Immigration, Gun Control, Wildlife, Drugs.

By John Barry Smith

Positions on controversial issues of the day

Immigration: I respect the hard working honest person regardless of where he or she comes from, or their religion, or their sexual orientation, or their taste in music or footwear. I try very hard to judge a person's character by their performance, not how many tattoos or piercings in their face. I trust persons who do what they say they will do. I understand the desires of the immigrants to come here and I understand the desires of those already here to not have any more immigrants. My position is to maintain the status quo, as unfair to both sides as it is.

2. Gun control.

Guns: I am for gun control: That is, I want control of my guns. I understand those that want to ban all firearms entirely and I understand those that want unrestricted use of any and all firearms.

I was issued a handgun in the Navy while I flew over enemy territory and received instruction on its use. I have two handguns in my home. I bought them through the system of a private seller and a licensed dealer who handled both transactions, conducted the mandated firearm safety written test, then I waited the mandatory waiting period while my file was checked, and paid my money.

The two weapons are locked up with ammo separated. I go to Laguna Seca Firing Range occasionally to keep current on gun safety and familiarity with the weapons.

Education on the power of firearms will reduce the threat of irresponsible use more than encourage it. Bears and boars are only threats in the further distances from the town. Mountain lions are a threat.

My position on gun control is to maintain the status quo while emphasizing education on gun safety. There shall be no new ordinances regarding firearms nor any rescinded.

Wiki:

There are several versions of the text of the Second Amendment, each with slight capitalization and punctuation differences, found in the official documents surrounding the adoption of the Bill of Rights.[4] One such version was passed by the Congress, which reads:[5]

" A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. "

Another version is found in the copies distributed to the states, and then ratified by them, which had this capitalization and punctuation:[6]

" A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. "

The original hand-written copy of the Bill of Rights, approved by the House and Senate, was prepared by scribe William Lambert and resides in the National Archives.

3. Wildlife control.

Wildlife in rural areas: We are intruding on their territory. We are the guests. They have been here for more generations than us. The wildlife are in a life and death conflict in our valley and they play for keeps. Killing them is a last resort for safety, not the first response.

4. Illegal drugs.

Change the law; don't break the law.

There are other issues which concern us in basic ways:

Threats to our well being:

Minor risk, serious consequences, but exaggerated threats:

1. The illegal aliens are probably not going to take all our jobs.

2. The drug addicts are probably not going to mug us.

3. The criminals are probably not going to steal our identities.

4. The gangs are probably not going to invade our homes.

5. The terrorists are probably not going to blow up our buses.

6. The hackers are probably not going to steal our passwords.

7. The police are probably not going to taser us.

8. The government is probably not going to tax us to death.

Moderate risk, serious consequences, but underestimated threats:

1. Fire is the biggest, the most likely, and the worst; let us never forget or become complacent. Many of us live on one way roads up canyons and Carmel Valley road is almost a one way road if blocked on one end. We can easily be trapped by natural disasters. Safety is a priority.

2. Floods are real threats for those on the valley floor.

3. Mudslides are real threats for those on the hills.

4. Earthquakes for all of us.

4. Carmel Valley Road blocked by fire, flood, mudslides, or earthquake damage is a threat we can do something about by being prepared to unblock that vital lifeline road.