinois University and a masters in education from California Coast University.

The winner of the contest between the two Democrats on Tuesday will go on to face the winner of the Republican primary in the Nov. 3 general election. The congressional seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, who is running for reelection and faces a challenge from fellow Republican Elena Oelke.

Kalamazoo County 911 Proposal:

Voters in Kalamazoo County will consider a countywide tax for the purpose of funding a central public safety communication system and 9-1-1 service system.

Related: New 911 millage would fund Kalamazoo County consolidated dispatch through 2029

The tax, not to exceed 0.65 mills, or $0.65 on each $1,000 of taxable value, would be distributed to the Kalamazoo County Consolidated Dispatch Authority for countywide 911 facilities, functions and services as provided in the Kalamazoo County Emergency 911 Service System Plan. If approved, the millage would operate for 10 years and raise an estimated $6,111,513 in the first year.

After more than three decades of planning, the consolidated dispatch authority went live in 2018, bringing together the City of Kalamazoo, the City of Portage, the County of Kalamazoo, the Charter Township of Kalamazoo and Western Michigan University.

Representatives from each of the five entities signed an initial funding amendment in December 2017 to establish a five-year funding solution, totaling $21.5 million to be paid over a period from 2018 to 2023. There is no long-term funding solution currently in place, and if the millage proposal is approved by voters, Executive Director Jeff Troyer said it would replace the current short-term agreement effective immediately.

The authority also receives additional funding by way of a 42-cent surcharge on phone bills.

In addition to generally funding the operation, maintenance and expansion of the newly consolidated dispatch authority, Troyer said the tax would also provide funding to bring Portage Public Safetys police department onto the same centralized system. The department is the lone law enforcement agency in the county not currently on the consolidated system, the director told MLive.

Kalamazoo County Sheriff:

Kalamazoo County Sheriff's candidates Shannon Bagley, left, and Thomas Swafford, right, are set to square off in the Aug. 4 Republican primary election. (Courtesy photos)

Looking to lead the countys sheriffs office are two Republicans and incumbent Sheriff Richard Fuller, a Democrat running for reelection in November. Republicans Thomas Swafford and Shannon Bagley will go head-to-head in August, seeking the GOP nomination for the office of Kalamazoo County sheriff.

Related: Current deputy, former Kalamazoo police captain square off in GOP sheriff primary

Bagley is a retired Kalamazoo Public Safety captain, and Swafford is a Kalamazoo County Sheriffs deputy. Swafford ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat in 2016, losing to Fuller in the primary. The incumbent secured 76% of the vote in that election.

Bagley, 51, works as a police officer at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, according to biographical information submitted to the Vote411 voter guide. He has a bachelors degree in organization and resource management from Spring Arbor University, as well as an associates degree in criminal justice from KVCC.

Swafford, 57, is a 10-year veteran deputy sheriff in Kalamazoo County, is a graduate of the Kirtland Regional Police Academy and is certified as a corrections officer, according to his submitted bio. Swaffords bio also said he has served as a volunteer reserve officer for local police agency.

Fuller, who was first elected sheriff in Kalamazoo County in 2008, is running unopposed in Augusts Democratic primary.

County Clerk / Register of Deeds

Pictured (l-r) are Doreen Gardner, Sarah Joshi and Meredith Place.

Doreen Gardner, Sarah O. Joshi and Meredith Place are all seeking the Democratic nomination for Kalamazoo County Clerk and Register of Deeds. The winner of the partys nomination after Tuesdays primary will go on to face lone Republican candidate Mona Lisa Watson in the November general election.

Related: Three Democrats competing for Kalamazoo County Clerk and Register of Deeds nomination

Doreen Gardner is a communication coordinator. She attended Moody Bible Institute, Cornerstone University and International Theological Institute. She lists 25 years of management at AT&T among her qualifications and experience for the office.

Sarah O. Joshi is currently the deputy county clerk and elections specialist. For education, she lists a masters degree from Western Michigan University and a bachelors in public relations and journalism, also from Western Michigan University. She said she has proven skills in planning, management, and performance improvement, and a strong work ethic.

Meredith Place is currently serving as commissioner representing the countys District 11, and works as a contract administrator at the Clerical Technical Union at Michigan State University. Place said she has a bachelors degree from the University of Iowa and has experience in local government and being accountable to voters.

Current Kalamazoo County Clerk Tim Snow previously announced his retirement when his current term expires, explaining he would not seek reelection in 2020.

Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners:

The seventh race to watch in Kalamazoo County Tuesday will actually be six separate races. Six of the 11 seats on the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners have contested primaries on August ballots. The winners of each primary will advance and face any remaining opposition in Novembers upcoming general election.

Tami Rey

Tami Rey and Andrew D. Sellin are vying for the Democratic nomination to represent District 1.

Related: Two Democrats running for District 1 seat on Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners

The seat is currently occupied by Commissioner Stephanie Moore, who is running for state House rather than seeking reelection. No Republican candidate filed to run for the seat.

Tami Rey serves as chairperson of the city of Kalamazoo Community Development Act Advisory Committee and recently worked as a property manager at Herman & Kittle, where she was a member of the public safety review and appeals board. Rey is a member of the ISAAC gun violence task force and has worked as a NAACP branch secretary.

Sellin has worked as a machine operator at ARVCO Container Corporation since 2014.

The countys 1st District includes a portion of the city of Kalamazoo as well as an eastern portion of Kalamazoo Township.

Democrats Monteze Morales and Zac Bauer are campaigning for the District 2 seat on the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners.

Democrats Monteze Morales and Zac Bauer are running for the District 2 Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners seat.

Related: Kalamazoo Promise expert challenges newly appointed county commissioner for District 2 seat

In October 2019, both Bauer and Morales interviewed for the open seat after a commissioner stepped down due to a move out of the district. Morales received one vote from the board. Bauer was appointed with six votes.

No Republican candidate filed to run for the seat.

Morales, 43, has worked as an educator for 20 years including her current position as program manager of Kalamazoo Promise Services at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

Bauer, 39, is a Navy veteran. He currently works as program officer focusing on affordable housing and economic development through nonprofit Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Previously, he worked as a law clerk for Zoetis Inc., a community investment manager of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation and was executive director of the Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource Center.

District 2 encompasses Milwood, Edison, Southside and some of the Vine neighborhoods of Kalamazoo.

Democrats Jen Strebs and Mike Seals are campaigning for the District 4 seat on the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners.

Democrats Jen Strebs and Mike Seals are campaigning for the District 4 seat on the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners.

Related: Kalamazoo Township trustee challenges longstanding county commissioner for District 4 board seat

Both Democrats will be on the Aug. 4 ballot, and primary voters will determine whether the incumbent or challenger is nominated to face Republican Andrew Smith in Novembers general election.

Strebs, 43, has served on the townships board for three years. She also serves on the, regional water and wastewater commission and on the board of directors for Public Media Network. Previously, she served on the election commission in Kalamazoo Township. Strebs has also served in Kalamazoo County roles, on the ID advisory board and health equity task force.

Seals, 59, has held the District 4 seat for 10 years, making him the longest serving commissioner currently on the board. He was recently appointed to a leadership role, as Vice Chairperson. He is the first Black man to hold that position. Seals is a retired lineman for Consumers Energy. For more about his experience and campaign, visit his Facebook page.

Pictured are Veronica McKissack (left) and Chris Pomeroy (right)

Democrats Veronica McKissack and Chris Pomeroy are facing off in the race for seat representing District 5 on the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners.

Related: Social worker, union leader face off in Kalamazoo County Democratic primary for District 5

The winner of the upcoming Aug. 4 party primary will go on to face the lone Republican candidate for the seat, Valarie Cunningham, in Novembers general election.

The seat is currently held by Commissioner Julie Rogers, who is running for the Democratic nomination in the District 60 state House race against fellow Commissioner Stephanie Moore.

McKissack, 43, works as a clinical social worker at the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital. She holds a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters degree in social work from Western Michigan University.

Pomeroy, 48, is a labor organizer who currently serves as the director of organizing for Operating Engineers 324 union.

Republicans Vince Carahaly and Jeff Heppler are vying for the District 6 seat on the Kalamazoo County board of commissioners.

Vince Carahaly and Jeff Heppler are looking to secure the District 6 on the Kalamazoo County Commission for the Republican Party.

Related: Business owner, police chief battle in Republican primary for Kalamazoo County Commission

When Republican Ron Kendall resigned last August from the commission, Democrat Jen Aniano was appointed to serve out his term. Aniano is running unopposed for the Democratic Party nomination. The Republican nominee will face Aniano in November.

Vince Carahaly founded The Alcott Center for Cognitive Enhancement and Jeff Heppler is the Augusta police chief and village manager.

Heppler, 67, previously held the District 6 seat for 14 years until he left in 2016 to run for Kalamazoo County Sheriff. He has been the police chief for the Village of Augusta for 38 years and village manager for six years. He also cites being a fireman for 38 years and business owner for 32 years. He previously worked as the Galesburg Police Chief but was fired in 2017. It was a 4-3 vote and the reason cited was that he wasnt responsive to city needs. He sued, saying the firing was over alleged age and weight discrimination but the case was dismissed.

Carahaly, 52, provides services to children with various learning disabilities and disorders at The Alcott Center for Cognitive Enhancement that he founded. He is currently chair of the four-county regional planning council and the vice-chair of the county planning commission. He was a finalist for the District 6 appointment in 2019. He shared that he has extensive private, public, and non-profit experience in many capacities.

