Texsox

Because in some post Columbine, post 9/11 society we went to extremes and tied the hands of people to use some common sense in handling these issues. We can turn back the clock and put some reason back into these policies. Zero Tolernance has gotten: A 13 year old girl expelled for bring Midol to school, she didn't want to bother the school nurse and was a bit embarrased about having her period. Violated the no drugs ban. A 11 year old girl expelled for bring a plastic butter knife to school to cut the chicken in her lunch box. Violated the no weapons policy. We need to allow people to make decisions based on the circumstances at hand and not based on some unflexing policy. I am in favor of people close to the situation making the decision, not some one size fits all punishment. Look at the flip side, what about the kid who hasn't changed, should he be allowed back in 2-years because that's the punishment? He must be cured because he's been gone two years.

Arizona

Too bad ChiSoxxy hasn't been around much lately, she probably has the most varied background in the world's religions. If I can offer a suggestion, and since we seem to be discussing Christian religions, I will limited my ideas there. Take time to visit a few Churches of different denominations to find one you are comfortable in. Visit with the Pastor or perhaps some of the lay ministers or other followers. A big factor in what you gain from Church is how welcome you feel. Drop into a decent Christian bookstore and look at books about the Bible. Ask for help in finding one that is more mainstream. There are some over the top doomsday stuff that IMHO is just weird. Pick up a Bible translation that you like. There are literally dozens of translations, some easier to read and comprehend than others. There are several Bible reading plans that will have you "cover to cover" in a year, but not by going Genesis to Revelation. Wading through the Old Testament first can be a bit challenging. One I recommend is the Life Application Study Bible with features the New Living Translation. At the end of your walk there are a couple outcomes. You may emerge with a greater understanding of yourself and God's plan for you. Or you may emerge as a non believer. Either way it will be an informed decision.

It is a bad thing. Shall we just lock the kid away until he's 18? When can he be allowed back into society? When shall he be allowed to play with other kids, go to a movies, walk the streets, go to the library, return to school? 3 months? 6 months? 2 years? 25 years? Do you want to punish the kid foreveer for what may be a single instance of a kid trying to defend himself from bullies after teachers did nothing?

Little Big Man

Over??? Nothing's over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! And it ain't over now! Who's with me!?" I will believe until we are mathematically eliminated s***, I'm kidding. It's over.

The Trib has always been part of the vast right wing conspiracy. I cannot understand why they would give coverage to a team who will probably be playing in the postseason and totally ignoring a team who is only 9 games out with less than a month to go. I'll bet they'll be jumping on the bandwagon when the Sox make up 9 games in 10 days.

I think the gun debate suffers when personal protection gets mixed in. I believe for home security, a handgun is not very effective and the risks, especially if children are in the house, out weigh the potential benefit. If someone breaks into your home and they are intent on harming you, you will not have much time to react. Your gun would need to be accessible, loaded, and ready to go. Those are the exact same set of circumstances that makes having a gun around children dangerous. I am much more comfortable arguing that law abiding sportsmen and recreational shooters should continue to have access to these tools. I also think when the politicians were dealing out issues, the Dems got the worst hand here.

The official count has been lowered a couple times.

I remember the days before the internet when I would run up huge phone bills dialing into bulletin boards. Cable is cool

Star Wars (pick one)

Says the lady with the killer looks

They are the #1 show because they are not mainstream? Rush states that the media is biased and the only source for the truth is his show, yet he isn't media?

The stated punishment is 2 years out of school. Why not cut it in half if the kid has been well behaved and hasn't done anything else? By the info given, this was a one time thing to stop bullying.

Like the world will stop selling us the batteries for our toys As long as we are the world's biggest energy hogs with a near endless list of ways to burn fossil fuels, they keep drilling.

Excuse me, I forgot Rush is not mainstream, that he's a fringe commentator. Are we ashamed of our soldier's sacrifice? Are we ashamed we sent them to liberate Iraq? Why are we trying to hide the death toll? Do you remember how Walter Cronkite finished every one of his broadcasts during the Vietnam police action? Doesn't it honor them to pause and remember their sacrifice? But Rush and the rest of the media will not? Perhaps they think it will cast an unfavorable light on their candidate? SO we ignore the deaths to elect their candidate, that's wrong, very wrong. Rush and Hannity have the #1 and #2 rated radio shows in the country. Nationwide. More people here their opinions than any other people on the planet. And they are not mainstream? Come on Kap, don't play their game of pretending not to be the media. They are the biggest media players in the world.

With no corresponding increase in deaths by stabbings, stranglation, or the dozens of other ways husbands kill wives, drug dealers kill customers, psychos kill whores?

So what would you do with him? Lock him up until he is 18? 21? 65? At what point should he be allowed back into society? At what point should he be allowed to play outside, join a baseball league, go to Chucky Cheese, go to school? Has the kid done anything wrong in the year since the incidence?

You are making an error in logic, the post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy; that is, that simply because something follows an event it is caused by that event. Japan also had lower rates of other violent crimes, those that do not use a gun, yet they have similar laws regarding knives, bats, broom handles, etc. How do you explain that difference? Just to be clear. Are you proposing that if we banned guns, we would have the same crime stats as Japan? That differences in out traditions, our societial values have no influence?

I was shocked that anyone made a 9mm pellet gun. That is a monster. I did a little checking and may be picking one up. Beeman P3 Combo.177 410 fps

I did not hear it until know but I did not have a chance to listen to all media today. Sadly, I'm certain you are right, the media giants of Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly, Ingram, et.al. were probably all over it, and there is no escaping those broadcasters.

I was wondering how long it would take to turn political. :headshake

Above 40 mph traffic accident deaths rise tremendously. Cars and the human body fail above 40. We could save thousands and thousands of lives with a 40 mph speed limit. And we wouldn't ave to take cars away from anyone. Also raising the age to 21 for a driver's license would eliminate the #1 cause of death for teenagers.

More Than 1,000 Military Deaths in Iraq RIP

Would you also take away liquor and tobacco for the same reasons? Perhaps force a 40 mph national speed limit? Target shooting is fun. Did you happen to watch any of the olympic shooting? Hunting and fishing are totally different. You cannot even compare the two. I fished tournaments for years and probably have met hundreds of fisherman and know only a few that also were avid hunters. Again, why punish the law abiding citizens because of the actions of a tiny minority? I am all for safety locks, manditory training, against fully automatic weapons, etc. I cannot see outlawing a 20 gauge single action skeet shotgun. Can you not see that guns do not equal violence? Can you not see that tens of millions of citizens do not commit crimes with their firearms? Well less that 1% of all forearms are ever used in a crime? You clearly do not understand the sportsman with your "feel like more of a man" with a gun. That is just plain ignorant.