Why aren't Guns regulated too?

Recently I have read an article called, “Do We Have the Courage to Stop This?” by Nicholas D.

Kristof. In the article, the author talks about the shooting that has recently took place at a school in Connecticut, and other violent mishaps. Kristof not only gives his opinion on the shooting, but also on how we should regulate guns to prevent the usage of guns nowadays.

In the article, Kristof says that one of his Facebook followers mentioned that “it is more difficult to adopt a pet than it is to buy a gun.” He also says that  “The tragedy isn't one school shooting, it' the unceasing toll across our country. more Americans die in gun homicides in 6 months than have died in the last 25 years in every terrorist attack and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq combined, which means that most likely if guns were regulated there would be a lower percentage of homicides, and not only that but there would also be some major changes in our country.

In the article, Kristof  points out that guns should be regulated just as seriously as cars, meaning that there are so many regulations for cars. Like seatbelts for instance, ever heard the saying click it or ticket”? That means that you are obligated to wear a seatbelt, which is also a state regulation here in Pennsylvania. But why don’t they have a little saying about guns? Are they not going to regulate the real dangers in the state of Pennsylvania? They’re just leaving us for dead. There are guns on the streets, people are just killing one another and getting away with it. But people are going to jail and getting tickets for not wearing their seatbelts and drunk driving. I think that guns should be regulated here in the state of Pennsylvania. They should have to wait 4 weeks for a gun, just as in Canada and also have to do background checks on people who want to buy guns.

Everyone deserves a chance...

                Many teenagers dream of the day they finally get to hit the road. The sun shining, windows down, with a slight breeze here and there. But what most teens don’t consider when waiting on their moment, is that accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Recently I have read an article called “Should 16-year olds drive?” by Ted Gregory, (Chicago Tribune reporter). This article gives several opinions on whether or not teens should be able to drive by the age of 16.

                One person's opinion that really stood out to me was, Linnea Greci’s, (age 15), she said “I don’t think it matters what age you are, … as long as you have the practice and experience”. Her opinion stood out to me because I find it interesting that in the article she was on her way to driver’s education class. I think that she was just saying that because she may have been doing well in driver’s education and was just one year away from her driver’s license. Another opinion that stood out to me was Ryan Moore’s (age 16). Although Ryan was 16 years old and eligible for his license, he would rather have waited, but he really needed his license because his parents were always at work, and he had to get himself to and from work and football practice. He said, “I’ve driven with some people who are horrible drivers even though they’ve been driving for a while… and I’ve driven with people who haven’t been driving very long but are pretty good. Some people are ready and some people aren’t.”

                I agree with Ryan Moore, “some people are ready and some people aren’t”. Although thousands of teenagers die each year because of “motor vehicle crashes”, there are still teens out there who deserve a chance, because some are advanced in skill, even if they don’t take driver’s education class. You never know when it’ll be your time to die, as they say, so why not live? I think that all teenagers deserve to feel that wind in their hair, sun shining, with the windows down. I think that we should be eligible for a license at the age of 16. Why? Because, everyone deserves a chance.

Rest Well Rita ...

They say “the good dies young.” Stray bullets take the lives of many every day. But why her, and why was this given no recognition? Recently, I have read an article called, "Babysitter, 19,takes stray bullet to the head in Wynnefield heights" by Chief Inspector Scott Small where he points out how a 19 year old girl was shot by a stray bullet for no reason. She was babysitting seven children, all who lived in the home of her death. They did not include the woman’s name in the article. This young woman was just playing her role as a babysitter, why did she have to die?

The situation occurred on Tuesday, October 30, 2012  when she had opened the door of the house where she was babysitting. She had unknowingly walked into a shootout. Two men were running down Aberdeen Street, chasing and shooting at one man. The man who they were shooting at tried to get away as fast as possible, so when the young woman opened the door of the house, he ran to the door and the men followed. The man who was being shot at, grabbed the 19 year old woman and pushed her aside so that he wouldn’t be shot. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The two gunmen got away, while the man who the guns were being fired at was left uninjured. This goes to show that people are killed everyday with no reason behind it.

This affected me majorly because this 19 year old woman was my best friend’s cousin. I never would’ve thought that she would die so young. Also I think that other people who were killed in the city received more recognition than she did. I thought that this story could’ve used a little more recognition and sympathy than it received.There was one news story on the shooting, and they said they would later release her name, and the name of the man who was originally being chased but they never did. It hurts deeply to see my best friend in so much pain. Rest well S. Hamilton.

Reactions May Vary ...

                There have been so many different reactions on the presidential election. The winner of the election was really no surprise to many, but to some it was far from their expectations. Recently, I have read an article called, “Yay! Boo! So? Reactions to Obama win vary” by Peter Mucha, (Breaking News desk, Philadelphia Daily News) that tells about the different reactions to the reelection for the second term of President Barack Obama.

                The reactions on the reelection of President Barack Obama were priceless. “I’m thrilled to death” said Barbara Drucker, 61, a Collingswood flight attendant. “I would never have voted for Romney on women’s issues alone.” Saving the auto industry and killing Osama bin Laden were key factors that helped the president win four more years”, she said.” This reaction stood out to me because, she was focused on women’s issues, and she also thought about the past achievements that Obama made.

                “I’m not happy”, said Chuck Rihl, 51, of Haddon Heights, in his van outside the Wawa. “I haven’t had a job in over a year.” This reaction also stood out to me because it’s not really President Obama’s fault that he’s been unemployed for so long, maybe he just doesn’t have the skills/education that it takes to get the right job.