The countys 6th District commissioner is elected by and represents residents of Cooper, Richland and Ross townships.

Republicans Dale Shugars, left, and Brian Kovacik, right, are squaring off in the Aug. 4 primary. The two are running for the GOP nomination for the District 9 seat on the Kalamazoo County Commission. (Courtesy photos)

Brian Kovacik and Dale Shugars are set to square off for the GOP nomination in the race to represent District 9 on the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners.

Related: Republicans square off for fourth time in Kalamazoo County board race

The winner of the Aug. 4 Republican primary will face Democrat Keshia Dickason as all three look to fill the seat being vacated by Democrat Christine Morse, who is instead running for state House. Dickason is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Shugars has defeated Kovacik in all three prior contests between the two. He went on to win the general election in 2014 and 2016, but lost to Morse in a closely contested race in 2018 after picking up 77% of the vote in the Republican primary.

In addition to serving the District 9 county commissioner from 2014-2018, Shugars, 67, was a state senator for eight years, served in the state house for four years and sat on the Portage City Council for seven years. He is a graduate of Western Michigan University, where he majored in accountancy and policy. A registered CPA, he is self-employed and, according to his bio, performs management and consulting services.

Kovacik, 55, is a sales consultant who works for a packaging supplies distributor. He studied secondary education at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Western Michigan University. He has no political experience.

The 9th District commissioner is elected by and represents residents of Texas Township as well as a southeast section of Oshtemo Township.

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7 races to watch on Election Day in Kalamazoo County - mlive.com

THE RACE FOR CD3 | This got a lot more interesting, observers say – coloradopolitics.com

Strategists and politicians on the left and right agree: The race to represent Colorados Republican-leaning 3rd Congressional District got a lot more interesting at the end of June, when gun-rights activist and first-time candidate Lauren Boebert toppled five-term incumbent Scott Tipton in the GOP primary.

Boebert, owner of the attention-grabbing Shooters Grill in Rifle where the waitresses are armed will face former state Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush, the Steamboat Democrat who also served on the Routt County Commission and was seeking a rematch with the more traditionally conservative Tipton, who beat her by 8 percentage points in the last election.

In an observation echoing national election forecasters, a number of seasoned politicos with roots in the sprawling district told Colorado Politics that Mitsch Bushs chances of moving the seat into the Democratic column are better than they would have been had the less flamboyant Tipton had won the nomination, but itll still be a tough lift among the 3rd CDs largely rural and smaller-town voters.

The rest of the state might be trending blue, but the Eastern Plains and Western Slope arent as likely to follow the Front Range and more liberal mountain towns, former state GOP chairman and statewide campaign veteran Dick Wadhams said.

Political consultant Greg Brophy, a former Republican state senator from Wray, the other side of the state, echoed Wadhams, saying that no matter how blue the state trends overall, the Western Slope is still a broad swath of red.

But Alan Salazar, who hails from Grand Junction and is chief of staff to Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, said it would be a mistake to count electoral chickens in 2020.

Its a right-of-center district but not a crazy ideological one, he said. I feel like this is the year where Trump is so unpopular in Colorado, its a very good year to be a Democrat in the state, no matter where.

A note of optimism

State Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Eagle, who occupies the House District 26 seat Mitsch Bush held before she resigned to run against Tipton last time, sounded a note of optimism for his fellow Democrat.

Absolutely its a district a Democrat can win. A lot of things need to come together for that to happen, and we might be seeing those things happening this year. Youve got an open seat with no incumbent, a national trend going against the Republican Party, and a pretty inexperienced candidate running on the Republican side, he said.

Roberts, who organized most of the Western Slope for the President Barack Obamas 2012 re-election campaign, acknowledged its a hurdle.

The reality of the district is, its such a gigantic and diverse district, where the numbers have been trending more conservative going against the statewide move toward the Democrats. Its still hard for a Democrat but its possible.

It will be difficult for both candidates to put themselves in front of voters, particularly with the pandemic restricting the kind of face-to-face campaigning that works in a district with so many distinct communities, the experts said.

Both nominees run the risk of allowing their opponent to paint them as too extreme to represent a seat that has a habit of sending more middle-of-the-road politicians to Congress, including Tipton and John Salazar, the Democrat he unseated, rancher and former state lawmaker, and Republican Scott McInnis and then-Democrat Ben Campbell before him.

Tyler Sandberg, an executive at the education-reform group Ready Colorado and the campaign manager for former U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, who lost his suburban 6th Congressional District seat in an anti-Trump wave in the last election, said polling hes seen suggests Republicans could be in more peril than theyre acknowledging.

The Trump factor

The presidents support among his party, Sandberg said, has been dropping from the rock-solid 95% level Trump enjoyed until recently into the low 80s. Trump is bleeding out in swing-state polls around the country, he said, adding that if similarly largely rural states like Missouri are in play, he must be bleeding out pretty badly.

Wadhams said if the bottom drops out, Republicans from U.S. Sen Cory Gardner on down will face a blowout in November.

Colorado voters have been notorious about ticket splitting, but I dont think thats a dynamic thats going to be much in play in 2020, said Alan Salazar. Trump is such a polarizing figure. My gut sense is people are looking for a return to calm, order, a process we can trust to get away from some of this craziness.

Boeberts flirtations with the right-wing conspiracy movement QAnon could pose a risk for her, if dissatisfaction with Trump and the GOP brand runs as deep as some Republicans fear, Wadhams said.

Former state Sen. Josh Penry, a native son and a state political strategist, said the pox on both your houses frustration among voters could play both ways, though, noting that Mitsch Bush might be from the Western Slope but lives in a resort community.

If John Salazar is the nominee? This is an absolute dogfight, Penry said. But a liberal politician from a resort town talking about turning the district blue, I think theyve got an imperfect messenger for this district.

The pent-up frustration in rural America, which helped lift Trump to a 12-peercentage point win in the district four years ago, he added, hasnt gone away.

Alan Salazar said itll come down to which candidate voters believe represents Western Slope values and interests and which provides a level of comfort.

Scott Tipton wouldve been somebody a lot of people could have voted for, but Im not sure about Ms. Boebert, he said.

This district is very diverse, Roberts said. There are communities in the mountains where tourism and the environment and conservation are the top issues, then you head into Grand Junction, the San Luis Valley, where agriculture and energy are the biggest topics. You need somebody who can speak to all those different issues and have their finger on a variety of pulses.

Mitsch Bush, he said, has deep experience on all those issues and laid down a record as a county commissioner and in the legislature.

I have confidence that Diane, when she goes to different communities, can speak well and is very informed on the particular issues that matter to those communities, he said, adding, I havent seen Lauren Boebert speak about any issue but the Second Amendment and freedom, quote unquote.

However the race shapes up, Sandberg said, the Democrats get a win. TV time in the district which covers all four of Colorados markets, including the expensive Denver market will be pricey.

Republicans will have to spend a million or two to defend the seat that they wouldnt have spent if the nominee had been Tipton, Sandberg speculated.

If you wanted to have a knock-down-drag-out in CD3, it could get pretty expensive, pretty quick, he said. Will the Democrats spend money to put that one seat into play? Will the Republican super PACs spend money to keep it?

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THE RACE FOR CD3 | This got a lot more interesting, observers say - coloradopolitics.com

National Labor Relations Board Announces Another Proposed Rule Regarding Representation Elections – Labor Relations Update

On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or the Board) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the National Federal Register. With its latest foray into rulemaking, the Board is looking to make two amendments to the current rules governing representation elections held under the National Labor Relations Act. Both these amendments are subject to public comment for sixty days following the published notice.

This is the third set of amendments the NLRB has made to the election rules in the past twelve months. In December 2019, the Board issued a proposed rule that would make sweeping changes to election rules and processes by eliminating many of the quickie election rules issued in 2015. As you may have seen, a federal judge blocked implementation of some of those rules, holding they failed to comply with the APA by circumventing the notice-and-comment procedure. The Board has since appealed that order, and implemented the rules that were unaffected by the order. The Board also announced changes to the Boards blocking charge policy, timing and notice requirements attendant to voluntary recognition, and 9(a) recognition in the construction industry in April. Implementation of those rules was delayed until July 31 due to COVID-19.

The first amendment announced on July 28 seeks to eliminate the Boards requirement that employers provide available personal email addresses and home and cell phone numbers of all eligible voters to the Regional Director. The Board believes that the current requirement does not protect employees privacy interests, and eliminating this rule would better advance these important privacy interests.

The second amendment seeks to provide absentee ballots to employees currently on military leave. In light of congressional policies that protect service members employment rights and provide them with the opportunity to vote in federal elections, the Board believes it should seek to accommodate service members during representation elections. Additionally, the Board believes it can do so without impeding the resolution of these elections.

These two most recent proposed changes to NLRB representation election rules will not only protect employee privacy, but will also bolster enfranchisement for workers who are out of the workplace on military leave when an election occurs. We will certainly track the progress of this most recent round of proposed rules and will keep you posted of any significant updates.

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National Labor Relations Board Announces Another Proposed Rule Regarding Representation Elections - Labor Relations Update

Conservative Justices Declined to Take Up Second Amendment Case after Roberts Signaled He Would Side with Liberals: Report – National Review

Chief Justice John Roberts arrives to preside over the impeachment trial for President Trump at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., January 22, 2020.(Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

The conservative wing of the Supreme Court reportedly declined to take up a case dealing with Second Amendment rights after Chief Justice John Roberts indicated that he would vote with the courts liberal justices.

