Sedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde ValleySedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley
    Sedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley Sedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley
    • Home
    • Sedona News
    • Business Profiles
    • Opinion
    • Mind & Body
    • Arts
    • Elections
    • Contact
    • Cart
    Sedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde ValleySedona.Biz – The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley
    Home » Letter to the Editor: A Strange American Vision
    Editorials/Opinion

    Letter to the Editor: A Strange American Vision

    December 26, 201214 Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Reddit WhatsApp
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Reddit WhatsApp
    samaireformayor
    Place ads on Sedona.biz

    By Ernie Strauch, Sedona Resident
    (December 26, 2012)

    Wayne LaPierre, representing the NRA leadership, has a strange vision for the future of America, “land of the (theoretically) free, and home of the (not so politically) brave”. First decrying the declaration of “gun-free zones” as an enticement to the evil monsters in our society, the solution is proposed as armed guards in every school in America. Practical? My high school had 3 buildings of 2 stories each. How many armed guards would he propose? Would it be true that the only way to stop a bad guy with an AR15, is a good guy with an M16? After all, it is common wisdom that the good guys can’t allow themselves to be “out-gunned” by the bad guys. A strange American vision!

    When prospective mass-murderers (who usually intend to die in their act) realize that schools are a problematic locale for the maximum destruction of their deed, will they not turn to other opportunistic places of human gathering? Oh, they’ve already done that…movie theaters, shopping malls; what about libraries and churches? Will the universal answer proposed by the NRA be to protect all of these sites with AR15/M16 carrying guards? I can foresee M16 armed guards at all “big box” stores, the supermarkets, postal facilities, museums, amusement parks, etc. What gathering is not worth “protecting”? Where does it ever end? Visualize a police state… a strange American vision?

    Twenty five years ago I visited South Korea. An indelible impression was the number of uniformed automatic-weapons carrying “guards” in evidence everywhere. I wondered at the time what it would feel like to live in such a constant state of fear. With the help of the NRA, and their strange vision for America, we may (to our horror) find out.

    More rational individuals suggest a holistic approach, usually involving a little weapons control, a little ammunition control, a little federal registry improvement and a little more focus on mental health. That may have been an effective approach in 1945, but without addressing the 300+ million firearms in American private hands today, the band-aid is too little, too late. The real solution for our elected representatives in “the home of the brave” is to pass a simple one-sentence law, making it a felony for any private citizen to sell or possess any high-capacity semi-automatic firearm, and to take existing weapons in violation, out of possession with a federal “buy-back” program patterned after Australia. See: <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-17/us-urged-to-consider-australia-gun-laws-example/4431262>.

    Place ads on Sedona.biz

    Scott mayor
    samaireformayor
    Ernie Strauch
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Reddit WhatsApp
    Contributor

    Related Posts

    Heads or Tails

    August 15, 2022

    Armstrong vs. Jablow: The Main Event

    August 3, 2022

    Eeny Meeny Miny Moe!

    July 28, 2022

    14 Comments

    1. Paul Friedman on December 26, 2012 11:58 am

      Thanks for this posting! Your extrapolated scenario of what would happen if the NRA proposal is adopted makes good sense to me, as does your proposed alternative. I hope your message gets to our elected representatives, and they act on it.

    2. Mike on December 26, 2012 2:49 pm

      If anyone objects to NOT owning more than a single-shot hunting rifle and / or a shotgun =
      Show them photos of 26 Unopened Presents !!

    3. Sandford Bach on December 27, 2012 3:04 pm

      When the last bullet has been spent and no gun can be fired, there will be the sword.

    4. Ernie Strauch on December 28, 2012 9:18 am

      Update Channel 5 News, Friday, Dec. 28:

      Sheriff Joe Arpairo on an upcoming policy to have his deputies carry semi-automatic assault rifles in Maricopa County schools, “I want to make sure that my deputies do have the firepower to defend themselves and the public…”

      Nationwide, TSA discovered more than 1500 guns attempted to be taken on flights by passengers in 2012 – more than ever before. Phoenix airport reported 3rd worse in country for confiscated firearms.

    5. Stu Ahrens on December 28, 2012 7:49 pm

      Well said Ern !

      Paul Friedman’s comments summarize your message nicely.

      You have motivated me to do something. May I “borrow” part of your message?

      Your observations about South Korea 25 years ago reminded me of my visits to East Germany in the1960’s

      Stu (in North Carolina)

    6. Nancy robb dunst on December 29, 2012 8:52 am

      BRAVO to you Ernie, I can’t imagine walking into a school with an armed
      Principal. And does the principal have to pass a mental health test; and will
      They shoot if they have too? My own personal experience is that I didn’t,
      Even when I thought my life and others were in danger. I like your argument,
      The one sentence law. Works for me.

