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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Bethlehem Press Weekly to Spotlight Gun Violence

This week's issue of The Bethlehem Press, which will hit the news stands on Wednesday, will focus on gun violence. I only saw the teaser, but it look like a provocative issue.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gee, I wonder what solution they'll come to to "solve" the problem.

Anonymous said...

Since gun violence occurs 90 percent of the time in cities, they will do the obvious. Call for the elimination of the idiots who run our cities.

Sal Panto, Jr. said...

Anon 10:56
Speaking of idiots.........you of course realize that gun violence does not just happen in cities. And of course you realize that the mass murders have not happened in cities. The shopping center, the movie theatre, the Amish school, a affluent CT town, etc. are not occuring in urban core municipalities. And they were solid members of society, many young people with a bright future, a Fulbright Scholarship winner. I met one in DC. He was one of the lucky ones that survived his injuries when he and a friend decided to go to a suburban movie theatre to see Batman. His friend wasn't so lucky. Once you realize that fact maybe you will re-evaluate your idiot remark and realize that gun violence knows no geo-political boundaries and that gun violence is not just about guns. It's about the "culture of violence" that exists and we need comprehensive gun law reform that includes more effective background checks - especially in the area of mental health, a re-evaluation of violence in the movies, electronic games,music and more.

BTW, I was happy to see that after the Mayors Against Illegal Guns marched on Washington DC last week and President Obama made this issue an Executive priority, Pennsylvania turned over more than 100,000 mental health records for background certs. Prior to that date there were but a very few. This my friend, is a step in the right direction to end the use of "illegal" guns.

Also, probably 20 to 30 years ago switchblades and sawed off shotguns were banned --- when was the last time you saw one? This is proof that we can end the use of illegal guns as well.

Anonymous said...

Switchblades?????
Now there was a real menace.

Anonymous said...

It would seem that a repeal of the disastrously counter-productive "War on Drugs", supported by feel good quick fix fools on both sides of the isle,would go a long way in reducing gun violence in cities like Easton.
An excellent example of the harm bad law and foolish public policy can produce.
Was there a cry for a sane drug control policy at your march Mr Mayor?

Bill Fibba said...

Let us contact the editor of the Bethlehem Press and tell him how much we appreciate these articles.


George Taylor, editor, gtaylor@tnonline.com

Ralph Ehler said...

My cocaine dealer is one of the most docile thoughtful people I know, when I pick up an 8 ball he has change ready, accepts small bills, and even let's me use his pinky nail to do my first bump. Drugs aren't the problem its games like Mortal Kombat.

Anonymous said...

10:56 can you site your source for that 90% figure please?
Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I have friends who helped plan the march and activities in DC that Mayor Panto participated in.
Reforming the nations deadly misguided and failed drug policy was on the agenda, but had to be bumped at the last minute.There was so much other feel good stuff to cover.
Something had to go. It would have been the next thing on the agenda.

Anonymous said...

The answers will come from the Planet Kolob.
No, really.

Anonymous said...

Most of what's being proposed for banning is ridiculous (e.g. pistol grips and cosmetics that look good in a liberal's movie, but have no bearing on the operation of the firearm). The so-called assault weapons ban is stuck on Harry Reid's desk and going nowhere, ever.

What will happen is the closing of the gun show background check loophole. Limiting magazines than can be reloaded in seconds is not a serious proposal, either. But it will become law because the left wants to feel good and the right knows they're giving away nothing in negotiation. Better coordination with mental health will be discussed and killed in the courts by the ACLU. Nuts have rights.

What won't happen is a discussion about how 6% of the population commits 52% of murders and ends up victimized 46% of the time, as well meaning mayors like Sal seek laws that are flaunted by criminals and leave primarily minority populations defenseless, to be victimized 46% of the time.

And could it be that switchblades and sawed off shotguns have simply been replaced with 9mms and AR-15s? I traded up from my Commodore 64 several times.

People are understandably passionate. But we're not discussing all aspects of our gun/murder problem.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Let us contact the editor of the Bethlehem Press and tell him how much we appreciate these articles."

This comes from the Blog Mentor, who likes to organize campaigns at which nobody shows up. Then he rolls on the floor and foams at the mouth.

Sal Panto, Jr. said...

Anon 4:34 - again you hide behind your Anon handle. At least make one up so we know to which Anon we are speaking.

Let's break down your comments.....we export our guns to the burbs. Are you serious? Again the Newtown incident was with the mother's guns, and she lives in an affluent suburb.

Closer to home, the gun that was purchased in Whitehall TOWNSHIP and utlimately ended up in New York by way of Allentown was not purchased in Allentown.

Look, you can hide behind your perceived safety net of the townships or even rural areas but the facts are the facts and while I will agree that we have more ILLEGAL guns in the cities, the mass murders are being committed in the burbs and rural areas and they can only be LESSENED with reform on all levels as I indicated in my earlier post.

And by the way, you may think of me as a liberal but I am much more conservative than you think. As for Northampton County I am here to stay.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I deleted 4:34, Sal. I love disagreement, but not when it is laced with cowardly personal attacks that are anonymous.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Most of what's being proposed for banning is ridiculous (e.g. pistol grips and cosmetics that look good in a liberal's movie, but have no bearing on the operation of the firearm). The so-called assault weapons ban is stuck on Harry Reid's desk and going nowhere, ever."

From all I've read and heard, I believe my concerns about assault rifles were misplaced. But I'd want a ban on high capacity (defined as greater than ten rounds) magazines. I'd want a special permit for the 50 caliber rifle. And every person who wants to own a gun should be required to undergo a rigorous mental health evaluation. Those who want to carry should be required to show a need.

Anonymous said...

Protect poor little Sal from reality.

lol

Bernie O'Hare said...

No. I am protecting him from anonymous cowards, although he needs no protection.

Anonymous said...

I'm relieved the Switch Blade menace is behind us.

Carol said...

Bernie, as a Mom with 3 sons and grandsons and a family of hunters, there is no easy answer to the horror of the mass shootings. It isn't the gun, it is the person holding the gun and all the peripheral issues, ie, family issues, mental issues, TV, video games, perhaps the notoriety of these circumstances help trigger an incidence. It certainly needs to be addressed but from all angles. Carol

Anonymous said...

Carol for Congress!

Anonymous said...

Sal, first let me say Easton is a lovely town and you have been a darn good mayor from all that I can see.

Now ----- the gun violence in your town and hundred of others has more to do with A FAILED NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY THAN A FAILED GUN CONTROL POLICY.

Keep up your good work as mayor. Easton's progress is comendable and right there for all to see.

Best wishes.

Bobo

Anonymous said...

Cell phones in cars kill many many many more people. You liberals make me sick!

Sarah said...

Now one should try to do something to solve this gun violence problem.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Had no idea they were so inexpensive.