In June, the justices rejected petitions from 10 challenges relating to state restrictions on firearms after Roberts signaled he would not vote with them, depriving the courts conservatives of the fifth vote needed to overturn gun regulations, CNN reported Monday.

In December, the Court heard a challenge to a New York City handgun regulation but ultimately determined that the challenge was made irrelevant when the New York City law involved was altered. The case revolved around whether licensed handgun owners may take a locked and unloaded handgun to locations outside the city, such as second homes or upstate firing ranges. The justices returned the relevant provisions of the challenge back to a lower court.

The four most reliably conservative justices were not confident that they would get a fifth vote from Roberts on the case or similar cases addressing the Second Amendment, according to unidentified sources cited by CNN.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh penned an unsigned opinion that was overseen by Roberts for that case in which six justices agreed that the case should be relegated to the lower court. In a separate statement that Kavanaugh signed, he said that the Supreme Court should address soon the issue of varying interpretations of the Second Amendment.

Roberts became a frequent deciding vote on the Supreme Court after Justice Anthony Kennedy retired in 2018. Since then, the chief justice has voted frequently with the Courts four liberal justices and most recently cast the decisive vote last month to block the Trump administration from ending the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which prevents immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children from being deported.

Send a tip to the news team at NR.

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Conservative Justices Declined to Take Up Second Amendment Case after Roberts Signaled He Would Side with Liberals: Report - National Review

Letter to the editor | Don’t be fooled by changes in language – TribDem.com

Language can be a powerful but cunning tool. Change words slightly and presto, the context changes beneath ones feet.

For example, have you noticed how the language regarding guns has evolved recently? Its no longer gun control; instead its gun safety. What a clever shift. No one can object to gun safety, right? Its just plain reasonable. If you criticize it, you must be one of those crazy gun nuts.

The latest language shift is the characterization of open carry of firearms as a loophole. Obviously, if the Founding Fathers had any idea that citizens might run around carrying firearms openly, they would have forbidden it. Its perfectly clear to reasonable people that open carry is a loophole they forgot to close. But never fear, we can make this minor fix to the Second Amendment for the safety of all.

Of course, the open carrying of firearms is not a loophole in the Constitution. At the time, virtually all firearms were carried openly. It wasnt possible to carry them any other way. It wasnt until firearms became compact enough to conceal that concealed carry became an issue. Consequently, laws were drafted to require permits to ensure that the scary person next to you couldnt be carrying a hidden firearm unless properly screened and trained. (We can debate the constitutionality of such regulations another time.)

My point is, we need to read between the lines to avoid the snares set by clever shifts in language.

Mark Sherbine

Portage

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Letter to the editor | Don't be fooled by changes in language - TribDem.com

Letter: Chiodo will bring nothing but division – Opinion – HollandSentinel.com

FridayJul31,2020at12:01AM

I would like to thank Caitlin Taylor from The Monroe News for her summary of a candidate running for Park Township supervisor in the Aug. 4 primary, Jim Chiodo, who previously served the township as a trustee (2012-16).

During his single term, he did little to help bring our township together. In fact, Jim did very little as a trustee overall other than fueling political infighting. We do not need a repeat of those ugly days and we certainly do not need more attitudes of division, and certainly not in a demanding supervisory role.

Chiodos history and outreach seeking our votes have significant overtones based in hatred and can only fuel the divide in our country. He has vowed to "fully investigate" the Park Township Airport situation; however, it is my opinion, and based on his track record, he will not do his homework and will not fully reveal the results. Maybe it is time we let the voters and taxpayers have the last say on that topic and not some want-to-be politician.

Chiodo speaks of upholding and defending the Constitution, yet his threat against The Sentinel resulted in a 2017 personal protective order against him. The court revoked his CPL. I like full disclosure and transparency and while he espouses similar beliefs, he seems to avoid such difficult topics when it does not suit him. Im all for Second Amendment rights, unless you are waving them at the press for expressing their First Amendment rights or the judge for doing her job.

Please join me in voting for Jim Gerard. You may not agree with Gerards position on the airport, but Jim and the other six standing trustees brought the topic to voters, which allowed us to decide. I am convinced Gerard will do his homework, will be productive and will do what he believes is best for the township not himself!

Jeff Pfost

Park Township

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Letter: Chiodo will bring nothing but division - Opinion - HollandSentinel.com

Gun rights group draws ire of top lawmaker – Wyoming Tribune

CASPER A growing group of Wyoming lawmakers including the vice president of the Senate are coming after one of the states most aggressive gun rights groups after it lodged efforts to discredit incumbent Republican lawmakers in a number of vulnerable districts ahead of next months Republican primary.

The group, Wyoming Gun Owners, has been a consistent presence in Wyomings politics, presenting itself to residents as an uncompromising and unapologetically aggressive proponent for the Second Amendment in Cheyenne.

Throughout the last two weeks, however, the organization has focused on pitting its often aggressive campaign tactics and extensive digital operation against out-of-favor politicians.

Established lawmakers like Cheyenne Sen. Tara Nethercott and Kemmerer Rep. Fred Baldwin have come under Wyoming Gun Owners microscope this summer, even with Nethercott running unopposed in her primary this year. Michael Von Flatern a moderate Republican senator from Gillette has received the most attacks over the years, dubbed the organizations Biggest Enemy to Gun Owners in Wyoming and regularly disparaged outside of campaign season.

The organization has also taken strides to actively influence legislative races across the state by running videos attacking the voting records of legislators facing challenges from candidates it endorses.

Rep. Dan Kirkbride, R-Chugwater, has attracted the ire of the organization as he faces off against the Wyoming Gun Owners-backed Jeremy Haroldson, while Cheyenne Republican Sen. Affie Ellis was recently targeted by the organization in her primary race against Dan Young.

Incumbents in highly competitive districts like House District 24, currently occupied by Rep. Sandy Newsome, have come under some of the most withering attacks from the organization, depicted by Wyoming Gun Owners as lapdogs of legislative leadership while they face intense competition from candidates on the right wing of the Republican Party who have pledged to back all of the organizations legislative priorities.

She hasnt been in office long, Aaron Dorr, the organizations policy director, said in a recent video opposing Newsome in favor of her opponent, Nina Webber. But shes quickly made a name for herself as a do-nothing moderate who the leadership team can always count on to oppose any gun bills that come along, and to be a safe leadership vote.

Newsome has consistently declined to fill out the organizations candidate survey and voted last year against a bill proposing to ban gunfree zones in places like the University of Wyoming campus.

But she has hardly mounted an opposition against ones right to bear arms.

In the last session alone, Newsome voted for a bill to ban gun buyback programs, voted in support of legislation to protect those who keep firearms in their vehicles at the workplace and even backed legislation to protect law enforcement officers who refuse to comply with federal laws seen as in conflict with ones Second Amendment rights.

Even Devils Tower Sen. Ogden Driskill, the vice president of the Senate, has come under fire from the organization in recent weeks, labeled by Wyoming Gun Owners as a Republican in Name Only and a swamp monster for speaking out against the organization and its tactics despite, in his own words, being among the most Second Amendment-friendly legislators in Cheyenne.

To call me an ultra-moderate gun hater is probably a pretty good stretch for anybody that knows me, Driskill said in an interview with the Star-Tribune. They use tactics that remind you of Washington, D.C., or out-of-state politics. Ive been proud that really dirty, nasty politics has not come to Wyoming, and this is opening the door to that style of politics.

People in Cheyenne have known the name of Wyoming Gun Owners and its leader, Dorr for many years now.

Founded by now-Sen. Anthony Bouchard in 2010, Wyoming Gun Owners has played an outsize role in the states politics for a number of years. While most of its infrastructure is based out of state, the organization maintains the veneer of a high-powered Wyoming lobbying organization, with an instate field coordinator, a mailing list of hundreds of individuals and a number of legislative victories to its credit, including the passage of the states controversial stand your ground bill in 2018 and a massive opposition campaign that aided in the pulling of a piece of mental health reporting legislation prior to the 2020 session.

While the on-the-ground following of the organization is very real, Dorr and his family have come under increasing scrutiny over the last several years for running a network of right-wing Facebook pages and gun rights organizations in states such as Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri that critics say intend only to stoke fear and anger in an effort to elicit donations to enrich the family.

In April, national news organizations like NBC News and the Washington Post tied the Dorr family to a number of anti-quarantine protests in cities around the United States, including ones the brothers did not reside in.

Earlier this year, The Daily Beast published an expose on the brothers Second Amendment lobbying efforts, quoting an Iowa state lawmaker describing Aaron Dorr as a scam artist using unfounded accusations in an effort to gin up donations for his organization.

If youre sending this guy money, Im asking you to stop. It is time for his scam to end, Matt Windschitl, the Iowa state representative, was quoted as saying on the floor of the Statehouse in April 2017. You need and you deserve the truth: Aaron Dorr is a scam artist, a liar, and he is doing Iowans no services and no favors.

As the organizations attacks against incumbent lawmakers in Wyoming have begun to escalate, a growing number of conservatives have begun lobbing their own attempts to discredit the organization, highlighting the flow of cash seen in other states to the brothers own consulting firm.

Theyre not here for Second Amendment rights, Driskill said. Theyre here to stir controversy and raise money.