    7. Barbara Litrell on December 29, 2012 3:23 pm

      Thanks, Ernie, for giving voice to this opinion. I remember being in Spain in 1969 with armed guards on every corner and in Jerusalem in ’98 with military everywhere with guns and machetes at the end of each gun. One TV commentator said it well in response to the NRA statement that the answer to a bad guy with a gun is a good guy wih a gun — he said the answer to a bad guy with a gun is to take the gun away. We the people need to demand that our representatives address this with substantive gun control laws. If the Newtown tragedy doesn;t drive us to action, nothing will.

    8. Marlene Rayner on December 29, 2012 4:51 pm

      Thanks, Ernie! All of your suggestions including the ‘buy-back’ (as per LA this week) need enactment and soon. The effort to do so needs a huge national movement to force our leaders in national and state governments to see reality. OR we’ll get to the point where, besides schools, shopping centers and movie theaters will need armed guards and searches too.

      Of course, having let this madness continue since 1980 in the name of personal freedom, machismo, and arming citizens to ‘take-over’ a bad government if needed (conservative view) – getting rid of existing assault weapons and large clips will be a huge job. Other than civilian military style use or shooting watermelons for ‘sport’, what the heck is their use, since they are not accurate for ‘home defense’? I thought having a gun for ‘sport’ meant achieving accuracy with a single bullet on perhaps a moving target!

    9. Jim on December 30, 2012 9:19 am

      A LITTLE GUN CONTROL HISTORY

      In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953,
      about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded
      up and exterminated.
      ——————————

      In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million
      Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
      exterminated.

      ——————————

      Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total
      of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were
      rounded up and exterminated.
      ——————————

      China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million
      political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
      exterminated.
      ——————————

      Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000
      Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
      exterminated.

      ——————————

      Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000
      Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
      exterminated.
      ——————————

      Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million
      educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and
      exterminated.
      —————————–

      Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century
      because of gun control: 56 million.
      ——————————

      • Ernie Strauch on December 31, 2012 9:20 am

        Jim,

        I’m trying to fully grasp your point. You are obviously equating “gun control” with genocide and mass extermination.

        Does any other consistency among your historical recitation strike you? Like perhaps they were all brutal Dictatorships? Do you find any representative republics among your list? Do you find any in which the army was not in total control of the Dictatorship? Do you have any projections for when the Australian Parliament will begin exterminating Australians?

        Exactly whom do you fear rounding us up and exterminatiing us in Sedona, or Peoria? The Navy Seals? The USMC? The U.S. Congress – now that is a scary bunch? (However, there are only 3 things the latter can agree upon; when to increase their pay, when to go home, and any legislation that will guarantee a safe seat for themselves for as long as they want it). Who would give the order that no one else would oppose? Maybe Gov. Jan Brewer and her National Guard.

        Please confirm for me that armed guards with assault weapons at every public gathering location (a virtual American Police State) is the means we use to assure our freedom from extermination, and from whom?

        A Police State to guarantee freedom! Such a novel concept.

    10. Eustace Mullins on December 30, 2012 11:21 am

      The 223 owned by Adam Lanza’s mother was locked away in the trunk of the car outside the Sandy Hook Elementary School. Adam Lanza was found holding two 9 mm hand guns and the victims were killed with a 223. The coroner said, “the victims died from assault rifle rounds,” not a hand gun.
      Did the 223 get up and fly itself to the trunk of the car and lock itself in after it was used? This is obviously a failed false flag to disarm the US population. It seems to be working on some of you who are willing to give up your liberty and right to defend yourselves. Do any of you know what money is, where it comes from or how to create a recession or a depression. Who do you think created the false flag? Do any of you notice the social engineering that was been taking place or are you all brainwashed, emotional, knee jerk reaction people? I read some of these comments and they are not made by people who have critical thinking skills but by people who spend many hours per week watching television and who have an overly simplistic view of what is going on.

    11. Tyler Barrett on December 31, 2012 9:37 am

      Saw a piece yesterday about a gun buy back program in Tucson. The law requires the police to give the gun back to its rightful owner (if it was stolen) or it must be SOLD! They cannot destroy them! Arizona law continues to amaze me.

    12. Jim Eaton on December 31, 2012 10:29 am

      Maybe arming everyone isn’t the best approach. Instead of getting ready to shoot each other, we should look at the root causes of rage and use education and some regulation to reduce those root causes – school bullying, employee disrespect and pressures in the workplace, intolerance, desensitizing entertainments et al. The US has more firearms per capita than any other “civilized” nation. Stop whining about Constitutional rights, get rid of the fallacy that we need multiple automatic weapons to “defend our home,” and let’s get at this increasing problem from its real causes.

      And Tyler is correct about Arizona law. This state needs to get beyond the “frontier mentality” and realize that we now have too many people here for the archaic thinking so prevalent in our troglodytic legislature. Maybe next election we can clean house in Phoenix and puncture the bubble there.

    13. Marlene Rayner on December 31, 2012 12:14 pm

      Remember the old TV series “Gunsmoke” – when a gunslinger reached civilization (a town), a gun check-in with the sheriff was required. The Arizona ‘frontier’ mentality is insane.