                “I knew Barack was going to win,” said Jackie Harrison, 45, of Coatesville, in Center city on her way to her job as a case administrator at bankruptcy court. “I think he’s more trustworthy. He seems more of a people person.” I feel as though she has a point. Barack Obama made a change, and while watching the presidential debate, he actually gave the citizens and congress a chance to ask their questions and make statements while Romney was cutting everyone off, just to get his point across.

                I think that Obama deserved to be reelected as President of the United States of America. He worked very hard in his first term. He made a promise that he wouldn’t be perfect, but giving him a chance was worth it. Since Obama was elected in 2008, much as changed, Osama bin Laden is dead, the auto industry has been saved and Obamacare has taken good affect. I believe that Barack Obama needed this second term.

 I’m Mukalah Upshur and I approve this message.

What's Up With The Climate ?

Recently I have read an article called “Will Climate Change Get Some Respect Now?” by Nicholas D. Kristof (columnist, New York times) about how the weather may vary now that there is more frequent climate change.

According to this article there are several reasons that humans should brace themselves for what types of weather they are soon to face. Humans should start to prepare themselves for hurricanes which are caused by the warmth of the ocean, some climate change being natural variation and some being created by humans. Computer models say, hurricanes won’t occur more frequently but they just may be come stronger when they do occur.

Climate change tends to add moisture to the atmosphere. In other words, when storms do occur, chances are they will have more moisture to them such as rain and heavier flooding.

This article also tells about how there has been climate change so frequently lately that there are debates taking place about what we, as humans can do to prevent the climate change from taking place so often. Although there has not been much talk on climate change during the presidential election it is still considered to be a major issue now and days.

Kristof speaks about how the democrats and republicans were silent about climate change throughout the whole entire election of 2012. He says, “The failure is odd, because in other areas of national security Republicans pride themselves on their preparedness. Romney doesn’t want to wait until he sees an Iranian nuclear weapon before acting so why the lack of action on climate change?” In which he states that there is no sense of priding yourself on being prepared for attacks and wars,  if you can’t pride yourself on preparedness for the safety of your country.

Do You Really Need Drugs to Succeed ?

    

Studies have shown that there are drugs that can enhance some students’ academic performance. Recently, I have read an article called “Attention disorder or not, Pills to help in school” by Alan Schwarz that focuses on drugs that are used for different purposes, to treat disorders like ADD, ADHD, and using those same drugs for enhancement in academics.

           

In the article, Schwarz tells about the usage of a drug called Adderall and how it is used not only to treat ADD and ADHD, but also to help children in schools with poor academics. In the article it says, “We’ve decided as a society that it’s too expensive to change the kid’s environment, so we have to change the kid”. What the author is saying here is that when children are placed in the wrong environment, such as schools with poor academics, they tend to do wrong. But when children are placed in an environment with high standards they tend to work hard to meet those standards.

 

I think that it is wrong for doctors and physicians to prescribe Adderall to students who have a hard time focusing in schools with poor academics. That is not a fair way to have student advance to the next grade, or get out of the basic/below basic learning facilities. Nor is it a good way to see a student succeed. Adderall has some serious side effects that could harm one’s mind; therefore, it should only be taken when it is needed.

 

            This article makes me wonder how many parents put their children, who do not have ADD or ADHD on Adderall to increase their grades and enhance their academic records.

The second Presidential Debate ...

 

There has been much talk on the Presidential Election lately. I have recently read an article called "2nd Presidential Debate" about some of the questions that citizens of the United States have on who the next president will be and why. In this article there are many questions on the things that have been talked about during the second presidential debate which took place on October.17.2012 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. This debate was a town hall meeting, in which ordinary people asked the questions that the candidates answered.

Some of the questions were asked by undecided voters. There were a few questions that stood out to me, such as a question that was asked by a first time voter named Jeremy Epstein who had made an impressive point. He said, “Mr. President, Governor Romney, as a 20-year-old college student, all I hear from professors, neighbors and others is that when I graduate, I will have little chance to get employment. What can you say to reassure me, but more importantly my parents, that I will be able to sufficiently support myself after I graduate?” This question stood out to me because, he was really concerned about the employment options that await him once he graduates from college. He also made a point, he wanted to know which candidate would lead him to the better options.

                I watched the debate on October.17.2012. In my opinion, Romney was too aggressive and hostile during the debate. I feel as though he had too much to say in so little time, he kept cutting everyone off to get a point across. I think that President Obama did a good job in this debate because he had good articulation and clarity on his plans. I also think that Obama won because he got his facts right, and made it clear that he wouldn’t make a promise that he couldn’t at least try to keep.

cheat, cheat, cheat it up...

In the article "students find more students cheating, with high achievers no exceptions" Recent studies have shown that cheating has been more of a problem lately at some of the most competitive schools, such as Harvard, Stuyvesant high school in Manhattan, and even the air force academy. Cheating has become simple and easier to do because of internet access, causing plagiarism rates to skyrocket and making it easier to plagiarize other people’s work. They also blame teachers for not teaching the students well enough to know whether or not they should cheat. Studies also begin to blame parents for cheating rates going up like that because of the pressure being applied to students daily. In the article, Donald L. McCabe, a professor at the Rutgers university business school says “there have always been struggling students who cheat to survive”, but he also states that “there are students at the top who cheat to succeed”. I believe that both statements are true, but I have never looked at the situation from this perspective. I think that this cheating issue is not one that can be easily resolved, but there may be ways to work on eliminating plagiarism a little bit faster. Not only do I believe that eliminating internet access would not help, but would in fact make this cheating issue a whole lot worse. This article honestly makes me wonder how often teachers encourage cheating and if that is the only reason that I succeed in school. Would it demoralize you if cheating were the only reason you’ve gotten where you are? Do you depend on your teachers to get high scores? These are some of the things that students should often wonder.