As news about the organization began circulating among Wyomings political community on social media over the past week, Dorr has released a series of videos defending the organization and its practices, arguing he and his brothers organization is a multi-state bulwark for individual liberty wherever the fight is worth fighting.

Ive been involved in the fight for gun rights in five states for the last 12 1/2 years now and, of course, Ogden Driskill is angry about that because of course no one who was not born and raised in Wyoming has the right to fight for freedom, Dorr said in a recent video on the groups Facebook page.

Wyoming Gun Owners has always been a Wyoming-run member-driven organization, and it always will be, Dorr said in a text message to the Star-Tribune. Ogden is mad because we are exposing his dirty financial deals in Cheyenne and because we are exposing his Swamp buddies like Michael Von Flatern, one of the states leading voices for mental health gun control. Frankly, if we didnt have moderate politicians howling during the primary season, we would not be doing our jobs right!

But the group has been put on defense as of late, even releasing a video explaining why it opposed a hard-line piece of gun legislation called the Second Amendment Preservation Act (which was sponsored by hardcore gun rights supporters like Rep. Tim Salazar, R-Riverton, and Rep. Mark Jennings, R-Sheridan) after being pushed on it by Driskill. While the organization argues that the legislation was weak and lacked a means of enforcement, Driskill says the group fought to kill the bill because it was backed by their rival, the National Rifle Association, and included lawmakers it didnt like including Driskill as co-sponsors.

He says thats the same reason several of Wyoming Gun Owners chosen candidates voted against it as well.

Youll hear him say now that it was a bad bill, but they forgot to tell all the rest of the people about it, Driskill said. The people that killed HB-118 were Sen. Bouchard, Sen. (Tom) James, and all of the Democrats in the Wyoming Senate. Their hated Sen. Von Flatern, their hated Sen. Baldwin, the list goes on and on. All the people that they claim are soft on guns all voted together with Anthony Bouchard, their superstar, to kill a piece of gun legislation.

While pressure on Wyoming Gun Owners has been mounting, the organization itself is looking to ramp up its aggressive campaigns in the coming weeks. In a fundraising email July 15, the organization said it hoped to raise more than $52,000 to target 16 races around the state while defending favored candidates in vulnerable seats this summer, including Bouchard and Rep. Dan Laursen, R-Powell.

WYGO has released multiple ads in this election cycle exposing notorious gun grabbing Republicans like Michael Von Flatern and Dan Furphy that have been seen by tens of thousands of gun owners, Dorr wrote in a text message. We will be rolling out additional spots over the coming two weeks.

But Driskill who says he supports much of what the organization is fighting for is tired of the negative campaigning, and says that there are greater issues to judge candidates by than a less-than-perfect record on the Second Amendment or their refusal to fill out the groups candidate survey, which includes numerous questions asking lawmakers to sponsor or co-sponsor bills they favor.

As I started looking through it all, (Wyoming Gun Owners) are really savage against candidates like Ed Cooper, Mike Bailey, Erin Johnson. They have all come out and say that theyre very strong pro-Second Amendment gun rights, Driskill said. Theyre all on record. But they didnt meet the litmus test for WYGO.

I guess from my end as a voter, its up to me to decide what a candidate does, he added. Do we want single-issue candidates, or do we want well-rounded politicians that are really listening to their constituents and taking care of issues in their area? My answer is always I want to respond to constituents, not someone who is bound by a survey to vote a certain way.

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Gun rights group draws ire of top lawmaker - Wyoming Tribune

National Labor Relations Board Announces Another Proposed Rule Regarding Representation Elections – JD Supra

On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or the Board) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the National Federal Register. With its latest foray into rulemaking, the Board is looking to make two amendments to the current rules governing representation elections held under the National Labor Relations Act. Both these amendments are subject to public comment for sixty days following the published notice.

This is the third set of amendments the NLRB has made to the election rules in the past twelve months. In December 2019, the Board issued a proposed rule that would make sweeping changes to election rules and processes by eliminating many of the quickie election rules issued in 2015. As you may have seen, a federal judge blocked implementation of some of those rules, holding they failed to comply with the APA by circumventing the notice-and-comment procedure. The Board has since appealed that order, and implemented the rules that were unaffected by the order. The Board also announced changes to the Boards blocking charge policy, timing and notice requirements attendant to voluntary recognition, and 9(a) recognition in the construction industry in April. Implementation of those rules was delayed until July 31 due to COVID-19.

The first amendment announced on July 28 seeks to eliminate the Boards requirement that employers provide available personal email addresses and home and cell phone numbers of all eligible voters to the Regional Director. The Board believes that the current requirement does not protect employees privacy interests, and eliminating this rule would better advance these important privacy interests.

The second amendment seeks to provide absentee ballots to employees currently on military leave. In light of congressional policies that protect service members employment rights and provide them with the opportunity to vote in federal elections, the Board believes it should seek to accommodate service members during representation elections. Additionally, the Board believes it can do so without impeding the resolution of these elections.

These two most recent proposed changes to NLRB representation election rules will not only protect employee privacy, but will also bolster enfranchisement for workers who are out of the workplace on military leave when an election occurs. We will certainly track the progress of this most recent round of proposed rules and will keep you posted of any significant updates.

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National Labor Relations Board Announces Another Proposed Rule Regarding Representation Elections - JD Supra

Trump pitches fear to the suburbs – The Boston Globe

Its not enough that President Trumps dark vision of American carnage is being made manifest by his own actions in a politically motivated war on the nations cities. Now Trump is saying that his Democratic rival for the presidency, Joe Biden, is at war with the suburbs.

In tandem with the occupying army of federal troops he sent to Portland, Ore., Seattle, and elsewhere, Trump has opened up a new front in his flailing reelection campaign. His tweets and campaign ads now try to portray the former vice president as a dangerous undercover agent for a left-wing mob that wants to abolish the suburbs along with the Second Amendment, religion, and anything else Trump thinks his base holds dear.

Joe Biden and his bosses from the radical left want to significantly multiply what theyre doing now, Trump said in a meandering speech earlier this month. And what will be the end result is you will totally destroy the beautiful suburbs. Watch out, soccer moms: Joe Biden is coming for your gas grill and your white picket fence.

Trump is right to be concerned about the suburban vote, since no Republican presidential candidate has won without that bloc since at least 2004. And he is currently losing them badly to Biden in opinion polls. Trumps most transparent appeal to these voters came in late July, when he tweeted: The suburban housewives of America must read this article. Biden will destroy your neighborhood and your American Dream! The tweet linked to an article by conservative columnist Betsy McCaughey blasting an Obama-era zoning reform.

Coincidentally (or not) McCaugheys article came after several weeks of Trump telegraphing his intent to dismantle the fair housing rule. He raised the specter of integrated multifamily housing, bringing who knows into your suburbs and causing home values to drop like a rock.

Never mind that, in the last five years, suburban home prices have only increased. Or that the Obama rule which requires communities seeking federal aid to study whether discriminatory housing practices exist in their towns and devise a plan to mitigate them is relatively modest. Trumps message is clear enough: Only he can protect suburban (read: white) women from the lawless mayhem overtaking American cities.

In fact, Trumps tirades reveal how little he understands about todays suburbs, not to mention todays women. Over the past few decades, the suburbs have shed their Donna Reed image and become more like small cities: more diverse racially, with public transit, denser housing, and walkable downtowns. Even in red states, cities tend to vote Democratic, and the lines defining the suburban rings around them are blurring.

As to the housewives, they may have more in common with the wall of moms who have come out in solidarity with the Portland demonstrators than Trump imagines. The issues they worry about how to control the coronavirus, how to return their children safely to school, how to earn a decent wage or find affordable childcare, how to live in peaceful and just communities have been ignored in favor of stoking anger and resentment. The majority of workers on the front line of health care crisis are women. Trumps bullying everyone to reopen schools and businesses amid a spiking death toll doesnt make them feel safe.

Trump may be fueling the unrest in cities all run by very liberal Democrats as a desperate tactic to save his candidacy. But he also feeds on violent spectacle. Trumps rallies often have the vibe of a British soccer match, with their undercurrent of hooliganism. In a 2016 rally, he said of a heckler, Id like to punch him in the face. Speaking about protesters at another event in Iowa, he suggested to the crowd, knock the crap out of them, would you? With the COVID-19 disaster sidelining his rallies, teargassing mothers in bicycle helmets may be the next best thing.

Trumps entire worldview is rooted in combatively exploiting divisions: native against immigrant, rich against poor, and now city against suburb. But his mounting failures in leadership, judgment, and basic human empathy are greater than any superficial divides.

Rene Loths column appears regularly in the Globe.

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Trump pitches fear to the suburbs - The Boston Globe

Candidates make pitches as election nears – Northeast Georgian

Wednesday nights political forum sponsored by The Northeast Georgian and 107.7 The Breeze gave voters one final chance to hear from candidates participating in the Aug. 11 runoff election.

Despite all candidates remaining civil during the forum, the portion between incumbent Natalie Crawford and challenger Bruce Harkness for Habersham Countys District 4 commission seat did feature some debate over the countys biggest infrastructure needs.

Crawford pointed to the countys roads and bridges as the biggest infrastructure need.

Ideally you would be on a cycle where youre replacing and resurfacing these roads and bridges every 20 year cycle, but were more than 40 years out due to budget constraints, Crawford said. I would applaud our county employees for their ingenuity and the work they do to do that as low cost as possible and still have quality roads and bridges. Additionally we are able to secure somewhere upwards of $1.5 million per year in grants to help us stay on as strong of a cycle of refinement and resurfacing that we can be on.

