This is Viewpoints for Friday, June 24, 2016

Who needs one?

Paul Whitley Sr. from Louisville, Kentucky, (Telegraph 6/17) wants changes to the Second Amendment so American citizens cannot own a military assault weapon. Here are some facts about the so-called military assault weapon. They are no different than many other guns and are classified as a long rifle. They are the same as a semi-automatic pistol with a longer barrel.

The politicians tell us the pistol grips, bayonet lugs and flash suppressors make them more dangerous, which is untrue. The U.S. banned assault weapons from 1994 to 2003. In 2003, long rifles were used to murder 390 people and yes, this did include the dreaded assault weapon. In 2013, those same type of guns were used to murder 308 people, which is 27 percent less than the year the ban ended. In addition, in 2013, 308 people were murdered with shotguns and 1,490 were murdered by knives and other sharp cutting instruments.

Paul asks, “Who really needs one? (assault weapon)”

Those of us who believe in the Second Amendment and liberty need one. We will protect ourselves and families as a deterrent against those from without and from within who wish to do us harm. I prefer liberty over cowardice or death.

‘Cloak of invisibility’

Sadly, It was only a matter of time before some knuckle dragger raised his overly prominent brow to suggest that the outpouring of prayer and consolation for the victims of the horrific Orlando, Florida, killing spree would be considerably diminished if the victims were not gay, as John Wayne Dobson did in his letter “What would happen” (The Telegraph 6/20).

His “questions” included the response of the president, making a plea to stop this insanity that fell on JWD’s deaf ears. He “inquires” with what-ifs focusing on Christians and Jews, as if the loss of almost 50 lives of any religion, race, ethnicity or — can you handle it, John — sexual preference would not trigger the emotional response of the majority of the free world. Did anyone ask any such questions after the Paris killings? What was the sexual preference of those souls killed Fort Hood or those who died on 9/11? You don’t know JWD? That’s because most people display some sense of common decency.

In the not too distant past, it was homosexuals who were in the closet. Now it is the homophobes. Peeking through the door jamb in his ever-shrinking cubbyhole environment, JWD offers his sad perspective with “I was just wondering, just asking a question,” as if that distances him from the transparency of his comments. Sorry, John; the “cloak of invisibility” does not exist outside the imaginations of 12-year-olds. Hopefully, even they cannot imagine a population of Neanderthals with word processors. I Hope you find safety and comfort among the mothballs.

If not now, when?

I lived in a rural area near Macon for 16 years and was elected (as a Republican) to the county commission twice, as well as serving on the Board of Health. I owned a gun all of that time, using it to shoot snakes and other varmints. I also frequently went target shooting with my buddies.

A few years ago, the NRA called me for support. I have good friends who are NRA members, have seen their literature and I know their positions very well. I surprised the gentleman who called by saying I was not a supporter. Specifically, I was (and still am) offended by the NRA’s campaign against the president.

Obama has repeatedly stated from Day 1 that he views the Second Aamendment as guaranteeing the right to bear arms. Yet, the NRA lied and said he was going to confiscate our guns. This caused a run on the market, with both guns and ammunition being scarce for quite a while.

Even now, the Democrats are not calling for fewer guns. They are simply asking for background checks and closing the gun show loophole, which permits anyone to walk up to someone and just sell a gun on the spot. These are reasonable positions that my party, the GOP, needs to back. Prayers are not enough to stop the violence.

Isn’t it about time that we tell the NRA that it is wrongheaded and stop the crazies from getting guns?

Need for increased funding

At a cost of $236 billion a year, Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in the nation. Nearly one in every five Medicare dollars is spent on people with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. And, these costs will only continue to increase as baby boomers age, soaring to more than $1 trillion in 2050.

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the U.S. that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. Today more than 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. And, barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent, stop or slow Alzheimer’s disease by 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease may reach as high as 16 million people.

Alzheimer’s disease is a growing crisis for our families and the economy. The federal government must address the challenges the disease poses and take bold action to confront this epidemic now.

Personally, I have been affected by this awful disease twice. First time with my father-in-law and most recently with my brother-in-law. The toll this disease puts on the entire family is unbearable.

Please contact Rep. Sanford Bishop and ask him to continue the fight against Alzheimer’s disease by increasing funding for Alzheimer’s research by at least an additional $400 million in fiscal year 2017.

This story was originally published June 23, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Friday, June 24, 2016."