    Paid Political Ad Paid For by Samaire for Mayor
    Paid Political Ad for Samaire Armstrong
    Paid Political Announcement by Samaire For Mayor

     THE MOMENT IS UPON US

    Dear Sedona,

    The moment is upon us. The time for a united effort to shift the focus back to our community is now.

    The ability to thrive in our community, our environment, our workforce, and the tourist industry, is entirely possible because we have all the resources needed for success.

    Still, we need a council that isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions, that makes decisions based on data and facts, and through discussion, rather than moving and voting in group unison as they so regularly do.

    This is my home. I have been a part of the Sedona community for 28 years. I witnessed the road debacle, the lack of planning, the city circumventing the local businesses ability to thrive, while making choices to expand the local government and be in direct competition with private industry.

    I am a unique candidate because unlike the incumbents, I don’t believe the government should expand in size, nor in operations, nor would I attempt to micromanage every aspect of our community.

    City government should stay in its lane and allow the competitive market of local private industry to prosper. And it should defend our community from corporate takeover and infiltration of our town.

    I do not agree that we should sign onto International Building Codes and regulations by signing Sedona up to the ICC. It is imperative that we remain a sweet, rural community.

    Where are the arts? Where is this organic thriving element that we allege to be animated by. Where is our culture? Where is our community?

    The discord between the decision making process and the desires of the community have never been more clear. It has been nearly a decade in the making.

    It is time for a new era of energy to take charge. An energy that is reflective in the ability to succeed rather than be trapped in out of date consciousness.

    It has been a great honor meeting with each of you. I hear your concerns over the insane and out of control spending and I echo them. A budget of $105,000,000 in a town of 9700 residents is completely unacceptable. A parking structure (that looks like a shoe box) originally slated to cost 11 million, now projected to cost 18 million, is incomprehensible. Especially, considering there is no intention of charging for parking.

    For those who are concerned that I lack the political experience within our established system- that is precisely what Sedona needs… Not another politician, but instead a person who understands people, who listens to the voices within the community, and who will act in service on their behalf with accountability, for the highest good of Sedona. What I am not, will prove to be an asset as I navigate the entrenched bureaucracy with a fresh perspective. Business as usual, is over.

    Creative solutions require new energy.

    Every decision that is made by our local government, must contemplate Sedona first.

    • Does this decision benefit the residents?
    • Does this decision benefit the local businesses?
    • Does this decision actually help the environment?
    • Will this decision sustain benefit in the future, or will it bring more problems?

    What we have now is a city government that expands to 165 employees for 9700 residents. Palm Desert has 53,000 residents and 119 city employees. Majority of our city department heads are not even in town. I find this problematic.

    Efforts towards championing in and courting new solutions for our medical needs are imperative. We are losing our doctors. We must encourage competition with other facilities rather than be held hostage by NAH, who clearly have their own set of dysfunctions.

    We must remember that so many move to Sedona for its beauty, hiking, and small town charm. Bigger, faster, and more concrete does not, in broad strokes, fit the ethos of Sedona.

    The old world must remain strong here in balance, as that is what visitors want to experience. Too many have noted that Sedona has lost its edge and charm.

    As Mayor I will preserve the rural charm of our community, and push back against the urbanization that is planned for Sedona.

    As mayor I will make it a priority to create opportunities to support our youth.  After school healthy, enriching programs should be created for our kids, and available to the Sedona workforce regardless of residency and regardless of school they belong to.

    As Mayor, I will create an agenda to deliberately embody the consciousness of our collective needs here, allowing private industry to meet the needs of our community rather than bigger government.

    I hope to have your vote on Aug 2nd. I am excited and have the energy to take on this leadership role with new eyes, community perspective, and the thoughtful consciousness that reflects all ages of the human spectrum.

    Thank you deeply for your consideration.

    Sincerely,

    Samaire Armstrong


    Heads or Tails
    By Tommy Acosta
    Let’s face it. I love conspiracy theories. The more far-out the better. Yup. I’m one of those. Looking at the Trump raid fiasco there can only be two theories that I see fit perfectly into the scenario that’s being weaved for public consumption. The first is that what is happening is actually being engineered by the forces that want Trump to return to the White House. Just like with the Russia-Russia thing, what is going to happen after all the hoopla,Trump will be found completely innocent just like before and he will be loved even more by his fans and followers. Those who tried to put him down will be chagrinned while those who supported him politically will be exalted. Republicans will be revived, and they will go out and vote in a new Congress and Trump will rule once again. Then there is the other side of the coin. Read more→
    Recent Comments
    • J H Knstler on Heads or Tails
    • Holden Caulfield on Heads or Tails
    • Tony Tonsich on Armstrong vs. Jablow: The Main Event
    • Richard Saunders on Armstrong vs. Jablow: The Main Event
    • Peggy Sands on YSCO K9 Units Seize Over 50,000 Fentanyl Pills in Two Traffic Stops
    Categories
    © 2022 All rights reserved. Sedona.biz.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.