Harkness disagreed with Crawford, as he believed the countys infrastructure were some of the best roads and bridges in the state of Georgia. Instead, Harkness pointed to the lack of a water and sewer plan to combat future growth as the countys biggest infrastructure concern.

We have not got one plan in this county for future growth, and growth is coming, Harkness said. I dont want growth, but we have to be prepared and we have to be ready for it. And I say water and sewer is our biggest problem and issue.

Crawford later rebutted, saying the lack of a countywide water strategy was a little misleading, as there is a monthly countywide meeting by a water group to discuss the countys water plan.

We have a monthly water group that talks about the countywide water plan, and they have been meeting every single month for five years, Crawford said. The city of Demorest has been to maybe five of those meetings, including during my challengers tenure on the city council. So to say we dont have a countywide water strategy is a little misleading.

Along with discussing the countys biggest needs in infrastructure, the two were also asked how they would help Habersham County meet its goals without increasing taxes even with a reduced budget for the 2021 fiscal year due to the economic downturn from COVID-19.

If elected, Harkness vowed to take a close look at the budget to cut out any unnecessary spending.

We need to look at the whole budget and revamp things, Harkness said. In our budget its calling for $750,000 for overtime When we train these employees, keep them, appreciate them and pay them correctly, then we wont be paying $750,000 per year in overtime.

On the other hand, Crawford expressed her support for focusing on strengthening the countys industrial base to offset the budget shortage.

Things that weve accomplished that are going to help us reach those [budget] goals is the creation of the Economic Development Council, the buildout of the industrial park so that better recruit industries that fit in this community to that industrial park, Crawford said. So continuing to focus efforts on strengthening our industrial base and balancing that tax digest is how we do that.

COUNTY DISTRICT 1

Bruce Palmer and Jeffrey Lunsford, the two candidates vying for the District 1 county commission seat, spoke on a variety of issues during the forum, including their plans for working with Habersham Countys municipalities and how they would work to balance growth with preserving the rural way of life.

Habersham County has never had a sewer system or a sewer treatment system, and thats going to be one of the big things to draw business and industry, Palmer said. Habersham County is going to have to work with one or more of the cities to provide sewer into the unincorporated areas of the county that way we can expand business and industry out into the county, and in doing that it will help offset the tax burden from the citizens who currently shoulder about 68% of the taxes.

Lunsford agreed with Palmer, adding that he has noticed cooperation dwindle between the countys municipalities and he hopes to rekindle that if elected.

The cities and county have always worked together great until here recently. Weve all had the same common goals. Im not sure where along the lines weve lost that ability and lost our cooperation, but we need to reach out and start communicating, Lunsford said. I think a lot of it is a lack of communication between [the city and county]. We need to start trying to work together for the mutual interest of everybody.

Lunsford also spoke on Habersham Countys zoning rules as the reason it will be able to balance industrial growth with its rural quality of life.

Habersham County has always had really good zoning laws where everything is based on smart growth, Lunsford said. The biggest thing we need to be careful of is allowing changes to the zoning and looking at the impact its going to have in the future.

Palmer instead pointed to the Georgia state Route 365 corridor overlay as a way to manage the influx of people and industry projected to come to the county in the near future.

The county has developed a corridor overlay project for [state Route] 365. The whole point behind that project is to kind of say where business, industry and even some larger residential areas would be in that area, Palmer said. I think thats a way we can control where out growth is going. That way the other areas of the county that are residential and farm areas can stay that same way.

GEORGIA HOUSE DISTRICT 10

In the race for Georgias District 10 House of Representatives seat, Victor Anderson and Robert Crumley answered questions on the most prevalent issue constituents had mentioned to them while campaigning.

For Anderson, a Habersham County native and former chairman of the county commission, he said the biggest issue brought to him by constituents was COVID-19, and how he would work to move them out of the pandemic if elected.

Right now, I think the biggest thing is safely going out of the coronavirus crisis that were in, and restarting our economy, Anderson said. [How we do that safely] is a critical question. Its a question that kind of falls on the shoulders of our governor but its up to our state legislators to assist him and back him up. It also takes people who know that process and can speak confidence to him and his staff.

For Crumley, a former Trump campaign worker and sheet metal salesman, the biggest issue raised by constituents to him were the lack of jobs and affordable housing in the area.

As we turn into more of a touristic community, our industries are leaving, our textile mills are leaving, everybodys leaving and nobodys coming into the community. So people are losing their jobs, but they cant afford to commute from their houses here to Atlanta, and they cant afford the taxes to start their own small businesses.

With both candidates mentioning jobs and the economy, both then fielded questions on their opinions of the states COVID-19 pandemic response and what alternate revenue sources they would consider using to offset the tax revenue shortfall caused by the pandemic.

For both, the answer was to reopen the economy fully to allow businesses and individuals to support themselves and naturally come out of the pandemic.

Given the opportunity our economy will come back strong, it will come back fierce, Anderson said. All the industry and backing people I talk to say that this time next year we will be back at about 125% of production and economic impact that we were at before this hit if we can get a handle on whats going on with COVID-19.

The state could utilize its revenue stream by opening back up the economy. The economy was probably the No. 1 infringement on the states revenue upon the states revenue that had been done, Crumbly said. We fortunately and unfortunately overreacted [with the shutdown], but luckily Im supportive of Gov. Kemp for opening our state back up.

SENATE DISTRICT 50

In the tightly contested race for Georgias District 50 Senate seat, candidates Stacy Hall and Bo Hatchett almost immediately jumped in to discuss COVID-19 and the states handling of the pandemic.

As far as how the stats handled the coronavirus, Im very proud of Gov. Kemp for being a leader in the nation and opening the economy when he did, Hatchett said. We were the lighthouse state for the rest of the nation and I think that speaks volumes to his leadership and to his vision of governments roles in peoples lives, which is limited.

Hall echoed this, adding that as chair of the county commission, he also made the tough decision to keep businesses open despite pressure to close them at the beginning of the pandemic.

Right before the statewide shelter-in-place by Gov. Kemp, we got a lot of pressure to shut down all the businesses, and I resisted, Hall said. I never want to take a man or womans ability away to provide for their family. I think its a delicate balance between maintaining the health of everybody and making sure people can provide for their living.

Along with pandemic response, the pair also voiced opposition to legalizing gambling as an alternate revenue source to offset the losses from COVID-19.

I would never be in favor of gambling or casinos. I dont judge folks who do gamble, but for me personally, thats not something I would ever support in any capacity, Hall said. They sell you on the revenue, but my beliefs arent for sale. There are certain things I will not budge on - pro-life is one of them, the constitution including the second amendment, and Im not going to support gambling and casinos.

Hatchett echoed this, saying he did not support legalizing new means of gambling, but he was in favor of keeping the lottery around as it is to continue supporting the HOPE Scholarship.

I would never support bringing casinos or expanding our gambling in the state, Hatchett said. As far as casinos and sports betting, thats against my values and I dont think theres a place for that here. But I would never work against the lottery. I think it has done a lot of good for education.

With the two being pro-life, pro-Trump conservatives and in lockstep about so much, Hall closed the forum by stating the main differences between the two was experience.

I believe the biggest difference between the two candidates is life experience. I have worked with the state through my position as county chairman with many departments, Hall said. I just think my 12 years in education, 18 years in business, my role as chairman of the hospital authority, my role as chairman of the county commission, and all the other charity and boards I have been on have equipped me to serve as a state senator, and I think thats a very important distinction.

Hatchett conceded this, but added that his time as a law student at the University of Georgia and working under former Gov. Nathan Deal has well-equipped him to be District 50s representative in the Senate.

Youre electing someone to go down to Atlanta to read, write, interpret and vote on laws. I was educated at the University of Georgia law school, and I learned Georgia law there, Hatchett said. I think it very well prepared me to be your next state senator. I think that combined with my experience on the state level will help me make a difference for Senate District 50 on day one.

U.S. CONGRESS 9th DISTRICT DEMOCRATS

The race for Georgias 9th District seat in the U.S. Congress will feature runoffs on the Democratic and Republican tickets.

On the Democratic ticket, Brooke Siskin and Devin Pandy are set to face off in the Aug. 11 runoff.

At the forum, the two were first asked their thoughts on transparency in government and how they planned to ensure transparency and accessibility to better serve constituents if elected.

Accountability starts with speaking with and answering to the people who elect you I believe in town halls, I believe in having an open door, I believe in answering emails and letters and returning calls, and I believe in making sure that on the representative website will be my [information], Pandy said.

Siskin echoed this, adding that her core issue would be transparency and openness. She added her goal would be to have an open-door policy to constituents.

Right now I believe our current congressman doesnt offer an open-door policy for his constituents to come in and speak, Siskin said. So transparency is an important issue I have; an open an honest government, one that can be for the people, by the people, is something I feel strongly about.

The two also voiced a commitment to working across the aisle with lawmakers from other parties to pass laws and do whats best for constituents.

I would try to find bipartisan support for bills, and we could work on special issues when it comes to healthcare, housing or issues regarding womens rights, Siskin said. So I want to work with my colleagues across the aisle so we can agree and disagree on some good questions and try to help our constituents and try to get valid questions answered for what they need.

Pandy echoed this and added that partisan politics are not good for this country.

One of the first things I want to do is make alliances on both sides, Pandy said. I really do not like the idea of parties working alone.

U.S. CONGRESS 9th DISTRICT REPUBLICANS

The nights final forum was a showdown between the two Republicans running to represent Georgias 9th District, Andrew Clyde, a 28-year veteran and gun store owner, and Matt Gurtler, a member of the Georgia House of Representatives.

To begin the night, both Clyde and Gurtler expressed their opposition to an additional COVID-19 stimulus package, as it would sink the country further into debt.

Continued borrowing is going to put our nation farther and farther into debt. And government does not create jobs, the private sector creates jobs, Clyde said. I think the solution here is to open us back up completely and have businesses go back to work. Across the country, I think we need to open back up and let the private sector bring those jobs back.

Gurtler added that the previous stimulus package pushed the nation debt to $26 trillion, and he spoke on the need for people to fight against additional debt for the country.

We need true fighters in congress that are going to stand up to debt and actually get back to running the government, and the only way to do that is to lead by example, Gurtler said. I have proven that in my time as a Georgias most conservative legislator over the last four years by opposing those big government policies, and Ill do the same thing as a congressman.

Among constituents, Gurtler said that the national debt is one of the main concerns brought to him along with pro-life and second amendment issues.

Pro-life issues are really big in this district. As Christians, we know life begins at conception and we should always work to protect and defend life, and I have a record of doing that at the state house, Gurtler said. Second amendment issues, upholding our God-given and natural rights [are a big issue], and Ive done that as well with the most pro-gun legislation on constitutional carry.

For Clyde, the biggest concern to constituents hes talked to has been over-reach in government.

I think over-reach in government is what Ive heard from voters. That can be broken down into a number of different areas, Clyde said.

He also mentioned hearing 9th District constituents voice concerns over pro-life and second amendment issues.

To listen to each forum in its entirety, visit The Northeast Georgians Facebook page.

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Candidates make pitches as election nears - Northeast Georgian

Garrett Foster Brought His Gun to Austin Protests. Then He Was Shot Dead. – The New York Times

AUSTIN, Texas It was not unusual for Garrett Foster to be at a protest against police brutality on a Saturday night. And it was not out of character for him to be armed as he marched.

Mr. Foster was carrying an AK-47 rifle as he joined a Black Lives Matter demonstration blocks from the State Capitol in Austin, Texas. Gun-rights supporters on both the left and the right often carry rifles at protests in Texas, a state whose liberal gun laws allow it.

Mr. Foster, wearing a black bandanna and a baseball cap, bumped into an independent journalist at the march on Saturday, and he spoke matter-of-factly about the weapon that was draped on a strap in front of him.

They dont let us march in the streets anymore, so I got to practice some of our rights, Mr. Foster told the journalist, Hiram Gilberto Garcia, who was broadcasting the interview live on Periscope. If I use it against the cops, Im dead, he conceded.

Later that night, Mr. Foster was fatally shot, but not by the police. The authorities said he was killed by a motorist who had a confrontation with protesters.

The police and witnesses said the man in the car turned it aggressively toward the marchers, and Mr. Foster then approached it. The driver opened fire, shooting Mr. Foster three times. He was rushed to a hospital and was later pronounced dead.

Austins police chief, Brian Manley, told reporters on Sunday that as the motorist turned, a crowd of protesters surrounded the vehicle, and some struck the car. The driver, whose name has not been released, then opened fire from inside the car as Mr. Foster approached. Another person in the crowd pulled out a handgun and shot at the vehicle as it sped away.

Minutes after the shooting, the driver called 911 and said he had been involved in a shooting and had driven away from the scene, Chief Manley said. The caller told dispatchers he had shot someone who had approached the drivers window and pointed a rifle at him.

His account is that Mr. Foster pointed the weapon directly at him and he fired his handgun at Mr. Foster, the chief said of the driver.

Both the driver and the other person who fired a weapon were detained and interviewed by detectives. Both had state-issued handgun licenses and have been released as the investigation continues, Chief Manley said.

The shooting stunned a capital city where demonstrations and marches are a proud and commonplace tradition. A GoFundMe page to help Mr. Fosters relatives with his funeral expenses had already raised nearly $100,000 by Sunday evening.

And while Mayor Steve Adler and other officials expressed their condolences on Sunday, at least one police leader criticized Mr. Foster.

On Twitter, Kenneth Casaday, the president of the Austin police officers union, retweeted a video clip of Mr. Foster explaining to Mr. Garcia, the independent journalist, why he brought his rifle. In the clip, Mr. Foster is heard using curse words to talk about all the people that hate us, but are too afraid to stop and actually do anything about it.

In his tweet, Mr. Casaday wrote: This is the guy that lost his life last night. He was looking for confrontation and he found it.

Mr. Garcia, who has filmed numerous Austin demonstrations in recent weeks, captured the chaotic moments of the shooting live on video. Protesters are seen marching through an intersection when a car blares its horn. Marchers appear to converge around the car as a man calls out, Everybody back up. At that instant, five shots ring out, followed shortly by several more loud bangs that echo through the downtown streets.

Mr. Foster, who had served in the military, was armed, but he was not seeking out trouble at the march, relatives and witnesses told reporters. At the time of the shooting, Mr. Foster was pushing his fiance through the intersection in her wheelchair.

Mr. Foster and his fiance, Whitney Mitchell, had been taking part in protests against police brutality in Austin daily since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Mr. Foster is white, and Ms. Mitchell, who is a quadruple amputee, is African-American. She was not injured in the shooting.

He was doing it because he feels really strongly about justice and hes very heavily against police brutality, and he wanted to support his fiance, Mr. Fosters mother, Sheila Foster, said in an interview with Good Morning America, adding that she was not surprised he was armed while at the march.

He does have a license to carry, and he wouldve felt the need to protect himself, Ms. Foster said.

In Texas, it is lawful to carry rifles, shotguns and other so-called long guns on the street without a permit, as long as the weapons are not brandished in a threatening manner; state-issued licenses are required only to carry handguns.

The presence of Mr. Fosters weapon could play a key role in the case if the driver claims that he shot Mr. Foster out of fear for his life, a defense allowed under the so-called stand your ground law in the state.

The shooting reignited a long-running debate in Texas about the open carry movement, in which many men and women carry their rifles and other weapons in public places.

Gun-control supporters say the movement that encourages such displays seeks to intimidate the police and the public, while gun-rights activists defend it as a celebration of their Second Amendment rights.

In a 2016 attack on police officers at a downtown Dallas demonstration, several marchers carried AR-15s and other military-style rifles, and local officials said their presence created confusion for police officers. A single gunman, Micah Johnson, a former Army reservist, killed five officers.

There are multiple layers to this tragedy, but adding guns to any emotional and potentially volatile situation can, and too often does, lead to deadly violence, Ed Scruggs, the board president of Texas Gun Sense, a gun legislation reform group, said in a statement about the Austin shooting.

C.J. Grisham, founder and president of the gun-rights organization Open Carry Texas, defended the practice of bringing rifles to rallies and marches, particularly after numerous attacks around the country in which motorists have driven their cars into demonstrations and injured or killed protesters.

Protesters are under attack from a wide variety of people, Mr. Grisham said. Its unfortunate these days that if youre going to exercise your First Amendment rights, you probably need to be exercising your Second Amendment rights as well.

The shooting occurred shortly before 10 p.m. James Sasinowski, 24, a witness, said it seemed the driver was trying to turn a corner and did not want to wait for marchers to pass.

The driver intentionally and aggressively accelerated into a crowd of people, Mr. Sasinowski said. We were not aggravating him at all. He incited the violence.

Michael Capochiano, another witness, had a slightly different account of what happened. He said he was marching with other demonstrators when he saw a motorist honk his horn and turn toward the crowd, forcing people to scatter.

You could hear the wheels squealing from hitting the accelerator so fast, said Mr. Capochiano, 53, a restaurant accountant. Im a little surprised that nobody got hit.

The car came to a stop after turning from Fourth Street onto Congress Avenue and appeared to strike a traffic pylon. As people shouted angrily at the driver, Mr. Foster walked toward the car, with the muzzle of his rifle pointed downward, he said.

He was not aiming the gun or doing anything aggressive with the gun, Mr. Capochiano said. Im not sure if there was much of an exchange of words. It wasnt like there was any sort of verbal altercations. He wasnt charging at the car.

David Montgomery reported from Austin and Manny Fernandez from Houston. Bryan Pietsch contributed reporting from Andover, Minn.

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Garrett Foster Brought His Gun to Austin Protests. Then He Was Shot Dead. - The New York Times

Mitsch Bush will get the job done | Opinion | aspendailynews.com – Aspen Daily News

Editor:

After Scott Tiptons tepid primary performance, lets talk about some true firepower for Congressional District 3. Diane Mitsch Bush is the highest caliber candidate to represent this western third of Colorado.

For one thing, her bullet points (at https://dianeforcolorado.com/on-the-issues/) are right on target. They deal directly with the lives of people in this district health care and costs, jobs and our economy, public land and water rights, civil and human rights. This district covers a lot of territory with many different needs, from the Western Slope to Pueblo, Aspen to the San Luis Valley.

As a straight shooter, Diane Mitsch Bush is clear that she supports the Second Amendment. And, like the majority of both Republicans and Democrats, she believes in commonsense gun ownership.

Her record as a state legislator demonstrates her commitment and ability to work across the aisle for the benefit of her constituents. Diane Mitsch Bush is ready to undertake programs for job creation and retraining as well as helping farmers, ranchers and small business owners. She has her sights set on what most benefits District 3 and its citizens, not big money interests or D.C. dazzle.

Its the mettle of the person inside, not a holster, that gets the job done. Vote for Diane Mitsch Bush.

Yvette Roberts

Grand Junction

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Mitsch Bush will get the job done | Opinion | aspendailynews.com - Aspen Daily News

Henry Repeating Arms Issues Safety Warning And Recall Notice Of Henry Single Shot Rifles And Shotguns – PRNewswire

RICE LAKE, Wis., July 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Henry Repeating Arms Company announced that it is voluntarily recalling all H015-series Single Shot Rifles and Single Shot Shotguns manufactured prior to July 1, 2020. Henry has recently discovered a potential safety issue wherein, under certain conditions, it is possible that some of these models may discharge without the trigger being pulled if the hammer is partially cocked and released. To prevent the possibility of death or serious personal injury, you should immediately stop using all H015-series Single Shot Rifles and Single Shot Shotguns and not load or fire them until they have been upgraded.

The safety issue leading to this voluntary recall was discovered internally while testing the existing fire control system for a trigger pull upgrade. This is the first product safety recall in the company's nearly 25-year history. Although not every Henry H015-series firearm may be affected, Henry Repeating Arms is requesting that all Single Shot Rifles and Single Shot Shotguns be returned to be upgraded free of charge pursuant to this recall to prevent the possibility of the firearm discharging without the trigger being pulled. All H015 owners should visit the Henry H015 Recall website at HenryUSA.com/recall, email [emailprotected], or call 1-866-200-2354 (M-F, 9am ET-5pm ET) to obtain additional information and begin the upgrade process.

Henry Repeating Arms will upgrade all returned Single Shot Rifles and Single Shot Shotguns in the order in which they are received. Henry Repeating Arms is ready to begin performing the upgrade as the firearms are received. Information on the current turnaround time for firearms returned to be upgraded will be provided at HenryUSA.com/recall. Henry Repeating Arms will make every effort to minimize the amount of time required to upgrade and return your firearm. As a sign of appreciation to its customers, Henry Repeating Arms will also perform an unrelated performance upgrade to improve the trigger pull on all firearms returned pursuant to this recall free of charge.

About Henry Repeating Arms:Henry Repeating Arms is one of the leading rifle and shotgun manufacturers in the United States and a world leader in the lever action category. The company motto is "Made in America, or not made at all" and its firearms come with a lifetime guarantee backed by award-winning customer service. The company is also known for its charitable endeavors under its Guns For Great Causes program, which focuses on sick children, both individual cases and children's hospitals, veteran and wounded veteran organizations, Second Amendment and wildlife conservation organizations. The company currently employs 535 people and has 250,000 square-feet of manufacturing space in its Rice Lake, Wisconsin and Bayonne, New Jersey facilities. The company is named in honor of Benjamin Tyler Henry who invented and patented the Henry rifle in 1860 the first repeating rifle, the lever action rifle, which is America's unique contribution to international firearms design and is one of the most legendary, respected and sought after rifles in the history of firearms. Visit Henry Repeating Arms online at http://www.HenryUSA.com, on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/HenryRepeating, and on Instagram @Henry_Rifles.

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http://www.henryusa.com

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Letter: Responsible citizens should not be deprived of constitutional rights – The Daily News Online

I read the letter Mr. Charles W. Yueckstock wrote that was published in the Daily News on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. By writing his letter, Mr. Yueckstock exercised his First Amendment right to free speech, but in his letter he expressed the idea that we should all give up our Fourth Amendment right of freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, as well as our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. All in the name of .....saving lives (maybe).

As a former educator Mr. Yueckstock should educate himself by studying the events that led to the writing of the U.S. Constitution, with special attention to the Federalist Papers which help explain the reasoning used in its writing.

Further, Mr. Yueckstock claims to be a military veteran, tho he doesnt mention where, when, or how he served. As a combat veteran, I served in the Vietnam War (1969-1970) and once found myself in a gun battle without a gun. From my experience, I would emphatically state its better to have a gun and not need one than to need a gun and not have one!

The idea of confiscating weapons isnt a new one, the Lexington/Concord incident prior to the Revolutionary War was an attempt by the British to disarm colonists.

If one wants to see what happens when responsible citizens are deprived of their right to protect themselves one only has to look at Mexico where only police are allowed guns but the cartels have all they want.

Frank Walkley

Castile

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Letter: Responsible citizens should not be deprived of constitutional rights - The Daily News Online

Pandemic, unrest, recession fear Biden? What? – News from southeastern Connecticut – theday.com

With less than 100 days to go until Election Day, President Donald Trump is campaigning like he did the first time, as a challenger running against the sitting president, who this time happens to be himself.

In speeches, ads and tweets, he attacks crime and urban unrest that presumably would explode in "Joe Biden's America," but uses video clips from President Trump's America.

He boasts of having completed "more than 200 miles of powerful border wall" with Mexico, when all but 3 miles of the almost 216 miles built since Trump took office only replaced old fencing.

And four years after promising grandly to "repeal Obamacare," the Affordable Care Act, and replace it with "something better," Republicans in Congress remain as divided as ever about any possible replacement, especially when Trump usually seems to have forgotten about it.

The main reasons for his woes appear increasingly to be two crises that, unlike most of his crises, Trump did not generate himself. One is the coronavirus pandemic. The other is the national racial "reckoning" ignited by the choking death of George Floyd beneath a Minneapolis police officer's knee.

After a mid-March surge in the polls as the American public rallied in our national fight against the virus, unity melted away amid a flurry of mixed messages from the president that showed the administration's response to be anything but firm.

Result: We, the most powerful nation in the world, have one of the world's worst infection rates.

Meanwhile, the president's approval ratings have been sinking since March in a manner that reminds me of a famous line from Ernest Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises" when one character asks another named Mike how he went bankrupt: "Two ways," says Mike. "Gradually, then suddenly."

Since late March, Trump's approval rating has dropped from 46% to 40% in a FiveThirtyEight poll. Worse, approval of his handling of the virus fell during the same period from 45% to 34%, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll, while Biden's approval on the issue grew from 43% to 54%

The virus also has depleted the big bag of tricks that helped to put Trump over the top in 2016. He's canceled rallies and the big Jacksonville, Fla., component of the Republican National Convention mainly because the coronavirus, which he used to say would "just disappear," has spread, killing more than 150,000 Americans.

Even his favorite social network, Twitter, has turned against him, in his view, by footnoting or blocking tweets it judges to be out of bounds.

Instead, he has turned to the very conventional tricks of culture-war politics: respond to one national emotionally charged crisis by pumping up another one.

Trump's administration set the tone by sending law-enforcement help to mayors who did not request it. Most dramatically, paramilitary units from Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection landed unannounced in Portland, Ore., in a federal crackdown on protests against police violence.

Instead of de-escalating violence and tempers, local officials say the arrival of federal troops actually increased the numbers of protesters.

Trump is employing another old trick from four years ago: rebranding his opponents.

He morphed "Sleepy Joe" Biden into an opponent who, Trump says, wants to abolish the police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Second Amendment and the suburbs. Biden denies the accusations.

Yes, the ever-important suburbs, which amount to about half of the presidential electorate and voted mostly for Trump in 2016, have moved heavily to Biden's corner this year. Reversing that trend may be asking a lot of the Trump campaign, with an electorate that already seems quite exhausted by the president's daily and unpredictable displays across all news and social media.

By this point in the campaign cycle four years ago, Trump told his rally crowds, "You'll be seeing so much winning that you'll get tired of winning."

Now an electorate, "tired of winning" his way, is looking away.

Clarence Page's columns are distributed by the Tribune Content Agency.

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Pandemic, unrest, recession fear Biden? What? - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com

Here’s a monument all Americans can rally around: Let’s celebrate the Bill of Rights – USA TODAY

Tony Mauro, Opinion contributor Published 6:02 a.m. ET July 30, 2020

Democratic lawmakers and even descendants of Confederate leaders are urging official removal of Confederate monuments at the center of a politically fraught national debate. (July 21) AP Domestic

The relevance of the Bill of Rights to todays divisions is clear and deserves recognition.

Amid the turmoil over taking down Confederate monuments and others ranging from Christopher Columbus to Theodore Roosevelt, heres an idea that that almost everyone can get behind: How about erecting monuments that celebrate the Bill of Rights?

Yes, the Bill of Rights: 10amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791, that spelled out the individual freedoms Americans have enjoyed ever since including the freedom to protest against things like monuments (thanks to the First Amendment.)

A campaign to place Bill of Rights monuments in state capitols in all 50 states is already underway, albeit moving slowly. Arizonas Bill of Rights monument was built in Phoenix in 2012, and plans for an OkIahoma monument in Oklahoma City are progressing. A smaller scale monument can be found in Montezuma, Iowa.

Its the brainchild of Chris Bliss, a comic by trade who has made the Bill of Rights his side project. Comics, after all, benefit greatly from the First Amendment. His campaign began nearly two decades ago, when there was controversy over monuments that celebrated the Ten Commandments, also often placed in state capitols.

Bliss envisioned erecting Bill of Rights monuments as a way to comparison shop with the Ten Commandments, he sayswhimsically. He also wants the monuments built near state capitols because every kid goes to state capitols on school field trips. He estimates that 40,000 students a year have visited the Arizona monument.

As he delved into the project, Bliss found that the Bill of Rights was something of a forgotten document, rarely taught in schools. People knew about a patients bill of rights or a bill of rights for airline passengers. But it was hard for people to grasp the abstract principles of the constitutional Bill of Rights, Bliss says, and therefore hard to turn those principles into marble or limestone.

Donations and support for BlissBill of Rights project havebeen sporadic over the years, with comedians like Lewis Black and the late Dick Gregory helping out. The Bill of Rights has no preexisting constituency, Bliss says, unlike other organized groups that can lobby successfully for building monuments.

A campaign to place Bill of Rights monuments in state capitols in all 50 states is already underway, albeit moving slowly(Photo: Getty Images)

But in the aftermath of the recent protests nationwide that involve monuments and civil liberties, hehopesto jump-start his project and hasten the building of Bill of Rights monuments nationwide. This is a very positive moment, Bliss says.

The relevance of the Bill of Rights to todays divisions is clear and deserves recognition. The Bill of Rights fosters freedom of expression, religion, due process, fair trials, protection against unreasonable government intrusion or excessive fines, among other important rights.

The 10amendments are not without controversy. Interpreting the religion clauses of the First Amendment, the right to bear arms in the Second Amendment,and the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the Eighth Amendmenthas been a contentious task for centuries.

And there are parts of the Bill of Rights that are quirky, to say the least. The Third Amendment, for example, prohibits soldiers from being quartered in homes without the consent of owners. It was a big issue at the time of the founding, but not now.

Bliss saysthere is no better remedy for monument controversies than to commemorate the Bill of Rights, which he callsthe most powerful and successful assertion of individual rights and liberties ever written.

He adds, The ideas were radical at the time, but now, people say, Of course. There is not an exclusionary phrase in the entire document. It is time for us to rediscover our own Bill of Rights and to elevate it to the position of public prominence it richly deserves.

Tony Mauro, a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors, covered the Supreme Court for USA TODAY from 1982 to 2000.

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Around the community | Community – WV News

OAKLAND The Oakland Town Council will meet at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3.

The meeting will be conducted online via Zoom. Members of the public wishing to view the proceedings must email the town hall in advance for the meeting code at townofoak@gmail.com.

On the agenda are a public hearing and final reading of an ordinance that would place restrictions on obstructing sidewalks. There also will be the introduction of an ordinance amending Broadford Park regulations. Linda Costello of the Garrett County Health Department is scheduled to discuss the overdose epidemic.

OAKLAND The Board of Garrett County Commissioners will meet at 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3.

Updates are expected to be heard on the Second Amendment Resolution, as well as from Garrett County Health Officer Robert Stephens on the local COVID-19 situation.

OAKLAND The Mountain Maryland Hemp Alliance will hold its August meeting at the farm of Levi Lantz at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5.

MMHA was founded this spring to support those interested in producing, processing and marketing industrial hemp.

McHENRY The Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Areas Mini Grant Program is now accepting applications.

The mini-grant program is a one-to-one cash or in-kind matching grant for up to $2,000 designed to provide funding for non-capital projects including innovative exhibits, tours, events, planning and projects which build upon interpretive themes identified in the Heritage Areas Management Plan. These include transportation, man and nature, historic recreation and cultural uniqueness.

We are pleased to once again offer the mini-grant program to the local community, said Kim Folk, Heritage Area and Groups director. These projects will help foster heritage tourism and boost awareness for our residents.

Projects should seek to attract cultural and heritage tourists to the region. Nonprofit organizations and local jurisdictions are eligible. Individuals and businesses with proposals fitting the guidelines may apply in partnership with nonprofit organizations. Applications and guidelines are available online at http://www.garrettheritage.com. The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. Sept. 30.

An online informational meeting will be held via Zoom from 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, for anyone interested in learning more about the program. Registration is required to receive a link for the meeting. Register at bit.ly/3fNBbmA, or contact Folk at kim@garrettchamber.com or 301-387-5238 for more information or to find out how your project fits the criteria.

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Around the community | Community - WV News

We will no longer auction off guns, Mayor Neeley announces. It’s just not worth it. Chief Hart says – East Village Magazine

Posted on Jul 30, 2020

By Tom Travis

The City of Flint will no longer auction off confiscated guns,Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley announced at a press conference at police headquarters Wednesday. Since 2017, when the City began that practice, 4,539 guns have been auctioned generating $200,000.

The revenue generated was put back into the police budget, Neeley said. However, Chief of Police Phil Hart, reiterating Neeleys words, said, We will no longer put these weapons back out on the street. Its just not worth it.

A press release from the Mayors office stated, The decision will immediately dispose of 250 guns that previously had been on Flint streets. They said they would be given to the Michigan State Police who will melt them down.

The previous administration with support of Flint City Council began auctioning off seized firearms in 2017, selling hundreds of guns to the highest bidder. Included in the sales were semi-automatic rifles as well as handguns, pistols and shotguns. While gun auctions are legal and serve lawful gun buyers, Mayor Neeley said his administration will not permit the auctioning of firearms to ensure none of these deadly weapons again fall into the wrong hands.

Mayor Sheldon Neeley announcing at Police Headquarters that the City will no longer auction off guns. (Photo by Tom Travis)

Standing at a podium in front of a display of 30 guns from small hand held guns to long rifles and assault weapons. Pointing to the table of guns Neeley said, We have displayed here guns collected off the streets in the last seven days. Looking somberly at the table of guns, Neeley added, These are weapons of destruction.

Noting the loss of revenue as the city stops auctioning guns Neeley added, We have to ask ourselves how much is a life worth?

30 guns recently seized by Flint Police in routine traffic stops will no longer be auctioned off. The guns displayed will be destroyed by the Michigan State Police. (Photo by Tom Travis)

Neeley stated, In the first eight months of this administration we have been doing a lot of clean up work to convey a more positive and productive mood.

Beginning in 2017, under the Weaver administration, guns collected by the police department were auctioned off.

Neeley added, To me and Chief Phil Hart and my administration we are going to stop that practice now. It shows a gross lack in critical thinking when you say were gonna fight crime and battle crime and take weapons off the streets and then to circulate weapons back into activity where people get a second chance at doing something they shouldnt. We will not give opportunity to recirculate back into society, even though he added, We believe in the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms.

Hart says the newly formed Special Investigative Unit targets Citys hot spots

Hart said the newly formed Special Investigative Unit picked up the guns over the past seven days. The Special Investigative Unit has been going to hot spot areas. Hart added most of the guns displayed on the table before him were confiscated in traffic stops. He clarified that the types of traffic stops were speeding, running a stop sign, and reckless driving.

Hart stated, As you can see by the guns before you they are some pretty extreme weapons. Hart noted some were brand new and added, We are investigating why there so many new guns out on the streets. Im working with our partners, both federal and local, to see which institutions are putting these guns out and ending up in the hands of people who shouldnt have access to them. All that is being looked at.

Chief of Police, Phil Hart, speaks at a press conference with Mayor Neeley announcing the City will no longer auction off guns. (Photo by Tom Travis)

Hart noted, We are going out nightly to shooting scenes and this past weekend was horrible for all of us. Referring to multiple shootings at Hallwood Plaza on Clio Road last weekend Hart added, Wed like for nothing like that to ever happen again.

Noting the impact of gun violence on society Hart said, We have to think about the cost of this and so we can get into safety and well-being and what it does to our economy. The cost of seizing the weapons and re-seizing the weapons and the cost of medical procedures by the people impacted by these weapons. Its extreme.

At Flint Police Headquarters, Chief of Police, Phil Hart and Mayor Sheldon Neeley look over a table of 30 guns seized over the last 7 days in routine traffic stops. (Photo by Tom Travis)

Hart said, according to a U.S. Congressional report estimate, gun violence costs about $6.9 billion in Michigan. Which is about $696/resident per year. I can think of much better reasons to use our money than this kind of a thing.

In a press release, Hart added, Based on that average, the cost of gun violence in the city of Flint is at least triple the revenues the gun auctions.

Hart also noted that the Police Department has received more than 70 applications for 14 vacant positions. Last year the City Council approved funding for the positions, and in June the Council approved additional 2 mils funding for added police services.

Anti-Gun Violence Activist Joseph Pettigrew says gun violence is a public health crisis

Joseph Pettigrew, whose father Sidney Pettigrew, was murdered in 2018, was invited to speak from the podium by Mayor Neeley. Pettigrew said, gun violence is a public health crisis. Since his fathers murder Pettigrew has begun an organization called Communities Against Gun Violence.

Anti-Gun Violence activist Joseph Pettigrew invited by the Mayor to speak at a press conference at Police Headquarters. (Photo by Tom Travis)

Pettigrew said the organization is made up of himself and other anti-gun violence activists in the city. We started it in March to bring attention back to the issue of violence in the city of Flint.

It takes people who have been through this type of tragedy to really step up and really let people know how it impacts peoples lives daily Pettigrew said.

Pettigrew added, referring to the Citys decision to no longer auction off guns, This is definitely a step forward.

Neeleys administration has a three-point plan to combat crime

In a press conference earlier this week Mayor Neeley and Chief Hart laid out a three point plan for the City to combat crime:

Neeley said the gun buy back locations have not yet been announced. Neeley said, my wife and I will be donating the first $1000 to the buy back program. We will also be asking others with like minded thinking to do the same.

EVM assistant editor and city beat reporter, Tom Travis, can be reached at tomntravis@gmail.com

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We will no longer auction off guns, Mayor Neeley announces. It's just not worth it. Chief Hart says - East Village Magazine